Verbal Flashcards
Countable phrases
fewer, many
Not countable phrases
Less, much, amount
Indicate +
Need - indicate THAT
During which
indicative time span
-ing modifier
when subject is doing the action (walking around, he…)
-ed modifier
when action done on subject (aggravated, he went… the exhausted man…)
Adj modifier
-modify noun
- placement matters
- “which” only refer to noun before, never a CLAUSE
Ex: confiscated a car, a loss that…
Ex: his SUPPOSED Irish ancestor
Adv modifier
- phrase, verb, other adj
- placement doesn’t matter
Ex: confiscated his car, LEAVING HIM…
Ex: grandma is SUPPOSEDLY his Irish ancestor
Ex: add -ly
“due to”
Due to versus because of
replace with caused by and see how it sounds
Due to noun (DTN), Because of verb (BOV) Due to - modifies noun Ex: failure was due to poor study habits B/c of - answer why, modify verb Ex: plants grow bc of the sun shining
Hopefully will
could possibly
Can’t hope then know it will happen….SC must make sense
Participle
Verbs that function as an adj -present participle: were differing "ing" -past participle: were differed "ed" Auxiliary verb + participle (was, has, should have)
-ly (rarely vs rare)
-ly words are adverbs
“rare” is adj (rare find)
- supposedly vs supposed (adv / adj)
- usually / usual (adv / adj)
it’s impt that the chromosomes of a pop to be tested for chemically induced damage be compared with those of a control pop
identify: demand+that+subjunctive
- impt that …be compared …
that vs which
- find what it / they refer to (look at main subject / noun, usually not ambiguous)
Which - refers to noun preceding it (if , which then that’s nonessential modifier and you better be able to remove the clause)
That - doesn’t modify people, drop “that” if clause modifies modified noun
Pronoun - if not specific, it’s singular (anyone, everyone, whatever…)
SANAM - plural or singular, look at noun after it (some, all, none, any, more/ most)
Tense
Spot: look at key words like “yesterday”, multiple tenses/actions
- Past:
1. past perfect “had done” - don’t use often bc easy to insert unnec “had”
2. simple past - Present:
1. start in past, still going on
2. have / has + ___ed (or gone / seen) - Subjunctive
1. If i were…; as though, as if
S/V
find verb, check w subject
collective noun (army) - singular or plural?
singular
The number of students…(is or are)
is
A number of students…(is or are)
are
Modifiers (prepositional phrases) don’t need
subject and verb
+ along with
does not make noun plural
concision
- use noun + adjective rather adj + noun
- don’t add word that adds no meaning
Ex: I might (possibly) go - delete possibly –> GMAT likes to add multiple words
–> passive active language not tested
As vs than
As = equating Than = differentiating
Comparison steps
- check idiom (as vs than)
- check branches - right comparison
- elim modifier
if see that, those, if, they
- point to exact noun in phrase
Verb Abbreviation
Do, am, are, will, was (helping verbs)
- say the full verb, after abbrev
Ex: A writes as much as he does [write]
Noun Abbreviation
- That, those - replace noun SIMILAR not identical to comparison
Ex: air in my room is better than that in my car - It, they - refer to SAME noun
Ex: students enjoy summer more than they do study
Wrong: subway in NY is better than it is in UK
“That” as Request
Subj 1 + demand verb + THAT + subj 2 + subjunctive
“That” as Full clause
Subj + verb + that + subject 2+ verb (not always subjunctive)
“That” as Subject
That he left or that he does this… is great
That doesn’t modify people
Common logical flaws - 1
Argue x is causing Y bc group x has more Y than non x group
- you must control all other possible variables to say that x=y
Ex: expand highway will lower congestion (if people don’t take rail but still drive, then expand highway won’t lower congestion)
Common logical flaws - 2
Self selection bias - if experimental group chose to be in that group - NOT RANDOM. may be fundamentally diff groups
(Ex: ppl drive red sports cars get more tix, driving red sports car makes you speed. no if sample of ppl are ppl who generally tend to speed)
Common logical flaws - 3
% increase - check both numerator and denom
Finding the assumption
- Valid assumptions still assumptions - blood loss is bad
- Disprove concl w counter to find assumption (blue pleases eye, please means happy, sky makes you happy. what if sky is not blue)
- out of scope isn’t wrong (may just be an alternative way to prove concl)
- if answers weaken, should DESTROY concl and logic of evidence
–>if answer strengthen / assump, ask if choice weren’t true so you can find opposite and see if concl is DESTROYED
Ex: if people don’t even read, then making pamplets won’t even work
RC - author’s main point
Check 1. accuracy 2. in scope**
- accuracy - check EVERY WORD, trick you w 1 word
- In scope - obvious if choices are sub-ideas, choose one that’s most impt; look for author’s opinion
RC steps
- Determine scope
- Tone - describe vs argue (look for opinion words)
- Structure*** - role of ea paragraph, watch for new ideas
Logical opposites
Watch out for some, all, most
Concl can’t be ALL if evidence shows some
CR - Find the assumption
- Identify assumption
2. Strengthen / Support arg
CR - Contradict assump
Weaken, undermine, dispute, must DESTROY conclusion
CR - Inference / conclusion
- Info must be given to conclude
* if hypothetical situation makes inference, then it’s false (process of elim)
CR - Bolded
figure out concl, and figure out role (support or no)
*wary of inaccurate words bc ea wrong answer has >1
WHICH
- “which” only refer to noun PRECEDING, never a CLAUSE
+ “that” + subjunctive
demand, recommend, propose, mandate (not mandate for), ask, REQUIRE
+ “that” + NO subjunctive
declare, discovery, find, heard, hold, indicate, rule, reveal, recognize, hold, heard, don’t doubt, believe, convinced, contend, confident (have confidence that), claim, agree, appears
+ “that” + subjunctive / NO (dep on meaning)
Suggest, show,
Doubt
+whether / if (for positive doubt)
+that (for don’t doubt)
— + from
prohibit, isolate, exclude, differ
As vs like
As compares clauses
Like compares nouns
As phrases
- Just as A, B
- Just as A so B
- Just as A, so too B
- A just as B
A as B
as A, B
A is as ___ as B
A not so much as B
not so much A as B
times as old as
Like phrases
Like A, B
A like B
Unlike A, B
Wrong use of as
Need uniform - as..as, not as that, so as, as than,
As well as
2 things only (and is for >2)
Comparison - common error
repeat verb (if you take out the 1st comparison) *impt to plug each branch separately to check
Mistake+
Mistake A for B
No “as” needed
Consider A, B
Declare A, B
Make A, B
Compared+
Compared to A, B
NOTE: X compared TO A, X compared WITH A both are fine
In contrast +
In contrast to /with A, B
A develops+
A develops into B
A differs+
A differs from B
Estimate A+
Estimate A to be B (no estimate as)
Discount+
Discount to
Because of+
Because of noun
Due to
Check using caused by (modify NOUN not verb)
Ex: Due to his illness, due to the fact that
— A as B
Define A as B
Identify, understand, interpret, take, regard, use
Comparison - common error (wrong comparison
Tech co are as likely as THE AVG COMPANY to fail
v.
tech co are as likely as THE INDUSTRY AVG to fail
(comparing tech co and avg co, not tech CO and industry AVG
Can
the mger can run the plant WORDIER - able to run - capable of running - has the ability / capability to run - possibly causes
Although+
clause
Both..and
- Be careful of parallel
Ex: both IN plants and IN animals, not both IN plants and animals or vice versa - Can’t switch up both…as well as or but also
Believe
believe that, believe to be
Wrong:
Believe by her to be right
Being
can be right, but only pick if other choices are wrong for clear grammar errors
Ex: Being infected doesn’t make you sick
Ex: (?) Being an advocate of reform, I would…
Because
Plants grow bc the sun shines
Plants grow, for the sun shines
Wrong: B/c of as a result of Bc .. is the reason Being that.. Explained bc of...
As
Use “as” to describe during, because/since, in the same way, in the role of, in the stage of being
Ex: as I walked, I became nervous (during)
as I had paid, I was ok (b/c)
as we did last year, we will win this year (same way)
as the president (role)
aggravate vs aggravating
aggravate - to make worse
aggravating - annoying
WRONG: he was aggravating to the problem–> he aggravated the problem
after vs following
After (not following) the gold rush, the town collapsed - following implies directly after and that’s not true, town could collapse a bit after the gold rush
Affect vs effect
Meaning is different -
Cause an AFFECT (will affect, case an affect…)
have an EFFECT (have an effect on…)
Act
Use “Act” to describe function, behave in similar way
Ex: acted as a funnel
acted like a fool
consider
like “Declare”
consider + noun (her) a friend, consider illegal
consider A, B
WRONG
consider the law - as / should be / as if it were - illegal
consider + to be
Allow+
allow + — + to
Ex: holiday allows Maria to watch the movie
was allowed to
allows for new construction (allows for + noun)
WRONG allows for her to watch
Contrast+
Contrast with, contrast to +noun
Cost +
cost us billions IN $, cost OF
WRONG
cost us billions BC OF pollution (wrong definition)
Conceive+
conceive of architecture as a dialogue
Think of …
connection+
connection between
compared+
compared to or compared with (both are fine)
WRONG
zebras are MORE (delete) viscious compared to
comparable
costs are rising, but incomes have not increased comparably (not to a comparable extent)
claim+
claim that
claim to be able to
chance +
chance in 1000 OF winning
borders+
borders within
between vs among
between - 2
among >2 people
begin+
mvt began as / with
ban–+
ban prohibiting us FROM
WRONG
ban that we can’t do this…
aware+
aware of
aware that danger was near
attribute+
attribute to
WRONG
attribute as
apply+
apply to (apply to all of us)
such as +
such as driving
WRONG
such as BY driving
anxiety +
anxiety about / that his company’s future
WRONG
about + phrase (his company may be sold)
aim+
aim at / of
aid +
aid to people
aid in ____-ing
appear +
appear as (show up as)
appears (seems)
appears that
credit+
credit (person) with
credited with
danger+
in danger of forgetting
a danger to forget
date+
dated the artifact AT
WRONG
dated to / as being
decide+
decide to
WRONG
decision was to start
decline+
decline in
depend+
depend on
design+
design to
determine+
determine by
develop+
develop into
difference+
difference in ability btwn us difference btwn what you can do and what i can do difference IN what you and i can do WRONG difference btwn what you and i can do
distinguish / distinction+
distinguish / distinction+ btwn…and
WRONG
distinguish / distinction+ from, with, of+to
do+
I didn’t but she did so
WRONG
I didn’t but she did it or this (not parallel? I didn’t do it but she did)
economic v economical
economic means cheaper
economical means more efficient
enough+
enough to + verb (enough to read)
enough for + noun (enough for me)
ensure+
ensure that this will happen
*certain
estimate+
estimate to be
even
even richer than (emphasis on richer) earn as much $ as even the king (emphasis on king) WRONG richer even than earn even as much as the king
ever
more— than ever
WRONG
more– than / as never
expect+
expect the price TO fall
WRONG
price is expected for it to fall
expected that price should fall (need WILL)
expend–+
expend energy ON
WRONG
expend energy for
extent +
extent to which
WRONG
extent that
fact that
not the best, just use that or because
fault
criminals are at fault
WRONG
that the criminals broke the law is at fault
it’s the fault of the criminals
find that+
find that + simple past, not subjunctive
continue+
continue to
create – +
create — to
decide+
decide to
difficult+
difficult to
disincline+
disinclined to
expected+
expected to
elect–+
elect him to
equipped+
equipped to
forbid – +
forbid him to
object +
object to
persuade -+
persuade him to
reluctant+
reluctant to
from…to
from.. to
WRONG
from…down / up to
goal+
goal is to (verb)
hear +
heard that her investment had paid off (past perfect)
WRONG
heard of her investment paying off
help +
help (verb) rake help to rake help in raking WRONG help me in raking
hold that+
hold that (not subjunctive)
if
conditional - if costs go up, inflation can hurt (cause / effect) requires a consequence
provided+
provided that
in order to
indicates purpose
WRONG
so as to stay awake
for staying awake
indicate+
indicates that
indicative of
influence
influenced me
WRONG
influential ON me
inspire
inspire me
WRONG
inspiration to / an inspiration to me (not the best)
+instance
for instance
WRONG
as an instance
instead
avoided the arcade and instead went to a movie
WRONG - instead of
use rather than
intent+
intent of / to
interact+
interact with
interaction+
interaction with 1 another or each other
WRONG
interaction among
interaction with themselves
invest+
invest in..to do something
WRONG
invest into or invest for
invest in..for something
know
know her to be brilliant; known to be
WRONG
know her as brilliant (instead use known as [name]!)
lack+
lack of, lacking in
less+
less than - amount
lower than - weight
like
need to be clear what you’re comparing
WRONG
drives fast cars like his sister does
like his sis, so he drives fast cars
likely
likely to, that, more likely than or more than likely
loss +
loss of (quality) ex: weight loss in (investment / value) ex: \$\$
mandate+
mandate that
WRONG
mandate for
make
WRONG
made possible to resist –> better to say made it possible to resist
mass
truck HAS 10x the mass
WRONG
truck is 10x the mass
means+
means to
WRONG
means for / of
mistaken+
mistaken me for
WRONG
mistaken me as
mistaken me to
more
more # increase IN*
most
need THE most powerful
NATIVE +
NATIVE TO (for animals/ plants)
native of (for people)
WRONG
friend is native in US
not…but
comparison - must be same type did not eat (verb) but drank (verb) not a dog (noun) but a cat (noun) WRONG did not eat mangoes but other fruit
once
might once have seen
WRONG
might at one time
only
performance is exceeded only by theirs (only modifies theirs)
WRONG
perf is only exceeded by theirs (only modifies exceeded)
or
i do not want A or B
WRONG
i do not want A and B
order that +
order that +subj
order the agency to collect (+to+infinitive)
need certain word (WRONG: order…he should/would]
owe+
owe $ to the gvt FOR back taxes
WRONG
owe $………………B/C OF
pay+
employer pays for this job
WRONG
employer pays in this job
persuade+
persuade to infinitive
WRONG
persuade in going
persuade that she go / should go (not subjunctive)
potentially
WRONG
can potentially be (redundant)
privilege
used as noun: dancing privileges
WRONG
privilege to dance
probably
is probably as bad
may be as bad
WRONG
this IS MAYBE as bad - contradict
propose + or propose that+
propose that we do (subj)
propose this time
propose to meet
range+
range from anger to joy
range of emotions (variety)
widely ranging emotions (change overtime)
WRONG
range from anger and joy
widely ranging accomplishments (need range of accomplishments)
rank+
rank as
WRONG
has the rank of
rate+
rate for bus ticket (price)
rate of theft (frequency)
rather than
w pencils rather than w pens
WRONG
w pencils INSTEAD OF WITH pens (w pencils instead of pens)
reason+
reason to do work reason for work WRONG indicates a reason he is here reason is here is bc [redundant]
rebel+
rebel against
recognize+, or recognize that+
recognize that no subj
recognize him to be
WRONG
recognize as or as being
recommend that+
recommend that subj
reduce
reduced prices
reduction in
WRONG
reduction of
refer+
refers to
WRONG
in reference to
regard+
regard as
reluctant+
reluctant to
WRONG
reluctant about
report that –
report that + NOT subj
request that –
request that he be cleared (subj)
WRONG
request him to be
require –+, require that +
requires time to write / in order to write
required that subj
requires of her friend that work be done
restriction+
restriction on
WRONG
restriction for
result+
result from
result in
result of
reveal that+
reveal that NOT subj
rise+
oil price rose rise in price rising price rising of th esun WRONG RAISE in price rising OF price
rule that+
ruled that not subj
WRONG
ruled the plantiff TO BE
ruled ON the plaintiff
same…as (for comparison)
looks the same to me AS to you same time as you did WRONG same to me as you [need TO you] at same time you did [need AS you did]
secure
our authority is secure
WRONG
we are secure about our authority
seem+
it seems to it seems that [not subj] it seems as if WRONG seems like, like it
should
should be taken [obligation]
WRONG
should pass every 2 hours [probability]
not part of any subjunctive phrase [demand that he should be …]
show+
show that not subj
shows an obj to be strange
WRONG
shows an obj as strange (as being strange)
significant
significantly improved
significant improvement
WRONG
significant IN improving
similar
ALL companieS have similar issueS (companies, issues, both ||)
WRONG
EACH / EVERY co has similar issueS (each, every not plural)
since
since 1997 (up to now)
WRONG
x is the most successful AFTER 1997
so…as to
so hot as to burn
WRONG
such heat as to burn
so much heat as to burn
substitute
substituted — for —
WRONG
substituted – IN PLACE OF–
succeed
succeeded in reaching
WRONG
succeeded to reach
such
I hate such subject (such is more general)
I hate these subjects (these is specific)
such as
matt drives fast cars such as these such cars as these such as driving WRONG fast cars and the like other cars such as these such as by / to driving
suggest that+
suggests that + both subj and not
WRONG
is suggestive of great talent
surface
on the surface
WRONG
AT the surface
targeted
targeted at
WRONG
targeted TO
than
more…than
WRONG
more…as / rather than / instead of
think
thinks of them as heroes WRONG thought of by her as heroes thinks of them to be heroes thinks of them being heroes
train+
trained to
WRONG
trained for / in running
try+
try to build (intent / purpose)
WRONG
try and build (change meaning)
twice
twice as tall as
doubled
WRONG
increased by twice (just use doubled)
unlike
unlike the anteater, the aarfvark..
WRONG
unlike W the anteater,
use—
uses– to break
uses —as a weapon
WRONG
uses—like / to be/ for a weapon
variation+
variation in
WRONG
variation of / among
view+
view ..as (view the process as difficult)
WRONG
view…to be / like
way+
way of / in which / to…to
WRONG
way FOR reaching
best way is focusING [to focus]
weigh+
weigh less
is lighter
WRONG
weighs lighter
where
for location - where they grow
WRONG
incident represents a case where [use in which bc it’s not a location]
whether
don’t know whether i will go
whether or not
WRONG
don’t know IF i will go [need consequence for if]
whether…or
whether it was tasty or not
WRONG
whether trash or ALSO treasure
whose / whom
officer whose task was to
WRONG
officer, the task of whom, was to
with
WRONG
with only 25%, seniors get 50% (seniors are 25% not alongside the student body)
worry+
worry about
WRONG
worry over
