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Parallelism (Apples + Oranges)
This error is not a frequently encountered error, but it is worth knowing and practicing such errors. In such sentences, generally two things or items are compared.
- When the sentence compares two items. Ask yourself, can they be really compared?
- When the sentence compares two actions as well.
Usually, the problem is with hidden comparison where two things or actions are compared, but another two items or actions are intertwined and you lose the comparison relationship.
Example: "Synthetic oils burn less efficiently than natural oils."
The sentence is wrong because we are trying to compare how well each oil burns and not the oils themselves. But do you see how the actual thing being compared is easily missed?
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Quantity Words
- The words measuring quantity may be used incorrectly. For example, when comparing two items, it would be inappropriate to use "among" to compare them. Here's a chart:
2 items if more than 2
Between among
More most
Better best
Less least
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Items that can't be counted should not use quantity words. For example, you can't say "fewer soup". Here's a chart:
Non-countable words Countable words
Less fewer
Amount, quantity number
Much many
- When two distinct words or phrases are joined by the correlatives
either, or,
neither, nor, not only, but also, the number (singular or plural) of the word or phrase nearest to the verb determines the number of the verb.
- Example: Either his parents or he is bringing it (notice "is" is singular) This can be a confusing sentence because parents is plural, but we pay attention to he which is the noun "he" tells us that we need to keep "is" singular.
- Example: Either he or his parents are bringing it. Notice "parents" is plural and is the closest to the verb so we use "are" which is plural.
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Idioms
Such sentences incorporate incorrect usage of idiomatic expressions. There are no rules. Really need good English familiarity.
Overall rule: If it's not one of the previous 7, then it's very likely an idiom expression test question. Watch for the prepositions (to, the, of, at, for, on, in, about, etc.,) changing among the answer choices. This usually implies an Idiomatic problem, if not a Parallel Construction problem
Major Idioms you should be pretty familiar with:
- a debate over
- a lot
- a responsibility to
- a result of
- a sequence of
- acclaimed as is the correct idiom (Acclaimed to be is wrong)
- accompanied by....
- adapted for
- Adverb twice cannot be an object of proposition 'by'. 'Increase by twice' is incorrect; 'doubled' is correct
- affect to..
- agree with
- Aid in (Aid for is incorrect)
- Allergy to (Allergy of, allergy for are incorrect)
- Allocated to is the correct idiom
- alternative to....
- as a result of...
- as an instance of
- as good as...or better than
- as great as
- as much as
- Associate X with Y
- assume ...to be of...
- At least as strong as(At least as great as)
- Attempt to 'do something' (Attempt at doing is incorrect).
- attend to (someone)
- attribute X to Y/X is attributed to Y
- based on
- believe X to be Y
- Believed to have
- benefit from...
- better served by X than Y ..
- between X and Y
- Both X and Y (Both X as well as Y is incorrect) Both at X and at Y is correct. Both on X or on Y is correct.
- Business ethics - Is a singular word
- call...to consider...
- centers on
- Combined X with Y OR Combined X and Y (Both are correct)
- Compensate for
- Concerned for - worried; concerned with - related/affiliated
- conform to
- Consider X to be Y (a little controversial)
- contrary to...
- created with
- Credit X Rupees to Y's account (When money is involved)
- Credit X with discovering Y (Credit with doing something)
- decline in....
- defined as
- depends on whether
- depicted as
- Descendent of (Descendent for is incorrect)
- Different from one another (Different one from the other is wrong)
- Distinguish between X and Y (2 very different items, distinguished, say red and green colors)
- Distinguish between X and Y (Distinguish X from Y is incorrect)
- Distinguish X from Y (Two pretty similar items, say original paintings from fake ones)
- doubt that
- either...or
- enable to
- entrusted with...
- Estimated to be (Estimated at is incorrect)
- expected that X would be Y ...
- expected X to be Y ...
- extent to ...
- fascinated by
- for jobs..
- for over...XXX years...
- forbid X to do Y identical with
- forcing ...to...
- From X to Y (Grow from 2 million to 3 billion) (From X up to Y is wrong)
- Given credit for being ones - who
- had better(do)
- In an attempt to (gain control)
- in contrast to
- independent from
- indifferent towards
- Intent on
- interaction of ...
- Just as - So too
- May be (This is a word) is idiomatic, maybe (This means perhaps) is not idiomatic
- Mistake X for Y
- modeled after
- more than ever
- more X than Y ...
- more...than / less...than
- more...than ever...
- must have (done)
- Native of (Native to is also used in some cases)
- Neither - Nor should have parallel forms associated to it.
- no less....than
- No sooner than
- Not in a flash but in a
- not only...but also
- Not so much to X as to Y
- not X ...but rather Y ..
- noted that ..
- one attributes X (an effect) to Y (a cause)
- One X for every ZZ( some numeric number) Y's ...
- Persuaded X to do Y
- Plead guilty for failing
- Potential for causing
- potential to
- prohibits X from doing Y
- range from X to Y
- range of ...
- reason….. that incorrectly seen as reason….. because
- "Regard as" is the correct idiom -- Regarded as having, Regarded as ones who have
- regardless
- regards X as Y ...
- replacing with...
- Require that X be Y (Not require that X is Y)
- research to
- responsible for
- restitution...for ...
- resulting in
- retroactive to
- Same as X..as to Y
- same to X as to Y
- seem...to...(seem is plural)
- so (adjective) that
- So X as to be Y (So unreal as to be true)
- So X that Y (So poor that they steal)
- subscribe to
- such...as
- targeted at
- that X ...that Y ...
- That X is called for is indicated both by Y and by Z.
- the same to X as to Y
- to .. used to (example to get used to or to become used to)
- to contrast X with Y
- To exchange X for Y (exchange X with Y or any other form is incorrect)
- to mistake X for Y
- to monitor ...
- to orbit...
- To ratify (At ratifying is incorrect) An attempt to ratify is the correct use
- to result in
- to sacrifice X for Y
- to survive
- To try to fix is the right idiom (to try and fix is incorrect)
- To worry about someone's condition (To keep worrying over an action)
- used in the construction...
- used to (do)
- viewed marriage as
- way to provide (Way for providing is incorrect)
- When 'rates' means 'prices charged' it should be followed with 'for'
- widely anticipated that....
- Worried about (When talking about someone's condition)
- X [is] expected to Y
- X as Y ..
- X forbids Y to do Z ...
- X is attributed to Y
- X is different from Y (different than Y is incorrect)
- X is to what Y is to
- X is unknown, nor it is known - is a correct idiom (Neither is not required)
- X ordered that Y be Z'ed...
- X ordered Y to be Z'ed..
- X ordered Y to do Z
- X prohobits Y from doing Z ...
* Resemblance between X and Y , also X resembles to Y
There are three types of idioms that you'll see on the GMAT:
word pairs that go together
prepositions and the verbs that use them
standard expressions.
'It-- must always follow a noun, not an action.
Eg. Wrong : Frank says I took his cookies, but I didn't do it.
Right : Frank says I took his cookies, but I didn't take them.
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Scientists estimate (on the basis of Y) X
2. Scientists estimate (based on Y) X
I think 1 sounds better.
Maybe . . . .
Nouns = based on, "The verdict was based on X"
Verbs/action = on the basis of, "The jury ruled on the basis of X"
Required of ---- It is required of you to wear formals in office (aap se umeed ki jaati hai ki aap office mein formals pahen ke aaenge.)
Required by ----- Timely supply of raw materials is required by the company. (company ko jaroorat hai.)
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