base form technique to validate idioms

Expert replies

concept: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 58; Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:26 am; Thanked: 2 times; GMAT Score:770

by concept » Mon May 31, 2010 9:55 am

I read a question in OG that required a selection between 'awareness about' and 'awareness of' and I ended up choosing the wrong idiom 'awareness about'. After I read the explanation, I formulated kind of a method to deduce the preposition that follows the noun by selecting the one that would fit better with the base noun form. I can easily tell 'aware of' is correct and 'aware about' is not. Now I want to know whether the rule is proper and has universal applicability.

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Mon May 31, 2010 9:55 am

money9111: Legendary Member; Posts: 2109; Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pmFollowed by: 79 members; Location: New Jersey; Thanked: 109 times; GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Tue Jun 01, 2010 1:57 pm

nothing it 100% universal but yes you can usually do that... ie..

different from or different than?

you would say - it differs from....not differs than. correct idiom is different from

identical to or identical with?

you would say - i identify with....not i identify to. correct idiom is identical with

My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants

Like this post

kevincanspain: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 613; Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:17 amFollowed by: 64 members; Location: madrid; Thanked: 171 times; GMAT Score:790

by kevincanspain » Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:31 pm

money9111 wrote:nothing it 100% universal but yes you can usually do that... ie..

different from or different than?

you would say - it differs from....not differs than. correct idiom is different from

identical to or identical with?

you would say - i identify with....not i identify to. correct idiom is identical with

Her dress was (superior/similar/comparable/identical) TO mine

Kevin Armstrong
GMAT Instructor
Gmatclasses
Madrid

Like this post

concept: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 58; Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:26 am; Thanked: 2 times; GMAT Score:770

by concept » Tue Jun 01, 2010 7:52 pm

looks like I can use it when I am really not sure and it would have reasonable accuracy. thanks money9111 and Kevin.

Like this post

money9111: Legendary Member; Posts: 2109; Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pmFollowed by: 79 members; Location: New Jersey; Thanked: 109 times; GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Tue Jun 01, 2010 7:58 pm

Kevin... so is there a rule? because you are right.. identical to does work there...

My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants

Like this post

concept: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 58; Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:26 am; Thanked: 2 times; GMAT Score:770

by concept » Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:09 pm

is identify really the base form of identical?. The meanings are totally different. If not, the rule can't be wronged because the rule doesn't apply to the pair.
Kevin please comment on the rule.

Like this post

GMAT/MBA Expert

Stacey Koprince: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2228; Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:28 pmFollowed by: 694 members; Location: Montreal, Canada; Thanked: 639 times; GMAT Score:780

by Stacey Koprince » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:46 pm

Received a PM asking me to respond.

There isn't a rule for this, no. The (really) annoying thing about idioms is that there is no rule - it's just the way the language is and we're supposed to memorize it. Sometimes it's the case that similar forms of words will be followed by the same preposition, but not always.

I am capable of studying.
I have the capability to study.

It's annoying that we can't reproduce OG questions online. Could you tell me the book and problem number so I can look it up? I'd like to read the explanation. I do agree, though, that "awareness of" is preferable to "about."

Anyway, the nutshell is: idioms are mostly about memorization and there's not a lot we can do to get around that. (I'm learning that very slowly and painfully right now as I try to learn French.)

Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!

Stacey Koprince
GMAT Instructor
Director of Online Community
Manhattan GMAT

Contributor to Beat The GMAT!

Learn more about me

Like this post

concept: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 58; Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:26 am; Thanked: 2 times; GMAT Score:770

by concept » Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:53 pm

Stacey,
Thanks for the reply. The OG doesn't say anything about such a rule. Its just that something that came to my mind and which wasted people's time

thanks,
Vishnu

Like this post

Post new topic Locked

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

560 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review