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GMAT Grammar Summary

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Parts of speech Can serve as either subject or object

Noun Gerund Infinitives Pronoun

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Countable Uncountable Base verb + ing. “to” + base verb The only part of speech that have different
- People (Singular) - Does not change in number - Does not change in number forms depending on whether it acts as a
- Animals - Liquids - Replace with a noun. If the - No splitting allowed! “‫”למד‬. subject or object.
- Physical Objects - Substances noun fits then it‟s a gerund. - To VS To have à Logic
- Materials Check Words
- Abstract Concepts
- Names Pronouns change in number
Before After Gerund
Gerund Read without “ing” Person Singular Plural
Singular Plural Singular Replace as if it‟s a verb. 1st
I We
Indefinite a/an
with any add “to” or subject 2nd (thou) You (always plural!)
___/ ___/ noun.
Article Some/Any Some/Any 3rd He, She, One, It They
Common words that can take “of”:
Definite the the the Approve, dispose, confess and A noun will always Never used for people
Article consists belong to the 3rd person Refers to a person
in general!
(information in
noun is known)

Quantity Words
Verbs To make sure a word is a verb, check if it belongs to one of the tenses.
Verb Conjugations
Countable Nouns Uncountable Nouns
Plural Singular
Present Simple Tense Present Simple Tense of Present Simple Tense of Past Simple Tense of
Many Much the verb “be” the verb “have” the verb “be”
Satisfying
Number or A few A little Unsatisfying 3rd person The rest: 1st Plural: are 3rd The rest: Singular: Plural:
amount Few little Number or
amount
singular: base base verb person person have was were
verb + s/es singular singular:
Fewer/fewest less/least (I): am has

Number Amount
Active and Passive Voices Connection form between the subject and the verb
Described only by great, large & small.
- Object = Doer OR doer not in clause.
- Structure: be (all forms) + past participle of the verb.
The words percent, percentages, score and rate can - Subject = Doer.
be described only by the words high and low
- active is better in The words evolve, derive, originate, double and graduate cannot be
terms of style used in the passive voice!
Adjective Adverb
Adjective is used after Adjectives do not change in Adjective is used before Adverb is used after Adverb is used before
number, except for q Manner
q A noun: unlimited number q A verb or q An adjective
q Linking verbs or their demonstrative adjectives. of adjectives is allowed, infinitive (after, ( ) adj adj noun
infinitives: be, become where the emphasis is
Adjective Types not necessarily ( ) adv adj noun:
(get & grow in the q Intensity: very, rather,
sorted in the ascending adjacent) 1. Logic
q Descriptive Adjective so, quite, little, much, far

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meaning of become), order, unless a comma is 2. Original meaning
remain (stay in the q Possessive Adjective used and then the q An adverb
meaning of remain), seem q A participle q Frequency:
emphasis is equal.

(Not an adjective)
(Adjective)
(appear in the meaning of „s ___ of ___ constantly,
q A participle
seem). ** Any part of speech of permanently, always,
- Possession - Possession
q The verbs of senses: - Family - Family speech before a noun that often, regularly,
q A verb
smell, feel, look, taste, describes the noun, turns into sometimes,
- Time exp. - Other
sound. an adjective. occasionally, rarely,
connections
seldom, never [++
No difference? gradually, eventually]
Present Past Noun q Degree: only, just,
Choose __ of __ Participle Participle Must be q Any part of
barely, scarcely,
q Quantity Adjective (verb + ing) (v3) = singular speech
= ACTIVE PASSIVE since it‟s
rarely, certainly,
q Cardinal Number Adjective (noun does now an definitely, even, Logic
q Ordinal Number Adjective the action) adjective! typically, virtually,
q Demonstrative Adjective almost, totally, fully,
q A gerund: same ruls as specifically, originally,
Relates to the noun that above. primarily, also.
follows it directly q Time & Place:
Commonly only in the
beginning or the end of
a sentence. When
adjacent first use the
word/phrase answering
the question “where”.
Conjunctions & Prepositions An adverb is built by adding the suffix “ly” to the adjective.
q Can only be conjunctions: although, even q Connect words and phrases. Exceptions q Hard q Hard
though, though, because, therefore, q Can appear: q Hardly (barely)
until, whether, thereby. 1. before a noun “A prepositional An adjective The adjective q Late q Late
q It‟s not allowed to omit the conjunction 2. before a gerund phrase” that ends with “good” q Lately (recently)
“that” on the GMAT. 3. before a pronoun “ly”: adverb becomes q High q High
4. before a noun phrase (noun and it‟s description) maintains the “well”
q Highly (very much)
same form. q Deep
q Although q In spite of q Deep
- Lovely
q Even though q Despite (“despite of” = WRONG) The adjective q Deeply (very much)
- Friendly
q Though “fast” remains q Wide q Wide
- Lively
q Until q Till “fast” q Widely (all over)
- Costly
q Flat q Flat
- Early
q Because q Because of q Flatly (exactly)
q Mere q Mere (as liitle as, only)
q But q But (means q Merely (simply)
simple)
Subject Verb Agreement
Subject Detection

Gerund precedes a Infinitive Infinitive precedes a Noun Before Preposition After Preposition Infinitive Infinitive
Noun Gerund Noun Noun
or Infinitive Infinitive
Gerund Pronoun Noun Noun Gerund Gerund

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or Gerund connected by Gerund or Connected by or
Pronoun or Pronoun Pronoun
or and (two or
Subject Subject Object Pronoun a preposition Pronoun more)
Don‟t confuse Object
with adjective Object Compound
(Adj = Active (ignore) Subject (plural)
voice) * If there are both an “and” and a
preposition, first ignore the preposition.

Infinitive Infinitive Infinitive Only possible when after


First / Middle Last Noun precedes an extra information phrase: can be Noun Noun the verb be there‟s a noun,
Infinitive Infinitive Gerund introduced by the expression as well as, along Gerund Gerund gerund, pronoun or
or with, together with, accompanied by, with the or Connected by or
Noun Noun Pronoun infinitive.
Gerund exception of, including or placed between commas Pronoun the verb „be‟ Pronoun
Gerund
or Connected by or or hyphens in the middle of the clause (between (all forms)
Pronoun
“nor”/”or” Pronoun Subject the subject and the verb). Subject Subject
Logic #2
Subject

Singular VS Plural
First subject Second First subject Always Only starting from Latin words require special attention Either, None,
= “there” +“be” subject = “it” singular 2 entities the Singular Plural Neither Each
determines noun is plural (not -um/-on (datum,medium) -a (data, media)
the number even 1.5) -is (basis, thesis) -es (bases, theses) Two entities More than
-us (alumnus, fungus) -I (alumni, fungi) (object) two entities

Some nouns that end with „s‟ are uncountable singular nouns: Some nouns end with The words: all, most, In percents or fractions, the subject
1. The noun “news”. „s‟ both as singular the majority, the also depends on the object:
2. School subjects & scientific fields (“….ics”). nouns and as plural minority, some and the q If the object is plural: calculate the
3. Names of sports. nouns: proportion can be both percent or fraction.
4. Names of diseases (measles, mumps, etc). q A means – means singular and plural. It q If the object is uncountable, the
5. Private names. q A series – series depends on the object subject is also singular.
6. Numbers + measures, age, time, sum. q A species – species

The word “number” can function as a noun or as an The following nouns are always singular: each none, either, neither,
adjective, depending on the article (A number = adjective, everyone, everybody, everything, anybody, anything, somebody,
The number = subject) something, no one, nobody and nothing.
Pronouns Pronouns change in number and in case (subject/object)

Number Person Subject Object Possessive Adjective Possessive Pronoun Reflexive Pronoun
st
1 I Me My Mine Myself
Singular 2nd ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
3rd He, She, It, Him, Her, His, Her, His, Hers, Himself, Herself, Itself, Oneself

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One One, it Its, One‟s Its, One‟s

1st We Us Our Ours Ourselves


Plural 2nd You You Your Yours Yourself (ref to 1 person, plural)/Yourselves
3rd They Them Their Theirs Themselves

Used: Used: Used: NEVER used: Used:


q In the beginning of q After a q Before a noun. q Before a noun. q To show the subject both gives and receives
a clause (not preposition. q Before a gerund – Possessive pronouns the action. (The subject and the object are
necessarily the first q After any verb replace gerund with act as nouns the same entity)
word) except the verb any noun, don‟t read themselves! q To show that the subject does the action
q after the verb “be” “be” as well as after it. There is no noun or alone
(all forms) as well the gerund gerund after a possessive q To show respect (noun + reflexive
as the gerund “being” and the pronoun. pronoun).
“being” and the infinitive “to q To put emphasis when the noun is a part of
infinitive “to be”. be” a group. (reflexive pronoun + noun / noun
phrase).

Pronoun Noun Agreement Generalizing nouns


A pronoun must agree in number, person and gender Countable Nouns:
with the noun it refers to. q Plural nouns (Lieography studies oceans)
q A Noun indicating a group of people is singular. q A/The + singular noun (if there is no “same noun “ mentioned in the sentence then the “same noun” will mean “same
q If there is more than one noun, it should be clear to noun” in general otherwise it will be specific.
which noun the pronoun refer to. *** Check: whether there is a singular or plural pronoun that relates to the noun after the underlined sentence: „a‟ vs. „the‟.
q A pronoun should refer only to one specific noun and Plural:
not to the general idea of a sentence. q Uncountable nouns: (Hematology studies blood)
q A pronoun cannot relate to an adjective.
q The pronoun “they” cannot relate to people in
general.
q If the pronoun “one” meaning a person in general is
used in a sentence, a subsequent pronoun referring
to the same pronoun must be “one”, ”he” or “she”.
q When the pronoun “he” replaces the pronoun “one”
or the noun “person”, “he” relates to people in
general. In all other cases “he” relates to one male
person.
q If the pronoun “you” meaning a person in general is
used in a sentence, a subsequent pronoun to the
same person must be “you”.
q That, Where, When – Can be relative pronouns or conjunctions. q When the relative clause is in the middle of the main clause it starts with
Relative Pronouns q Who, Whom, Which, Whose – Can only be relative pronouns. the relative pronoun and ends right before the verb of the main clause.
q Connect Clauses (main clause and relative clause)
q Relates to the preceding noun.
q Functions as the subject or the object of the relative clause.
Can come after prepositions Where vs. When
Any noun Refer to

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Whose q Which/Whom
Conjunction vs. Relative Pronoun Relates to more than one noun if The noun preceding:
People Refer to Who/Whom
q When there‟s a list with “and”. q The proposition must come q Where must
q The phrase is a name. Relative before the relative pronoun indicate place.
Things, Pronoun and not at the end or at the q When must
No Noun “That” Verb (right Animals, Refer to Which/That beginning of the relative indicate time.
(right before) after) Concepts pronoun.

Who vs. Whom: Whose Types of Relative Clauses and That vs. Which
q Who – subject relative pronoun. q A possessive pronoun. Essential Information Extra Information
q Whom – object relative pronoun q To check read the relative Relative Clause Relative Clause
TIP: Read relative clause by itself: clause by itself replacing
q Not separated by q Separated by
q Replace Who with He/They „whose‟ with „his‟, „their‟ or
Commas Commas
q Replace Whom with Him/Them „its‟.
q „That‟ & „Which‟ are q „That‟ is not
both fine. suitable.

Relative clause reduction It is allowed to omit the relative pronoun together with the verb be in these cases:

In Essential Information Relative Clauses In Extra Information Relative Clauses

Relative Comes Relative Comes Relative Comes When the relative clause is an extra
Pronoun Before Pronoun Before Pronoun Before definition of the preceding noun
Passive voice (verb + verb Prepositional phrase
verb in the
be + past participle) be
progressive tense (be
+ present participle
[verb+ing])
Noun + no comma + verb+ing Noun + no comma + past participle (V3) Noun + no comma + prepositional phrase Noun + comma + ex.info phrase + comma

ALWAYS the case of omitted ALWAYS the case of omitted NOT ALWAYS the case of omitted NOT ALWAYS the case of omitted
relative pronoun + verb be relative pronoun + verb be relative pronoun + verb be relative pronoun + verb be

On GMAT On GMAT On GMAT On GMAT


q Check whether the present participle q Check whether the past participle q Style q It‟s not allowed to switch the original
relates logically to the noun. relates logically to the noun. subject with the extra information
q Progressive tense vs. simple tense. q Progressive tense vs. simple tense. phrase/clause.
q Style: it‟s better to omit. q Style: it‟s better to omit. q Style
q Modifies the clause to which it refers q Separated by a comma
Participle Modifier q Starts with a participle and appears either before or after the clause q Will never appear between the subject and the verb

Present Participle Past Participle The Participle Relates to The Subject Active, Passive and time of action
(verb+ing) (V3) q A subject must be in the beginning of Time Active Passive
the clause, right after the comma - not

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Simultaneously Present Participle Past Participle
a verb or a prepositional phrase.
with the verb (Verb + ing) (V3)
Can be preceded by Participle Participle modifier, subject ... verb...

q Preposition q The modifier must relate to the right Preceding the Having + Past Having + Been +
q Adverb
q Both together
B subject logically. verb Participle
OR
Past Participle
OR
Participle modifier, subject ... verb... After + Present After + Being +
Cannot be preceded by Participle Past Participle
Participle Logic
q Noun
On GMAT
q
q
Pronoun
Adjective N q When the first word of each choice is
different, check whether the participle
q Gerund
modifier is in the non-underlined part
of the sentence.

Omitting the participle „being‟ Negation q To make a sentence negative, add the particle „not‟ to the auxiliary verb

q If the participle modifier starts with „being‟ in the beginning of the


sentence, it‟s possible to omit it. Negative words and phrases that q Two negative words or phrases cannot be used in the same
Being…. , subject..verb… make a clause negative clause, but can be used in different clauses.
q No q Never q A few negative verbs can be used in one clause
q Do not confuse with extra information phrases in which the phrase is q Nor q Nowhere (ex: he doesn‟t eat and doesn‟t talk)
separated by commas in both sides q None q Seldom Therefore: whenever there is a negation word, read the entire
subject …. , extra info , ..verb… q Neither q Rarely sentence, including the non-underlined part.
q Neither...nor… q Hardly Prefixes and suffixes of words that just sound like negation
q If the subject in the clause is preceded by a phrase that starts with a q Nobody q Scarcely words but are not since they do not make the entire clause
noun or an adjective, separated by a comma: it is the case of q No one q Barely negative:
omitted participle „being‟. Imagine it and check rules according to it. q Nothing
Being Noun/Adjective…. , subject..verb… q Prefixes: im, un, in, ir, il, a, dis, mis
q A suffix: less
There is no double negation in
q Modifying phrases with omitted participle „being‟ can only appear English. It is not allowed to add the
before the clause. negative particle „not‟ to the
subject..verb… , Being…. WRONG N auxiliary verb of the clause in
which a negative word or phrase is
q All other rules of participle modifiers apply used.
q Style: It‟s better to omit the participle modifier „being‟
Parallelism In Lists If the information in a sentence is given in the form of a list, all the parts of speech should be parallel.

Types of lists Suitable Parts of Speech


No Mixing q (Adverb) Adjective – (Adverb) Adjective q Infinitive – Infinitive
q _______ and _______ Allowed à The particle „to‟ is mandatory only in the first infinitive.
q _______ , _______ (,) and _______ à To improve style it is better to omit the second „to‟.

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q Both _______ (,) and _______ Suffixes that indicate adjectives:
à If there are more than one infinitives, the second one
q _______ or _______ -al -ic -ous -able/ible -ant/ent -ful -less -ive
determines whether to omit the other „to‟ particles or not.
q _______ , _______ (,) or _______ à Must be parallel also in clauses with the verb „be‟
q Either _______ (,) or _______ ! Nouns and participles can also function
([{sub listing
q Neither _______(,) nor _______ allowed}]) as adjectives when they are placed before q Gerund – Gerund
q _______ (,) as well as _______ nouns or gerunds. à Must be parallel also in clauses with the verb „be‟
q Not only _______ (,) but (also) _______ q Adverb – Adverb q Nouns, Pronouns and Noun Phrases
q _______ (,) rather than _______
q Not _______ (,) but _______ q Verb – Verb
Parts of
q Not _______ (,) but rather _______ Verbs can be used in different tenses and Suffixes that indicate nouns:
speech must
q One _______ , another _______ voices (active/passive) in the same list. -ness -ty -cy -tion -sure -ance/ence -ry -ment
agree
q The one _______ , the other _______
logically ! It‟s also allowed to use gerunds together with the above,
q Some _______ , others _______ q Participle – Participle
Logic but only if there is no noun and the only possible way to
The active (verb+ing) and the passive (v3) replace it is as a gerund.
participles can be used in the same list.
q Prepositional Phrase – Prepositional Phrase
à Use either 2 prepositional phrases or 2 noun phrases
Zeugma à If a single preposition is used it must connect correctly to all of the parts of speech it is referring to,
otherwise a suitable preposition must be placed before each suitable word.
To avoid the list of independent clauses it is allowed to
à When verbs of the list appear after a modal verb repeating the modal verb is wrong.
omit the same verb.
Modal verbs: can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must.
Ellipsis à When an auxiliary + past participle are used (perfect tense) repeating the auxiliary is wrong
Auxiliaries: have, has, had, will have, etc...
Ellipsis is the omission of unnecessary words
à Never omit any part of the first verb, only the second Parallelism (Lists) of Clauses q Dependent Clause – Dependent Clause
à When omitting the second verb, make sure that there is à If there is no comma before „and‟/‟but‟ - „and‟/‟but‟ is a
no object following the verb in the non-underlined part It‟s possible to make lists of full clauses,
either dependent clauses or relative list word, not a conjunction.
of the sentence. à Use Logic
à Reminded: a past participle in the passive voice clauses. The following list words are used:
q _______ (,) and _______
(?check) is not a part of the verb. q Relative Clause – Relative Clause
q _______ (,) or _______
à In lists of relative pronouns, check whether both relative
q _______ (,) but _______ pronouns relate correctly to the noun preceding the first
q _______ (,) yet _______ relative clause.
! There is no parallelism of Independent à If you see the word „that‟ in the list, make sure that in all
clauses! parts of the list the word „that‟ is eiter the conjunction or the
à If there is no comma before and/but, relative pronoun.
there cannot be a subject+verb right
after it!
à After „or‟ there can never be a
subject+verb
Tenses – Past & Present When tenses are checked in a SC question, the verbs change in tense, not in number
Present Simple Tense Present Progressive Tense Past Simple Tense Past Progressive Tense
“indefinite tense” à Present Simple of be + present participle à Verb+ed/V2 à Past Simple of be (was/were) +
à 3rd person, singular – base verb + s/es. q Actions in Progress(Process) (gradually, q General Information in the Past present participle
à The rest – base verb step by step, steadily, little by little, more q Past Actions in Progress(Process)
Be Have and more, ever more, increasingly, slowly,
q 1st person singular – am q 3rd person singular
Past Present Future (gradually, step by step, steadily, little

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q 3rd person singular – is
rapidly, fast, quickly, or no time indications) q Past Events With Time Indication by little, more and more, ever more,
– has
q The rest - are Common verbs that indicate actions in
q The rest – have (yesterday, last year, last month, last increasingly, slowly, rapidly, fast,
progress: become, change, develop, week, a year ago, two weeks ago, etc. quickly, or no time indications)
q General Information (no time indication) improve, increase, decrease. in + year, century, era, {for, since, … ….…
… ……
….… never, once, twice… if there is Past Present Future
……
Past Present Future Past ……
Present Future another indication that the action has q Past continuous actions limited by time
q Repeatedly occurring actions (can be q Actions occurring at the time of speaking ended} on+date) (at + hour, from…. till….)
used with any adverb of frequency) (now, still, at the moment, while, for the time
being, meanwhile, currently) Past Present Future Past Present Future
Past Present Future q Two continues actions occurring
q Scheduled future actions (by timetables Past Present Future simultaneously in the past (the
or calendars) q Actions occurring close to the time of conjunction while or when (as) must
speaking (now, still, at the moment, while, connect the two clauses)
Past Present Future for the time being, meanwhile, currently, Past Perfect Simple Tense
nowadays, today, this summer, this season, à had + past participle Past Present Future
this year, etc) q One action in the past preceded q A continues action in the past was
or
Present Perfect Simple Tense another action in the past (before, interrupted by a short action (the
à Present Simple of have + past participle Past Present Future earlier, after) – Both actions must be conjunction while or when (as) must
q Actions Which Started at the Past and q Planned future actions (according to the verbs! connect the two clauses)
Continue in the Present (since, for, lately, subject‟s personal plans, NOT calendars)
recently, so far, never {for duration, not as Past Present Future Past Present Future
an adverb of frequency}, always {duration, Past Present Future Remember:
not frequency – one action, before, yet, q Do not use the past perfect simple
already, once, twice, three times/thrice...). tense if there is no other verb in the
…………….…
Present Perfect Progressive Tense
à Present Simple of have + been + present sentence.
Past Present Future
participle q Do not use the past perfect simple
q The Action Has Ended Right Now (right tense if there is no other verb in the Past Perfect Progressive Tense
q The same usage of the Present Perfect
now, just, already, recent, recently, lately) past tense in the sentence à had + been + present participle
Simple Tense, but only for continuous
actions q Always check in which order the q The usage of the past perfect
Past Present Future …………….… actions occurred -> past perfect progressive tense is similar to that
q The Action Has Ended, But The Present happens before past simple.
Past Present Future of the past perfect simple tense,
Period of Time Continues (once, twice, q The difference is in the Logic when q Make sure you do not confuse the but only for continuous actions
three times, etc. this..) past perfect simple tense and the
the tenses are used to express q The past perfect progressive tense
…………….…
connection between the reason and present perfect simple tense. can also be used to emphasize:
Past Present Future result. q Use the past perfect tense when one q The duration of time
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive verb in the past preceded another
q Connection: q Connection:
q That when the second action started
purpose<->result result
verb in the past. the first action continued

The order of actions


….Past Perfect Past Perfect Past Simple Present Perfect Future Simple Future Simple….
Tenses – Future & More For all the future tenses, use the auxiliary „will‟ and not „shall‟

Future Simple Tense Future Progressive Tense Reported Speech


à will + base verb à will + be + present participle If a sentence is transformed from the direct speech (“I was here,” he said) to
q General information in the future (with no q Future actions in progress (gradually, step the reported speech (He said that he had been here) the reported verb (was-
time indication). >had been) will change when the reporting verb (said) is in the past tense.

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by step, steadily, little by little, more and
more, ever more, increasingly, slowly, Direct Speech Reported Speech
Past Present Future rapidly, fast, quickly, or no time indications) q Present Simple q Past Simple
q Future Events With Future Time .… q Present Progressive q Past Progressive
……
… ……
Indications (next year, next month, etc. in a Past Present Future q Present Perfect Simple q Past Perfect Simple
year, in two weeks, etc. tomorrow, for, in + q Future continues actions limited by time (at q Present Perfect Progressive q Past Perfect Progressive
year, century, era, on + date) + hour, from...till) q Past Simple q Past Perfect Simple
q Past Progressive q Past Perfect Progressive
Past Present Future Past Present Future q Past Perfect Simple q No Change
Future simple >> Not planned actions/ not q Past Perfect Progressive q No Change
known or important whether planned. Future Perfect Progressive Tense q Future Simple q Future Past Simple
VS à will + have + been + present participle q Future Progressive q Future Past Progressive
Present Progressive >> Planned actions. q Virtually the same as the future perfect q Future Perfect Simple q Future Past Perfect Simple
simple tense q Future Perfect Progressive q Future Past Perfect Progressive
Believe, think, hope, guess, suppose, q Used to emphasize:
predict, evaluate, probably, likely, unlikely + q The duration of time q Present q Past
Future Simple, not Present Progressive! q That the action will continue q Past q Past Perfect
q Future: Will q Would
Future Perfect Simple Tense
à will + have + past participle Auxiliaries/Helping verbs
q Show that a certain period of time will be Auxiliary Tenses
completed in the future and/or to show q Am, is, are q Present Progressive
that an action will complete rather than q Present Simple of the verb „be‟
take place with the time indication „by‟ q Do does q Present Simple
q Have, has q Present Perfect Simple
…………….………….….. q Present Perfect Progressive
Past Present Future q Was, were q Past Progressive
q Past Simple of the verb „be‟
q Did q Past Simple
Stative Verbs List of Verbs in Simple Tenses q Had q Past Perfect Simple
q Every verb can be used q If the verbs in the same simple q Past Perfect Progressive
q Will q All the Future Tenses
in the simple tense but tense appear as the list, then the
not every verb can be order of the actions is the same as q Would q All the Future Past Tenses
used in the progressive the order of the verbs in the list q Conditionals
tense. (, = ,then / and = and then) q Can, could, shall, q Modal verbs showing probability,
q The most common q There must be the word „and‟ should, may, might obligation, permission.
stative verbs are CLIPS: before „after + present participle‟. ,must
consist, lack, include, q In participle modifier vs. a list of q Instead of learning the above, you can build a clause in the question
propose and suggest. verbs (with the word and) form to identify the helping verb.
use Logic
Comparisons q Comparisons indicate degrees of difference or equality with adjectives or adverbs. Logic
Logic Logic
Comparative and Superlative Than Comparative Form With Numbers and Definite Article
q Used to compare two entities. q If there is a number before a compared noun, check whether the
= 2 entities > 2 entities
q Check spelling definite article „the‟ appears before the comparative form or before
q An article (the/a) or the q The definite article (the)
q Can only be used after the the number. The position of the article changes the meaning.
possessive adjective or the possessive

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can precede the adjective commonly
comparative form or in the q The more than + number = CORRECT
expression „rather than‟ q More than the + number = WRONG
comparative form. Or it precede the superlative
q Can be used as either a q More than number – check whether the article is necessary, read
can be used alone form.
preposition or a conjunction. without the number.
Building the comparative and superlative forms
Emphasizing the Comparative Form Comparing an Entity With a Group
Case Comparative Superlative q To strengthen the adj. or the adv. In the q To use the comparative form to compare
q One syllable q Add „er‟ q Add „est‟ comparative form put the adverb of an entity to the rest of the kind, use the
adjectives or intensity „much‟ or „far‟ before it. expression „than any other‟ to exclude
adverbs q To weaken the adj. or the adv. In the the entity from the rest.
comparative form put the adverb of q If the entity is part of the group use:
q Two syllable q Remove „y‟ and q Remove „y‟ and intensity „a little‟ before it. „than any other‟
adjective with „y‟ add „ier‟ add „iest‟ q To make the comparative form very q If the entity is not part of the group use:
at the end. weak put the adverb of intensity „little‟ „than any‟
Lovely as an adjective Lovelier Loveliest before it.
q To show that there is no comparison, Double Comparatives
q Two syllable q More + adjective /adverb q Most + adjective / q In double comparatives two clauses
use the word „no‟ before the comparative
adjectives not adverb rather than two entities are compared.
form. Do not use „not‟!
ending with „y‟
q Much less – CORRECT;
q Two or more

Rest of the
Rest of the

2nd clause
1st clause
q Little less – CORRECT; The + Comma + The +
syllable adverbs comparative comparative
q Little more – CORRECT;
Lovely as an adverb More lovely Most lovely form form
q No less – CORRECT;
q Three or more
syllable adjective Equality Form Comparing by Number Multiples
q To show that one entity is equal to q Number multiples half, twice, three
q Two syllable q Adjective + „er‟ q Adjective + „est‟ another use the expression: “as + times, etc. can precede the expression:
adjective with „er‟ or or adjective/adverb + as”. This expression “as + adjective/adverb + as” when the
or „ow‟ at the end more + adjective most + adjective is valid for both negative and affirmative number multiples are used in their literal
clauses. meaning (something measurable)
Exceptions:
q For negative clauses only, it‟s also Hint: when an exact number is used, it is
q Many (adj) q More q Most
possible to use this expression: “so + a hint that the number is really meant, so
q Much (adj/adv) q More q Most
adjective/adverb + as” use this form.
q Little (adj/adv) q Less q Least
q The expressions “as much as” and “as q Number multiples half, twice, three
q Good/Well q Better q Best
many as” are used to compare entities times, etc. can precede the comparative
q Bad/Badly q Worse q Worst in quantity.
q Old q Older/Elder (elder = people) q Oldest/Eldest form when the number multiples are
(to decide whether to use much or many, check the
q Far q used in figurative meaning as adverbs
q Farther/Further Farthest/Furthest noun at the end of the second compared clause)
of intensity (something not
(farther = distance) q The expressions “equal to” and “the measurable).
equivalent of” are used to compare
entities in quality.
Comparisons
Logic Parallelism and Style As, Like or Such As
In sentences with comparisons check:
q Logic (are the entities comparable?) q „as‟ - preposition or conjunction
q Parallelism q „as‟ - as a preposition it means „in the position of‟. Both entities are the same
q Style (avoid repeating words) q „as‟ - as a conjunction it means „in the same manner‟. (remember subject & verb)

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Note: as a conjunction: different entities work in the same manner.
Parallelism and Style q „like‟ - preposition
q Possessive Adjective + Noun – Possessive Adjective + Noun q „like‟ - means similar to. Used to compare different entities.
à Style: Possessive Adjective + Noun – Possessive Pronoun q „just like‟ - makes no sense, just = exactly, like = similar...
q Noun + Prepositional Phrase – Noun + Prepositional Phrase q „such as‟ - used to give an example to the noun it refers to.
à Style: Singular Noun + Prepositional Phrase – „that‟ + Prepositional Phrase q „such as‟ - an expression which refers to the preceding noun
à Style: Plural Noun + Prepositional Phrase – „those‟ + Prepositional Phrase q „such as‟ - it is preferable to separate the phrase introduced by „such as‟ with commas.

q Noun + Relative Clause – Noun + Relative Clause A as B A such as B A like B


à Style: Singular Noun + Relative Clause – „that/the one‟ + Prepositional Phrase
à Style: Plural Noun + Relative Clause – „those/the ones‟ + Prepositional Phrase
B
! It/they – the same entity (can be compared only in different periods of time) A = B A A = B
! That/those/the one/the ones – not the same entity
q Sometimes the sentence is ambiguous in a way that it can be interpreted in more than
one way, and to solve the ambiguity, one should add the auxiliary verb after the
second entity.
Compared To vs. Compared With
! If there are at least three nouns in the sentence, choose the option with the auxiliary q The expressions: „compared to‟, „comparing to‟, „in comparison to‟, „in
verb (if there is one). comparisons to and „on comparing to‟ are used to show similarity.
! If there are only two nouns, chose the one without the auxiliary verb, as it has better q In comparison to/compared to… = likely/like.
style. q The expressions: „compared with, „comparing with, „in comparison with, „in
comparisons with‟ and „on comparing with‟ are used to show similarity.
Illogical and Redundant Comparison q In comparison with/compared with… = unlikely/unlike.
q If the adjective or the adverb is used in any form of comparisons – make sure that the
comparisons of the adjective or the adverb make sense.
q Check whether the comparisons do not repeat the adjective or the adverb.
q These words can never be used in any forms of comparisons: Unique, Superior to,
Inferior to, Equal to, Similar to, Different from, Identical with, Average, Neutral
Extra Information Phrases
q If there is an extra information phrase in a sentence containing comparisons, read the
sentence without the extra information phrase to check whether the comparisons are
correct.
q Instead of using extra information phrases such as “if not + comparative form + than
or or even+ comparative form + than”, one can use the expression “at least as +
adjective/adverb + as”.
q Note that the form “at least as + adjective/adverb + as” with an extra information
phrase such as “if not…” is redundant.
Conditional Sentences
Unreal Condition
Conditional Sentences with The Conjunction If q The action will not or did not occur
Real Condition Unreal Future
q It‟s possible that the action will occur or If + Subject + Past Simple (always plural) + , + Subject + Would + Base Verb.
q The action usually occurs under certain OR

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conditions. Subject + Would + Base Verb + if + subject + Past Simple (always plural)
Possible Future
If + Subject + Present Simple + , + Subject + Future Simple. Modal Verbs: „might‟ or „could‟ instead of „would‟
OR
Subject + Future Simple + if + Subject + Present Simple Inversion:
Past simple auxiliary Were/Did + subject + , + subject + would (/modal)+ Base Verb
Inversion: Should + Subject + Base Verb + , + Subject + Future Simple.
Unreal Past
Modal Verbs: „may‟ or „can‟ instead of Future Simple Tense If + Subject + Past Perfect + , + Subject + Would + have + Past Participle (V3).
OR
Command Subject + Would + have + Past Participle (V3) + if + subject + Past Perfect
If + Subject + Present Simple + , + Imperative Form
OR Modal Verbs: „might‟ or „could‟ instead of „would‟
Imperative Form + if + Subject + Present Simple
Inversion: Should + Subject + Base Verb + , + Imperative Form Inversion:
Past simple auxiliary Had + Subject + Past Participle + , + Subject + Would (/modal)
+ Have + Past Participle
Habitual Condition – Repeating Conditional Actions Conditional Sentences With The Verb Wish
If + Subject + Present Simple + , + Subject + Present Simple.
Unreal Future Subject + wish + (that {optional}) + Subject + would + Base Verb.
OR
Unreal Present Subject + wish + (that {optional}) + Subject + Past Simple (always plural).
Subject + Present Simple + if + Subject + Present Simple
Unreal Past Subject + wish + (that {optional}) + Subject + Past Perfect.
Inversion: NOT USED
Remmember
q There is no verbs „will‟ or „would‟ after the conjunction if.
q The verb „was‟ is never used after the conjunction „if‟, „as If‟ and „as though‟ and
Other Conjunctions That Can Be Used In Real Condition: unless, until, when, the verb wish.
as soon as, after, before, the moment, the next time, in case, as long as. q There is no comma before the conjunction if.
q In conditional sentences with the conjunction „if‟, two clauses must match in type
The Following Rules Still Apply: of condition and tense.
q Present Simple Tense (not future) is used after the conjunction, even if the
action will probably occur in the future. Conditional Sentences With The Conjunction „as if‟ or „as though‟
q When the sentence starts with the independent clause, there is no comma Present Unreal
before the conjunction. The past simple tense verb in the plural form is used after the conjunction „as if‟ or
„as though‟.
Past Unreal
The past perfect tense is used after the conjunction „as if‟ or „as though‟.
Subjunctive The base verb form used after the verbs of demand. The subjunctive and the verb of demand appear in different clauses connected by the conjunction „that‟.
Rules The Verbs of Demand
q The verbs of demand can be used in any tenses. q Demand q Mandate q Decree q Propose q Suggest* After the verb „suggest‟,
q The conjunction „that‟ cannot be omitted. q Require q Oblige q Urge q Recommend q Prefer either the subjunctive or
q The subjunctive does not change in number or in person. q Request q Command q Move q Advise „should + base verb‟ can
q Do not add verbs (such as should/will/would etc…) to the subjunctive. q Stipulate q Order q Insist q Ask be used

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q After some of the verbs of demand the infinitive can be used instead
of the subjunctive (and without the conjunction „that‟). To decide, first Redundancy Redundancy is evil
eliminate all other wrong answers. If left with either with the infinitive
q Verbs that begin with the prefix re______, cannot be followed by: „back‟, „again‟ or „over‟
or without, choose without.
q Verbs that begin with the prefix co______, cannot be followed by: „together‟.
q Verbs that indicate upward movement cannot be followed by: „up‟.
Style (Both correct but x is better style) q Verbs that indicate downward movement cannot be followed by: „down‟.
q Verbs should not be followed by a preposition with the same meaning as the verb.
q
q
Active Voice is better than Passive Voice.
Omitted Relative Pronoun + Verb „be‟ is better than not omitted
WRONG N RIGHT B
q Annual/ly …… a year/yearly q Either Annual/ly or a year/yealy
Relative Pronoun + Verb „be‟ q Sufficient(ly) …… enough q Either
q In Comparisons, it is better not to repeat the same noun, but to replace q The reason …… because q The reason …… that
it with that/those/the one/the ones/possessive pronoun. q The reason …… why q The reason
q It is better to use adjective + noun than noun + relative pronoun + q Whether or not q Whether
verb „be‟ + adjective. q After …… over q After
q Subject + Verb is better than There + Verb + subject/object. q The origin …… comes from q Either originates from or comes from
q It is better to use a verb than a verb + object q The origin …… derives from q Either originates from or derives from
q In Lists of Infinitives it is better to omit „to‟ starting from the second q Irregardles q Regardless
infinitive. q Because of the fact that/of q Because of/Because
q It is better to omit the participle „being‟ in the beginning of the sentence. q Despite the fact that/of q Despite
q Regarding the issue of q Regarding
Don‟t Check Other Differences
Tips q Because (of) – correct
Commonly Confused Words
First Check Other Differences q On the accounts of/that – wrong q Accept – ‫לקבל‬ q Disinterested – ‫לא מעורב‬
q Because (of) – correct q On the grounds of/that – wrong q Except – ‫חוץ מ‬ q Uninterested – ‫לא מעוניין‬
q Due to – wrong q For the reason that/of – wrong. q Adept - ‫מומחה‬ q Infer – ‫להבין רמז‬
q In that q Adapt – ‫להסתגל‬ q Imply – ‫לרמוז‬
q Because – correct q Being that – wrong (no such idiom) q Adept - ‫לאמץ‬ q Principle (noun) ‫עקרון‬
q Since – wrong q Advice – noun ‫המלצה בנוגע להמשך‬ q Principal (adjective) ‫עקרוני‬
q Rather than – correct ‫פעולה‬ q Principal (noun) ‫מנהל‬
q Can – correct q Instead (of) – wrong q Advise – verb ‫ להמליץ‬,‫לתת המלצה‬ q Principal (noun) ‫הקרן ריבית‬
q Am/is/are able to – wrong q Device – ‫מכשיר‬ q Economic – ‫כלכלי‬
(physical only) q In order to – correct q Devise – ‫להמציא‬ q Economical /Thrifty ‫חסכוני‬
q In the interest of – wrong q Affect – ‫להשפיע‬ q Historic – ‫קשור לנושא היסטוריה‬
q ____ of ____ - correct q Effect – ‫תוצאה‬ q Historical – ‫משפיע על ההיסטוריה‬
q ____‟s ____ - wrong q Whether – correct q Effect - verb ‫לגרום משהו שלילי‬ q Philosophic – ‫קשור לנושא פילוסופיה‬
q If – wrong q Affect -noun –‫מושג רפואי של הלם‬ q Philosophical - meditational.
q Rather than q Allude to – ‫להתייחס ל‬ q Live – ‫בשידור חי‬
q Than (if there is a q Hope – correct q Ellude (no “from”) – ‫לברוח‬ q Alive - ‫בחיים‬
comparative form before) q Hopefully (only spiritual hope)
Idioms
q In order to + base verb and to + base verb q The prepositions „between‟ and „among‟
à If the clause starts with the expression of purpose: à Use „between„ when two entities are mentioned.
In order to + base verb or to + base verb than the phrase that starts with it à Use „among‟ when more than two entities are mentioned.
refers to the first noun or pronoun after the comma. q The phrases „each other‟ and „one another‟
à The impersonal pronoun „it‟ or „there‟ can never appear after the comma when à Use „each other„ when two entities are mentioned.

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the sentence starts with „in order to‟ or „to‟. à Use „one another‟ when more than two entities are mentioned.
à The word to which „in order to‟ relates can be subject or object. q The adjectives „superior‟, „inferior‟, „similar‟ and „equal‟ must be followed by the
à If the clause ends with the expression of purpose, there is no comma and the preposition „to‟
phrase starting with „in order to‟ or „to‟ refers to the first noun or pronoun of the q The verb „differ‟ and the adjective „different‟ must be followed by the preposition
clause. from.
à „To‟ is better style than „In order to‟
à So that + subject + will/can/may/could + base verb (no other words allowed) q The noun „dispute‟/‟debate‟ must be followed by the preposition „over‟
à So as to – Wrong. q The verb „result‟ and the noun „result‟
à As to – Wrong. à The verb result is followed by the preposition „from‟ or „in‟
à So to – Wrong. à The noun result is followed by the preposition „of‟
q So + adjective or adverb + that + clause q The verbs „aim‟ and „target‟
à The conjunction that cannot be omitted. must be followed by the preposition „at‟ + object or infinitive.
à So + adjective or adverb + as + infinitive – there is no comparisons, so it must q Able/ity/Possible/ity VS. Capable/ity
not be negative. Check whether the infinitive relates correctly to the subject. à The words „able‟/‟possible‟ and „ability‟/‟possibility‟ must be followed by the infinitive.
à Such + noun or noun phrase + that + clause à The words „capable‟ and „capability‟ are followed by the preposition „of‟ + gerund.
à adjective or adverb + enough + infinitive
q Known as VS. known + infinitive
q With / To à Known as = famous/recognized.
à The preposition „with‟ is used to indicate a two side connection. à Known + infinitive = there is knowledge.
à The preposition „to‟ is used to indicate a one side connection q Allow/Permit + infinitive
à If a verb begins with the prefix „co‟ (co = together in Latin) then the verb is always q „Aid‟
followed by the preposition „with‟. à „Aid‟ (noun) + in + object.
à „With‟ is also used after the adjective „identical‟, the verb „associate‟ and the à „Aid‟ (verb) + infinitive.
words „married‟ and „engaged‟. à „Aid‟ (verb) + with + object
q The verbs „seem‟ and „appear‟ must be followed by the infinitive/adjective. q „Try‟/‟Attempt‟ + infinitive
q Remember: someone is/was/will be/etc credited with something q „impact‟
à To express the same idea, one can also use the expression: à „Impact‟ (noun) + on + object.
something is/was/will be/etc attributed to someone. à „Impact‟ (verb) + object

q Do not confuse the verbs „forbid‟ and „prohibit‟ q „To have grounds for‟ + object
à Forbid someone + infinitive
à Prohibit from + gerund
à If there is no action, then use object: forbid/prohibit + something.
q The words: used, functions, defined, depicted, identified, viewed, seen,
shown, described, ascribed, acclaimed, recognized, perceived and regarded
must be followed by the preposition „as‟.
q The word considered must be followed by the direct object

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