GMAT Idioms - Manhattan Prep
2023/2024
ABILITY - ANSWER-RIGHT:
I value my ABILITY TO SING.
(Note: I CAN SING is preferred to I HAVE THE ABILITY TO SING).
WRONG:
I value my ABILITY OF SINGING.
I value my ABILITY FOR SINGING.
I value the ABILITY FOR me TO SING.
ACT - ANSWER-RIGHT:
The bay ACTED AS a funnel for the tide. (= functioned as)
My friend ACTED LIKE a fool. (= behaved in a similar manner)
SUSPECT:
The bay ACTED LIKE a funnel for the tide.
NOTE: ACT LIKE/AS -> whether the author intends metaphorical comparison (= LIKE) or function (= AS). If
"actual function" is possible, use AS.
AFFECT I EFFECT - ANSWER-RIGHT:
The new rules will AFFECT our performance .
SUSPECT:
The new rules will CAUSE AN EFFECT ON our performance.
WRONG:
The new rules will CAUSE AN EFFECT ON our performance.
AFTER - ANSWER-AFTER:
AFTER the gold rush, the mining town collapsed.
SUSPECT:
,FOLLOWING the gold rush, the mining town collapsed.(ambiguous)
AGGRAVATE - ANSWER-RIGHT:
His behavior AGGRAVATED the problem. (= made worse)
WRONG:
His behavior WAS AGGRAVATING TO the problem. (= was annoying to)
AGREE - ANSWER-RIGHT:
They AGREE THAT electrons EXIST.
Electrons are particles THAT physicists AGREE EXIST.
SUSPECT:
There is AGREEMENT AMONG them THAT electrons exist.
They AGREE electrons EXIST (AGREE THAT is preferred)
Electrons are particles THAT physicists AGREE ON AS EXISTING.
WRONG:
There is AGREEMENT AMONG them TO THE FACT THAT electrons exist.
Electrons are particles physicists AGREE THAT EXIST.
Electrons are particles physicists AGREE TO EXIST.
AID - ANSWER-RIGHT:
She AIDS her neighbor.
She provides AID TO victims. AID FOR victims is available.
Her AID IN WALKING the dog was appreciated.
WRONG:
Her AID TO WALK the dog was appreciated.
AIM - ANSWER-RIGHT:
We adopted new procedures AIMED AT REDUCING theft.
We adopted new procedures WITH THE AIM OF REDUCING theft.
, SUSPECT:
We adopted new policies, THE AIM OF WHICH was TO REDUCE theft.
WRONG:
We adopted new policies WITH THE AIM TO REDUCE theft.
ALLOW - ANSWER-RIGHT:
The holiday ALLOWS Maria TO WATCH the movie today. (= permits)
Maria WAS ALLOWED TO WATCH the movie.
The demolition of the old building ALLOWS FOR new construction. (= permits the existence of)
WRONG:
The holiday ALLOWED FOR Maria TO WATCH the movie.
The holiday ALLOWED Maria the WATCHING OF the movie.
The holiday ALLOWS THAT homework BE done (or CAN BE done).
Homework is ALLOWED FOR DOING BY Maria.
The ALLOWING OF shopping TO DO (or TO BE DONE).
ALTHOUGH - ANSWER-See BUT.
AMONG - ANSWER-See BETWEEN.
AND - ANSWER-RIGHT:
We are concerned about the forests AND the oceans.
We are concerned about the forests, the oceans,AND the mountains.
We work all night, AND we sleep all day. (note the comma before AND)
SUSPECT:
We are concerned about the forests AND ALSO the oceans.
We work all night AND we sleep all day. (link 2 clauses with comma + AND)
WRONG:
We are concerned about the forests, ALSO the oceans.
2023/2024
ABILITY - ANSWER-RIGHT:
I value my ABILITY TO SING.
(Note: I CAN SING is preferred to I HAVE THE ABILITY TO SING).
WRONG:
I value my ABILITY OF SINGING.
I value my ABILITY FOR SINGING.
I value the ABILITY FOR me TO SING.
ACT - ANSWER-RIGHT:
The bay ACTED AS a funnel for the tide. (= functioned as)
My friend ACTED LIKE a fool. (= behaved in a similar manner)
SUSPECT:
The bay ACTED LIKE a funnel for the tide.
NOTE: ACT LIKE/AS -> whether the author intends metaphorical comparison (= LIKE) or function (= AS). If
"actual function" is possible, use AS.
AFFECT I EFFECT - ANSWER-RIGHT:
The new rules will AFFECT our performance .
SUSPECT:
The new rules will CAUSE AN EFFECT ON our performance.
WRONG:
The new rules will CAUSE AN EFFECT ON our performance.
AFTER - ANSWER-AFTER:
AFTER the gold rush, the mining town collapsed.
SUSPECT:
,FOLLOWING the gold rush, the mining town collapsed.(ambiguous)
AGGRAVATE - ANSWER-RIGHT:
His behavior AGGRAVATED the problem. (= made worse)
WRONG:
His behavior WAS AGGRAVATING TO the problem. (= was annoying to)
AGREE - ANSWER-RIGHT:
They AGREE THAT electrons EXIST.
Electrons are particles THAT physicists AGREE EXIST.
SUSPECT:
There is AGREEMENT AMONG them THAT electrons exist.
They AGREE electrons EXIST (AGREE THAT is preferred)
Electrons are particles THAT physicists AGREE ON AS EXISTING.
WRONG:
There is AGREEMENT AMONG them TO THE FACT THAT electrons exist.
Electrons are particles physicists AGREE THAT EXIST.
Electrons are particles physicists AGREE TO EXIST.
AID - ANSWER-RIGHT:
She AIDS her neighbor.
She provides AID TO victims. AID FOR victims is available.
Her AID IN WALKING the dog was appreciated.
WRONG:
Her AID TO WALK the dog was appreciated.
AIM - ANSWER-RIGHT:
We adopted new procedures AIMED AT REDUCING theft.
We adopted new procedures WITH THE AIM OF REDUCING theft.
, SUSPECT:
We adopted new policies, THE AIM OF WHICH was TO REDUCE theft.
WRONG:
We adopted new policies WITH THE AIM TO REDUCE theft.
ALLOW - ANSWER-RIGHT:
The holiday ALLOWS Maria TO WATCH the movie today. (= permits)
Maria WAS ALLOWED TO WATCH the movie.
The demolition of the old building ALLOWS FOR new construction. (= permits the existence of)
WRONG:
The holiday ALLOWED FOR Maria TO WATCH the movie.
The holiday ALLOWED Maria the WATCHING OF the movie.
The holiday ALLOWS THAT homework BE done (or CAN BE done).
Homework is ALLOWED FOR DOING BY Maria.
The ALLOWING OF shopping TO DO (or TO BE DONE).
ALTHOUGH - ANSWER-See BUT.
AMONG - ANSWER-See BETWEEN.
AND - ANSWER-RIGHT:
We are concerned about the forests AND the oceans.
We are concerned about the forests, the oceans,AND the mountains.
We work all night, AND we sleep all day. (note the comma before AND)
SUSPECT:
We are concerned about the forests AND ALSO the oceans.
We work all night AND we sleep all day. (link 2 clauses with comma + AND)
WRONG:
We are concerned about the forests, ALSO the oceans.
