Practice Problems Flashcards
I want chocolate ice cream (rather than/instead of) vanilla.
I walked to work (instead of/rather than) drove.
- TRICK! Can use both!
- Rather than
Rather than can be used to compare nouns and verbs. Instead of can only be used to compare nouns.
The number of undergraduate degrees (more than/greater than) doubled.
More than - this is tricky, even though we are referring to a noun that is a number (number of degrees) we use more instead of greater in this place.
*Trick, if it can be replaced by larger than/higher than use greater than not more than.
(Unlike/Compared to) adults, children breath twice as much air.
(Unlike/Compared to) adults, children don’t like sushi.
Compared to
Unlike
Unlike should be used the context of a yes or no, complete opposites.
Right or wrong?
The game was postponed due to the rain.
WRONG! Due to cannot modify a verb. Here it is trying to modify was postponed. Should modify a noun.
Right or Wrong?
Her success was due to her hard work.
RIGHT! Due to modifies success (noun)
Right or wrong?
The train could eventually have the capability of going 100mph.
WRONG!
using “capability of” and “could/can” is redundant. There is no need to use both.
Right or Wrong?
He will run and he will jump.
He will run and jump.
Both are right. On the second you don’t need to repeat will because it is implied.
Right or Wrong?
A new plane is being tested that can hold 2000 people.
A new plane that can hold 2000 people is being tested.
Both are correct. That can jump across the verb.
They are priced to sell, and they (do/are).
Do
You have to be able to place the helping verb after the do/are and have it still make sense (in the same tense)
You would never say “they are sell”
You would say “they do sell”
The fossil has been dated (at/to be/as being) 500 years old.
At
The iron is estimated (at/to be) 1500 degrees Celsius.
The fossil is estimated (at/to be) 1000 years old.
- at - at is a prepositional phrase and needs to be followed by a noun
- To be - to be is generally followed by a phrase
Right or wrong?
Minority graduates are four times as likely as other graduates to graduate.
Minority graduates are four times more likely than other graduates to graduate.
Minority graduates are four times more likely as other graduates to graduate.
1 and 2 are right
the proper idioms are as likely as and more likely than
Right or wrong?
There has been 2 accidents.
WRONG!
The subject here is accidents (plural). The sentence should be “there have been 2 accidents”
I lost (because/because of) the noise.
Because of. When because is followed by just a noun or a list of nouns you need the “of” after “because.”
However, if because is followed by a clause, the “of” is not necessary. Ex: I lost because he won.
Right or wrong?
I run as fast as Bill
I run as fast as Bill does
Both are okay!
Using “as__as” you do not have to repeat the verb if the meaning is unambiguous.
1) I think as Bill does.
2) I think as Bill.
1) Is correct
2) Is wrong. A sentence with “as” should follow the structure s + v + as + s + v. So with “as,” the verb should always be repeated.
Right or wrong?
I like Mary more than Joe.
Wrong - the meaning here is ambiguous. It is not clear whether the author means “I like Mary more than I like Joe” or “I like Mary more the Joe likes Mary.”
Right or wrong?
I eat more apples than you do.
I eat more apples than apples you do.
1) Right - no need to repeat the object.
2) Wrong - the object “apples” is repeated creating a grammatically incorrect sentence.
Guideline –do not repeat the object
Right or wrong?
Wild animals have less total fat than that of livestock.
Wrong - the noun “fat” which “that of” refers to is repeated unnecessarily. Fat comes after the verb and thus does not need to be repeated.
Right or wrong?
Unlike Bill’s truck, Joe has a truck that is red.
Wrong - not comparing trucks to trucks. Sentence should read “Unlike Bill’s truck, Joe’s truck is red.”
Right or wrong?
Bill is as likely to exceed the speed limit as Joe.
Bill is equally likely that he will exceed the speed limit as Joe.
1) Correct
2) Incorrect - the right idiom is “likely to”
Right or wrong?
This year’s prices are higher than last year’s prices
Prices are higher this year than last year’s
Prices are higher this year than last year
It depends whether the time frame for the X part comes before or after the word HIGHER:
1) OK (compares prices to prices)
2) WRONG - compares this year to last year’s
3) OK (compares time frames – this year to last year)
Right or wrong?
The education systems never evolved in the US as in Europe.
The education systems never evolved in the US as they did in Europe.
“as” should follow the structure s + v + as + s + v
1) WRONG
2) RIGHT
Right or wrong?
The sales were higher this year than any year.
WRONG!
You need to include the word “other” to clarify that the sales this year are not higher than this year.
Correct: The sales were higher this year than any other year.