TRANSCRIPTS SESSION 7 VERBAL

or the list of GMAT idioms, refer to the concepts. Make sure you memorize the idioms, since they are
very often tested on the GMAT.

Below is the list with examples of those idioms that are most often tested on the GMAT, make sure you
know them all.
1. Beside vs. Besides

Beside - at the side of. Rob sits beside Ann.

Besides in addition to. Besides Rob, Ann has many other friends. (Rob is not
the only friend Ann has)

2. As such vs. Such as

As such - in itself. This issue is interesting as such.
Such as for example. Interesting people such as
3. Compared to vs. Compared with
Compared to is used to compare unlike things.

This truck can be compared to a giant and powerful monster.

Compared with is used to compare like things.

I have compared your essay with Jasons to make sure you did not cheat.

4. Agree to vs. Agree with

Agree to is used to show agreement to an idea.

The manager agreed to the directors idea to hire more people.

Agree with is used to show agreement with a person.

Jason agreed with his father.

Page | 1

TRANSCRIPTS SESSION 7 VERBAL

5. So vs. So that
So therefore. Shows a consequence; often such consequence may be unintended.

You have good education and tremendous experience, so you don't need
to worry about finding a good job.

So that - in order to. This construction is used to show a purpose.

Frederick plans to get an MBA degree so that he does not have to worry
about finding a good job.

6. Due to vs. Because of/Owing to

Due to caused by. Due to is used to modify nouns not verbs, while because of/owing to modify
verbs.

Wrong: The train was delayed due to heavy snowfalls.

We cannot modify the verb was cancelled with due to.

Use because of/owing to:

Correct: The train was cancelled because of/owing to heavy snowfalls.

Alternatively you can rephrase the sentence, so that the modified word is a noun

Correct: The train delay was due to heavy snowfalls. In this example due to
modifies the noun train delay.

7. Verbs such as: know, teach, learn, show often require the word how to follow.

Every soldier should know how to clean his weapon.

8. If vs. Whether
Page | 2

TRANSCRIPTS SESSION 7 VERBAL

If is never correct on the GMAT unless you have a conditional sentence.

Wrong: It is often hard to determine if a suspect is dishonest.

Correct: It is often hard to determine whether a suspect is dishonest.

Note that whether or not is considered redundant and is incorrect on the GMAT.
9. Being
Being is almost always wrong on the GMAT.

Wrong: The exam being failed has become a real problem for her.
Wrong: The fact that she failed the exam has become a real problem for
her.
Correct: That she failed the exam has become a real problem for her.

Note that the original sentence tells us the exam has become a real problem. But it is the fact that she
failed her exam has become a real problem. However, the fact that is not concise.
10. Usual vs. Is usual
Usual is used to compare a thing to itself:

This year our harvest is better than usual.

Is usual is used to compare a thing to other similar things:

Brand clothes cost more than is usual for clothes.

11. Consider vs. Consider to be

Consider to be is never correct on the GMAT.

Wrong: Critics consider this movie to be great.

Correct: Critics consider this movie great.

Page | 3

TRANSCRIPTS SESSION 7 VERBAL

12. Like vs. Such as

Like is used to show similarity.

Fish like pike and perch lives no longer than 5 years.

In this case like shows that fish which are somehow similar to pike and perch, for example are
freshwater predators or have the same size do not live more than 5 years.
Such as is used to show examples or a subset of a group.

Some freshwater fish such as pike and perch lives no longer than 5 years.

In this case perch and pike are examples of freshwater fish that lives no longer than 5 years.
13. Like vs. As/ As if/As though
Like is used to compare nouns or pronouns.

My mothers lemonade tastes like glue.

As is used before a clause, an adverb or a prepositional phrase.

My mothers lemonade tastes great, as a mothers lemonade should.

As if and as though are used before clauses.

He smiles as if he is the happiest person in the world.

Jason looked at me as though it was my fault.

14. Until vs. As long as

Until is used to express a point of time in the future.

We will stay outside until he comes.

Page | 4

TRANSCRIPTS SESSION 7 VERBAL

As long as implies that one thing will occur if another is still true.

We will stay outside as long as it's not raining.

15. Lie vs. Lay

We lay something, but after we lay it, it lies. For example:

Lay the dress on the table.

BUT

The dress lies on the table.

Refer to the list of irregular verbs in concepts to see how past tenses of lay and lie are formed.
16. Rise vs. Raise
Similarly to lay and lie, we raise something, but when something performs an action by itself, it
rises. For example:

She raised her hand.

BUT

The sun rises every morning.

17. Farther vs. Further

Farther can be used to denote only a more remote distance. Further is used to speak of abstract
distance, basically implying that something has advanced to a greater degree.

She travelled farther than her parents ever did.

Let me explain further.

Page | 5