GMAT PREP

Verbal Review: Session 12

GRAMMAR REVIEW AND SENTENCE CORRECTION

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Autor: Edward Vialardi
 GMAT PREP
Verbal Review: Session 12

VERBS AS COMPLEMENTS

1. Some verbs are always followed by the infinitive:

Advise Claim Fail Need Resolve Venture

Agree Come Get Offer Say Volunteer
Appear Consent Grow (up) Pay Seek Wait
Arrange Dare Guarantee Permit Seem Want
Ask Decide Hesitate Prepare Shudder Wish
Attempt Demand Hope Pretend Strive Would like
Beg Deserve Hurry Profess Struggle yearn
Can’t afford Determine Incline Promise Swear
Can’t wait Elect Learn Prove Tend
Care Endeavor Manage Refuse Threaten
Chance Expect Mean (= intend Remain Turn out
Choose Request

Ex. John expects to begin studying law next semester.

Mary learned to swim when she was very young.
The budget committee decided to postpone this meeting
The president will attempt to reduce inflation in the next four years.
The soldiers are preparing to attack the village.
Cynthia has agreed to act as a liaison between the two countries.

2. And some verbs are always followed by the gerund

Abhor Consider Enjoy Keep (=continue) Postpone Risk

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Acknowledge Defend Escape Keep on Practice Shirk

Admit Delay Evade Mention Prevent Shun
Allow Deny Explain Mind (=object to) Put off Suggest
Anticipate Detest Fancy Miss Recall Support
Appreciate Discontinue Feel like Necessitate Recollect Tolerate
Avoid Discuss Feign Omit Recommend Understand
Be worth Dislike Finish Picture Report Urge
Can’t help Dispute Forgive Resent warrant
Celebrate Dread Give up (=stop) Resist
Endure Imagine Resume

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Ex. John admitted stealing the jewels.
We enjoyed seeing them again after so many years.
You shouldn’t risk entering that building in its present condition.
Michael was considering buying a new car until the prices went up.
The Coast Guard has reported seeing another ship in the Florida Straits.
Would you mind not smoking in this office?

Note: John decided not to buy the car.

We regretted not going to the party last night.

3. The following verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or the gerund with no change in
meaning.

Begin
Can’t bear
Can’t stand
Continue
Hate
Like
Love
Prefer
Propose
Regret
start

Ex. He started to study after dinner or he started studying after dinner.

Note: After a preposition, the verb will always be in the gerund form.
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There are some expressions that contain the preposition to.(object to, look forward to, confess to, get through to, be used to,
be accustomed to, oppose to). The word to in these expressions must not be confused with the to in the infinitive.
Ex. Mary insisted on taking the bus instead of the plane.
Henry is thinking of going to France in August.
We are not looking forward to going back to school.
Fred confessed to stealing the jewels.

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 4. Prepositions with adjectives:

Accustomed Afraid of Astonished at Amazed at Alarmed at Absorved in Angry with sb Angry at sth
to
Anxious about Anxious for Ashamed of Annoyed with Annoyed at Bad at Capable of Clever at
(for trouble) (wishing a lot) sb sth
Certain of Careful of Composed of Cured of Content with Covered Compared Compared
with with (similar to (dissinilar
things) thing
Different from Disappointed Disappointed Dependent on Delighted Displeased Dissatisfied Disgusted
in (sth isn’t of (when we with with with with
what we fail to get a
expected) thing)
Doubtful of (dressed) in Engaged to Fond of Frightened Full of Filled with Good at sth
of
Good in(a Guilty of Glad of/about Glad at + Intend on Indifferent to Interested in Incapable
place,a sth gerund of
class..)
Indignant with Indignant at sth Inferior to Independent Junior to Jealous of Nervous Married to
sb of about
Opposite to Puzzled at Pleased with Pleased Popular with Preferable Proud of Prior to
(all senses) with/at to
+abstract
noun
Quick at Related to Sure of Successful in Senior to Surprised at Slow at Shy of
Satisfied with Suspicious of Similar to Superior to Shocked at Tired of(fed Tired with Used to
up with) (with no (soler)
energy left)
Used of (se Vexed with sb Vexed at sth Weary with Weary of Weak in Worried
usa para/con) (with no (fed up with) about
energy left)

Ex. We are accustomed to sleeping late on weekends.

Phoebe is fond of dancing

Prepositions with nouns:

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Answer to Chance of Choice of Confidence in Cure for Danger to

Doubt of/about Experience in Exception to Disadvantage to Excuse for Have the pleasure
(but:with the of
exception of)
Have difficulty in Intention of Make an attack on Method for/of Possibility of Repentance for
Relation to Resemblance Search of Take pleasure in Reason for
to/between

Ex. George has no excuse for dropping out of school

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5. Adjectives followed by the infinitive:
The following adjectives are always followed by the infinitive form of the verb and never by the
gerund

Anxious Boring Dangerous Hard Eager

Easy Good Strange Pleased Prepared

Ready Able* Usual Common Difficult

*Able means the same as capable in many instances, but the grammar is very different. While able is followed by the
infinitive, capable is followed by of + (verb ing)
Ex. These students are not yet able to handle such difficult problems.
These students are not yet capable of handling such difficult problems.

Ex. Mohammad is eager to see his family.

It is dangerous to drive in this weather.
We are ready to leave now.
It is difficult to pass this test.
It is uncommon to find such good crops in this section of the country
Ritsuko was pleased to be admitted to the college.

Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or the gerund, but the meaning changes.
STOP REMEMBER FORGET GO ON QUIT TRY
Ex. John stopped studying. (John is not going to study anymore)
John stopped to study. (John stopped doing something in order to study)
Jack went on writing novels ( jack continued to write novels)
Jack went on to write novels ( jack ended some other activity and began writing novels)
She quit working at Macy’s ( She isn’t working there anymore)
She quit to work at Macy’s ( She quit another job in order to work at Macy’s)

6. Pronouns Before the Gerund or Infinitive:

In cases where the infinitive is used as a complement, any noun or pronoun directly preceding it will be in the complement
form. Some common verbs which are followed by the infinitive and which often require an indirect object are: allow, ask, beg,
convince, expect, instruct, invite, order, permit, persuade, prepare, promise, urge, want.

Ex. Joe asked Mary to call him when she woke up. We ordered him to appear in court.
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I urge you to reconsider your decision. They were trying to persuade him to change his mind
The teacher permitted them to turn their assignments in late.
However, before the gerund, a noun or pronoun must appear in the possessive form.
Ex. We understand your not being able to stay longer. He regrets her leaving.
We are looking forward to their coming next year. We object to their calling at this hour.
We don’t approve of John’s buying this house. We resent the teacher’s not announcing the test.

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 Exercises
Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. The teacher decided (accepting/to accept) the paper.

2. They appreciate (to have/having) this information.

3. His father doesn’t approve of his (going/to go) to Europe.

4. We found it very difficult (reaching/to reach) a decision.

5. Donna is interested in (to open/opening) a bar.

6. George has no intention of (leaving/to leave) the city now.

7. we are eager (to return/returning) to school in the fall.

8. You would be better off(to buy/ buying) this car.

9. She refused (to accept/accepting) the gift.

10. Mary regrets (to be/being) the one to have to tell him

11. George pretended (to be/being) sick yesterday

12. Carlos hopes (to finish/finishing) his thesis this year.

13. They agreed (to leave/leaving) early.

14. Helen was anxious (to tell/ telling) her family about her promotion.

15. We are not ready (to stop/stopping) this research at this time.

16. Henry shouldn’t risk (to drive/driving) so fast.

17. He demands (to know/knowing) what is going on

18. She is looking forward to (return/ returning) to her country.

19. There is no excuse for (to leave/leaving) the room in this condition.

20. Gerald returned to his home after (to leave/leaving) the game.

21. Richard is expecting (us/our) to go to class tomorrow.

22. You shouldn’t rely on (him/his) calling you in the morning.

23. They don’t approve of (us/our) leaving early.

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24. George asked (me/ my) to call him last night.

25. We understand (him/his) having to leave early

26. John resented (George/George’s) losing the paper.

27. We object to (the defense attorney/ the defense attorney’s) calling the extra witness

28. we are expecting (Henry/Henry’s) to call us

29. They are looking forward to (us/our) visiting them

30. Susan regrets (John/John’s) being in trouble

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 SENTENCE CORRECTION: Putting everything together

1. A letter by Mark Twain, written in the same year as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were published, reveals that
Twain provided financial assistance to one of the first Black students at Yale Law School.
(A) A letter by Mark Twain, written in the same year as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were published,
(B) A letter by Mark Twain, written in the same year of publication as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,
(C) A letter by Mark Twain, written in the same year that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published,
(D) Mark Twain wrote a letter in the same year as he published The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that
(E) Mark Twain wrote a letter in the same year of publication as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that

2. A little under a million years ago, the briny waters of the Baltic Sea began flooding into the cold North Atlantic:
geologists are still debating whether the flood was gradual or created a cataclysm.
(A) whether the flood was gradual or created a cataclysm
(B) if the flood was gradual or created a cataclysm
(C) about whether the flood was gradual or cataclysmic
(D) whether the flood was gradual or cataclysmic
(E) whether the flood was gradual or it created a cataclysm

3. A majority of the international journalists surveyed view nuclear power stations as unsafe at present but that they will,
or could, be made sufficiently safe in the future.
(A) that they will, or could,
(B) that they would, or could,
(C) they will be or could
(D) think that they will be or could
(E) think the power stations would or could

4. A migraine typically afflicts one side of the head, lasts for hours or days, and may recur as infrequently as once every
other month or often, as daily.
(A) as infrequently as once every other month or often, as
(B) as infrequently as once every other month or as often as
(C) infrequently, as often as once every other month, or often, like
(D) infrequently, like once every other month, or often, like
(E) infrequently, like once every other month, or as often as

5. A new phenomena, which is visible at Managua’s major intersections, are waves of vendors and beggars, which
include many children and mob cars at the stoplights.
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(A) A new phenomena, which is visible at Managua’s major intersections, are waves of vendors and beggars, which
include many children and
(B) Visible at Managua’s major intersections are waves of vendors and beggars with many children, new phenomena
that
(C) A new phenomenon visible at Managua’s major intersections is waves of vendors and beggars, many of them
children, who
(D) Phenomenally new waves of vendors, beggars, and many children are visible at Managua’s major intersections,
which
(E) A wave of vendors and beggars, many of whom are children, are visible at Managua’s major intersections, where
they are a new phenomenon and

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 6. A number of linguists contend that all of the thousands of languages spoken by the world’s five billion people can be
traced back to a common root language.
(A) that all of the thousands of languages spoken by the world’s five billion people can be traced
(B) that the world’s five billion people speak thousands of languages of which all can be traced
(C) the world’s five billion people speak thousands of languages which are all traceable
(D) all of the thousands of languages spoken by the world’s five billion people to be traceable
(E) the ability to trace all of the thousands of languages that are spoken by the world’s five billion people

7. A patient accusing a doctor of malpractice will find it difficult to prove damage if there is a lack of some other doctor to
testify about proper medical procedures.
(A) if there is a lack of some other doctor to testify
(B) unless there will be another doctor to testify
(C) without another doctor’s testimony
(D) should there be no testimony from some other doctor
(E) lacking another doctor to testify

8. A peculiar feature of the embryonic mammalian circulatory system is that in the area of the heart the cells adhere to
one another, beating in unison and adopting specialized orientations exclusive of one another.
(A) beating in unison and adopting
(B) they beat in unison while adopting
(C) beat in unison, and adopt
(D) beating in unison yet adopting
(E) even though they beat in unison and adopt

9. A President entering the final two years of a second term is likely to be at a severe disadvantage and is often unable to
carry out a legislative program.
(A) likely to be at a severe disadvantage and is often unable to
(B) likely severely disadvantaged and often unable to
(C) liable to be severely disadvantaged and cannot often
(D) liable that he or she is at a severe disadvantage and cannot often
(E) at a severe disadvantage, often likely to be unable that he or she can

10. A prolific architect who worked from the turn of the century until the late 1950’s, Julia Morgan designed nearly 800
buildings in California, perhaps most notably William Randolph Hearst’s monumental estate at San Simeon.
(A) Julia Morgan designed nearly 800 buildings in California, perhaps most notably William Randolph Hearst’s
monumental estate at San Simeon
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(B) perhaps the most notable of the nearly 800 buildings in California designed by Julia Morgan was William Randolph
Hearst’s monumental estate at San Simeon
(C) of the nearly 800 buildings in California designed by Julia Morgan, perhaps the most notable was William Randolph
Hearst’s monumental estate at San Simeon
(D) nearly 800 buildings in California were designed by Julia Morgan, of which William Randolph Hearst’s monumental
estate at San Simeon is perhaps the most notable
(E) William Randolph Hearst’s monumental estate at San Simeon is perhaps the most notable of the nearly 800
buildings in California designed by Julia Morgan

11. A proposal has been made to trim the horns from rhinoceroses to discourage poachers; the question is whether tourists

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 will continue to visit game parks and see rhinoceroses after their horns are trimmed.
(A) whether tourists will continue to visit game parks and see rhinoceroses after their horns are
(B) whether tourists will continue to visit game parks to see one once their horns are
(C) whether tourists will continue to visit game parks to see rhinoceroses once the animals’ horns have been
(D) if tourists will continue to visit game parks and see rhinoceroses once the animals’ horns are
(E) if tourists will continue to visit game parks to see one after the animals’ horns have been

12. A recent national study of the public schools shows that there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils,
four times as many than there were four years ago.
(A) there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were
(B) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were
(C) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were
(D) every thirty-two pupils now have one microcomputer, four times as many than there were
(E) every thirty-two pupils now has one microcomputer, four times as many as

13. A recent New York Times editorial criticized the city’s election board for, first of all, failing to replace outmoded voting
machines prone to breakdowns, and secondarily, for their failure to investigate allegations of corruption involving board
members.
(A) secondarily, for their failure to
(B) secondly, for their failure to
(C) secondly, that they failed and did not
(D) second, that they failed to
(E) second, for failing to

14. A recent study has found that within the past few years, many doctors had elected early retirement rather than face the
threats of lawsuits and the rising costs of malpractice insurance.
(A) had elected early retirement rather than face
(B) had elected early retirement instead of facing
(C) have elected retiring early instead of facing
(D) have elected to retire early rather than facing
(E) have elected to retire early rather than face

15. A recent study of ancient clay deposits has provided new evidence supporting the theory of global forest fires ignited by
a meteorite impact that contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs and many other creatures some 65 million years
ago.
(A) supporting the theory of global forest fires ignited by a meteorite impact that
(B) supporting the theory that global forest fires ignited by a meteorite impact
(C) that supports the theory of global forest fires that were ignited by a meteorite impact and that
(D) in support of the theory that global forest fires were ignited by a meteorite impact and that
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(E) of support for the theory of a meteorite impact that ignited global forest fires and

16. A recording system was so secretly installed and operated in the Kennedy Oval Office that even Theodore C.
Sorensen, the White House counsel, did not know it existed.
(A) A recording system was so secretly installed and operated in the Kennedy Oval Office that
(B) So secret was a recording system installation and operation in the Kennedy Oval Office
(C) It was so secret that a recording system was installed and operated in the Kennedy Oval Office
(D) A recording system that was so secretly installed and operated in the Kennedy Oval Office
(E) Installed and operated so secretly in the Kennedy Oval Office was a recording system that

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 17. A report by the American Academy for the Advancement of Science has concluded that much of the currently
uncontrolled dioxins to which North Americans are exposed comes from the incineration of wastes.
(A) much of the currently uncontrolled dioxins to which North Americans are exposed comes
(B) much of the currently uncontrolled dioxins that North Americans are exposed to come
(C) much of the dioxins that are currently uncontrolled and that North Americans are exposed to comes
(D) many of the dioxins that are currently uncontrolled and North Americans are exposed to come
(E) many of the currently uncontrolled dioxins to which North Americans are exposed come

18. A representative of the Women’s Bureau of the United States Department of Labor contends that employers who offer
benefits which permit that employees can balance home and work responsibilities better, realizing gains in attendance,
recruiting, and retention.
(A) which permit that employees can balance home and work responsibilities better, realizing
(B) which permit employees balancing home and work responsibilities better will realize
(C) that permit employees to balance the responsibilities of home and work better will realize
(D) that permit employees a better balance between the responsibilities of home and work, thus realizing
(E) such that employees are permitted a balance between home and work responsibilities, and they will realize

19. A shy, religious-minded publisher who had married a duke’s daughter, Harold Macmillan’s rise to the position of Prime
Minister in 1957 surprised many, though Churchill had since the 1930s been extolling Macmillan’s courage.
(A) Harold Macmillan’s rise to the position of Prime Minister in 1957 surprised many
(B) Harold Macmillan’s rise in 1957 to the position of Prime Minister surprised many
(C) Harold Macmillan’s becoming Prime Minister in 1957 surprised many
(D) Harold Macmillan surprised many by rising to the position of Prime Minister in 1957
(E) the position of Prime Minister attained by Harold Macmillan in 1957 surprised many

20. A special Japanese green tea called genmai-cha contains brown rice and is considered as a delicacy fit for a gourmet
by most Japanese, though it is virtually unavailable outside Yokohama.
(A) A special Japanese green tea called genmai-cha contains brown rice and is considered as a delicacy fit for a
gourmet by most Japanese, though it is virtually unavailable outside Yokohama.
(B) Considered to be a delicacy fit for a gourmet by most Japanese, genmai-cha is a special green tea that contains
brown rice, virtually unavailable outside Yokohama.
(C) A special Japanese green tea called genmai-cha contains brown rice and is considered a gourmet delicacy by most
Japanese, though it is virtually unavailable outside Yokohama.
(D) Most Japanese consider genmai-cha, a special green tea which contains brown rice, as a delicacy virtually
unavailable outside Yokohama.
(E) Though virtually unavailable outside Yokohama, most Japanese consider genmai-cha, a special green tea that
contains brown rice, a gourmet delicacy.

21. A star will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole after it passes through a red giant stage,
depending on mass.
(A) A star will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole after it passes through a red giant
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stage, depending on mass.

(B) After passing through a red giant stage, depending on its mass, a star will compress itself into a white dwarf, a
neutron star, or a black hole.
(C) After passing through a red giant stage, a star’s mass will determine if it compresses itself into a white dwarf, a
neutron star, or a black hole.
(D) Mass determines whether a star, after passing through the red giant stage, will compress itself into a white dwarf, a
neutron star, or a black hole.
(E) The mass of a star, after passing through the red giant stage, will determine whether it compresses itself into a
white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.

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A if and whether
We can use if or whether to say that two possibilities have been talked about, or to say that people are not sure about something:
• They couldn’t decide whether/if it was worth re-sitting the exam.
• I doubt whether/if anyone else agrees with me.
Whether can usually be followed directly by or not. Compare:
• I didn’t know if Tom was coming or not. (not…if or not Tom was coming.) and
• I didn’t know whether or not Tom was coming. (or … whether Tom was coming or not.)

B We prefer whether rather than if:

▪ after the verbs advise, consider, discuss:
• You should consider carefully whether the car you are interested in is good value.
▪ before to-infinitives and after prepositions:
• I couldn’t decide whether to buy apples or bananas.
• We argued about whether women are more liberated in Britain or the USA.
▪ in a clause acting as a subject or complement:
• Whether the minister will quit over the issue remains to be seen.
• The first issue is whether he knew he was committing a crime.
▪ in the pattern noun + as to + whether to mean ‘about’ or ‘concerning’:
• There was some disagreement as to whether he was eligible to play for France.
Other nouns commonly used in this pattern are debate, discussion, doubt, question, uncertainty.

C These sentences include other words and phrases used to introduce conditional clauses:
• We`ll have the meeting this afternoon, provided/providing (that) no-one objects.
• Supposing (that) they ask me why I resigned from my last job – what should I say?
• I’ll write to you every week – as/so long as you promise to reply.

END OF SESSION 7
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