Last visit was: 19 Jul 2025, 00:50 It is currently 19 Jul 2025, 00:50
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
psdeol
Joined: 11 Aug 2012
Last visit: 22 Oct 2012
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
594
 [420]
Given Kudos: 21
Location: United States
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
GMAT Date: 10-12-2012
GPA: 3.7
WE:Project Management (Energy)
Posts: 9
Kudos: 594
 [420]
114
Kudos
Add Kudos
304
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Anmolgupta824
Joined: 09 Feb 2017
Last visit: 11 Dec 2019
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
13
 [4]
Given Kudos: 49
Posts: 8
Kudos: 13
 [4]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
jokschmer
Joined: 20 Sep 2015
Last visit: 18 Sep 2018
Posts: 48
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 41
Status:Profile 1
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V37
GPA: 3.2
WE:Information Technology (Finance: Investment Banking)
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V37
Posts: 48
Kudos: 43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ManishKM1
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 22 Apr 2017
Last visit: 03 Jan 2019
Posts: 82
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 75
Location: India
GMAT 1: 620 Q47 V29
GMAT 2: 630 Q49 V26
GMAT 3: 690 Q48 V35
GPA: 3.7
GMAT 3: 690 Q48 V35
Posts: 82
Kudos: 306
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
OSM..thanks for such a precise work.
avatar
monikaranchi26
Joined: 29 May 2017
Last visit: 12 Apr 2018
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 132
Posts: 8
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
This is what i was looking for.....superb,,,,thanks a lot manpsdeol.
User avatar
oasis90
Joined: 20 Jan 2016
Last visit: 13 Jun 2021
Posts: 52
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 68
Location: Canada
Schools: HBS '18
WE:Consulting (Other)
Schools: HBS '18
Posts: 52
Kudos: 70
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someone explain why

• Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak trees. (Incorrect)

is incorrect?

There is no ambiguity in meaning here. Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak tries (shed their autumn leaves).

Why is it labeled as incorrect?
User avatar
abhimahna
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 18 Jul 2015
Last visit: 06 Jul 2024
Posts: 3,519
Own Kudos:
5,697
 [2]
Given Kudos: 346
Status:Emory Goizueta Alum
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,519
Kudos: 5,697
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
oasis90
Can someone explain why

• Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak trees. (Incorrect)

is incorrect?

There is no ambiguity in meaning here. Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak tries (shed their autumn leaves).

Why is it labeled as incorrect?

Hey oasis90 ,

There is actually a wrong meaning conveyed by your sentence. It is implying Maple Trees shed leaves earlier than maple trees shed Oak trees. Hence, the sentence is incorrect.

Does that make sense?
User avatar
oasis90
Joined: 20 Jan 2016
Last visit: 13 Jun 2021
Posts: 52
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 68
Location: Canada
Schools: HBS '18
WE:Consulting (Other)
Schools: HBS '18
Posts: 52
Kudos: 70
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
abhimahna
oasis90
Can someone explain why

• Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak trees. (Incorrect)

is incorrect?

There is no ambiguity in meaning here. Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak tries (shed their autumn leaves).

Why is it labeled as incorrect?

Hey oasis90 ,

There is actually a wrong meaning conveyed by your sentence. It is implying Maple Trees shed leaves earlier than maple trees shed Oak trees. Hence, the sentence is incorrect.

Does that make sense?

Thanks for the response. So the sentence has 2 ambiguous meanings and hence it's incorrect?
User avatar
abhimahna
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 18 Jul 2015
Last visit: 06 Jul 2024
Posts: 3,519
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 346
Status:Emory Goizueta Alum
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,519
Kudos: 5,697
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
oasis90
abhimahna
oasis90
Can someone explain why

• Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak trees. (Incorrect)

is incorrect?

There is no ambiguity in meaning here. Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak tries (shed their autumn leaves).

Why is it labeled as incorrect?

Hey oasis90 ,

There is actually a wrong meaning conveyed by your sentence. It is implying Maple Trees shed leaves earlier than maple trees shed Oak trees. Hence, the sentence is incorrect.

Does that make sense?

Thanks for the response. So the sentence has 2 ambiguous meanings and hence it's incorrect?

Yes Sir, that’s correct. Every sentence must be non ambiguous :-)
User avatar
Kem12
Joined: 18 Apr 2018
Last visit: 01 Feb 2021
Posts: 70
Own Kudos:
34
 [1]
Given Kudos: 211
Posts: 70
Kudos: 34
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
• Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak trees. (Incorrect)

is incorrect?

There is no ambiguity in meaning here. Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak tries (shed their autumn leaves).

Why is it labeled as incorrect?[/quote]

Hey oasis90 ,

There is actually a wrong meaning conveyed by your sentence. It is implying Maple Trees shed leaves earlier than maple trees shed Oak trees. Hence, the sentence is incorrect.

Does that make sense?[/quote]

Thanks for the response. So the sentence has 2 ambiguous meanings and hence it's incorrect?[/quote]

Yes Sir, that’s correct. Every sentence must be non ambiguous :-)[/quote]


I have a question though. Is it logical for maple trees to shed oak trees? I feel that this is illogical makes this sentence unambiguous and correct

Posted from my mobile device
avatar
viswakailash
Joined: 01 Apr 2016
Last visit: 29 Jun 2019
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 33
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I have a small doubt->

The price of a trip to the ballgame is greater than the cost of a night at the opera.

Can we use more in place of greater? This is the onlt examply which I felt a bit difficult. Can someone help me why we cant use More in place of Greater.

psdeol

COMPARISONS


Comparisons are the most frequent topic on GMAT. The best part about comparison based problems is that they are very easy to spot.
Comparisons basically is the discussion of similarities or differences between two elements (people, places, things or ideas)

• Like, as, compared to, contrast, different from, unlike.
• Larger, slower, higher, colder, highest, slowest.
The law of comparison is that it must be logical and it must be ambiguity free.

Example 1
• The laws in Pakistan are more restrictive than India.
Laws in Pakistan ------ India (Incorrect)
• The laws in Pakistan are more restrictive than laws in India.
Laws in Pakistan ------ Laws in India (Correct)

Example 2
• Unlike India, China’s economy is primarily based on manufacturing.
India ------ China’s economy (Incorrect)
• Unlike India’s economy, China’s economy is primarily based on manufacturing.
India’s economy ------- China’s economy (Correct)

Example 3
• The population of India is more than Indonesia.
Population of India --------- Indonesia (Incorrect)
• The population of India is more than that of Indonesia.
• The population of India is more than the population of Indonesia.
Population of India --------- Population of Indonesia (Incorrect)

Example 4
• In addition to having more teeth than a piranha has, a barracuda’s teeth are larger than a Piranha does. ( Incorrect )
• In addition to having more teeth than a piranha has, a barracuda has teeth that are larger than a Piranha’s teeth. ( Correct )

Example 5
• Max dislikes broccoli more than his girlfriend. (Incorrect)
• Max dislikes broccoli more than his girlfriend dislikes broccoli. (Correct)
• Max dislikes broccoli more than his girlfriend does. (Correct)

Example 6
• The chemical engineering certification process in Peru is more time consuming than Brazil. (Incorrect)
• The chemical engineering certification process in Peru is more time consuming than that in Brazil. (Correct)


RULE#1: Replace Noun elements in comparison by :- that, those, it.

Replace Verb elements in comparison by :- do, does, so.
• Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak trees. (Incorrect)
• Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak trees do. (Correct)

Example 7
• Sanjay is smarter than any student in his class. (Incorrect)
• Sanjay is smarter than any other student in his class. (Correct)

Example 8
• Usain Bolt runs faster than anyone. (Incorrect)
• Usain Bolt runs faster than anyone else. (Correct)


RULE#2: LIKE Vs As Vs Such as


1. Use Like to compare NOUNS.
2. Like followed by a clause is wrong usage.
3. As is followed by a clause or a verb.

Examples
• Whitney sings like an angel. (Correct)
• Whitney sings like an angel does. (Incorrect – an angel does is a clause, not a phrase)
• Barry sings as a professional playback singer sings. (Correct)
• Barney collects stamps as his father does. (Correct)
• Carl curses like a lumberjack working in the woods. ( notice that no verb follows like; working in the woods is a participial phrase modifying the Noun lumberjack. This usage is correct).
• Barney loves his dogs (as/like) he loves his friends. ( Since the verb loves follows, like cannot be used. “As” is correct)
Always search for verb following like / as usage.
• He acted ( like/as ) a fool at the party that his girlfriend threw for him. ( Like is correct because relative clause that…..him modifies the Noun : Party. So no verb is being compared and hence no verb follows the phrase after like. “He acted like a fool…….” )
Like means similar to and such as is used to give examples. But still check the entire meaning of the sentence.
• I enjoy listening to bands such as COB, Megadeath, COF. (Correct)
• Barney enjoys visiting world capitols like Rome and Paris. (Correct)


IMPORTANT: JUST LIKE and SO AS TO are always wrong on GMAT.

So …X… as to (CORRECT).
GMAT mostly uses these five words for comparisons
• As (Correct)
• Like (Correct)
• Unlike (Correct)
• Just as …so (Correct) IS A COMMON WAY ON GMAT TO WRITE LONGER COMPARISON OF CLAUSES.
• So X as to (Correct)
• Just Like (INCORRECT)

Usage - Compared to/with for STATISTICS:
If you say "compared with/to" for statistics, you should cite BOTH statistics in the comparison.

The expression "compared to/with" does NOT imply any sort of direction to the comparison; i.e., it gives no hint as
to greater/less/like/unlike. Therefore, you need to give both of the relevant statistics, or else the statement won't
make any sense.

Example:
• "The unemployment rate in Esteria last month was 5.3%, compared to the rate in Burdistan."

INCORRECT! This makes no sense. We have absolutely no idea what is going on with the rate in Burdistan.

• "The unemployment rate in Esteria last month was 5.3%, compared to a rate of 7% in Burdistan."
CORRECT. Both statistics are cited.


COMPARISON OF QUANTITIES
Usage: Double / Twice / Twice as many / Two Times / Doubling
"Twice" CANNOT function as an object of the preposition such as "by".
"Twice" is an adverb.
Example:
• "... increased by more than twice ..." -- WRONG!


Relate Quantities by Multiplying

When I say “that car is nearly three times as old as you,” I’m making a comparison with numbers using multiplication. Make sure that when we use the word “times” to denote multiplication, we also use the “as…as” comparison structure:
• Incorrect: That car is nearly three times older than you.
• Correct: That car is nearly three times as old as you.
Reserve the “than” comparison for other forms; when using multiplication, stick with the “as…as” structure.
Alternatively, you can also denote multiplication when you leave out “as:”
• Correct: A gallon of milk now costs $6, three times the cost fifteen years ago.
Relate Quantities by Addition/Subtraction
For addition or subtraction, use more than/less than.
• Incorrect: Molly is five years as old as you.
• Correct: Molly is five years older than you.
Quantitative Comparisons without Numbers
When using the words more or less without numbers, you have many options to choose from. Notice that the words “more” and “less” can be used as many different parts of speech.
• Correct (as noun/pronoun): I owe you more than I’d like to. (Here, more stands in for money, or whatever it is that I owe).
• Correct (as adverb): I drive more than I’d like to. (Here, more modifies “drive;” that is, it tells me how I am driving, so “more” functions as an adverb).
• Correct (as adjective): I have more money now than I’ve ever had. (“More” describes money, so it functions as an adjective).


The words “high” and “low,” and “higher” and “lower,” by contrast, should only be used as adjectives.
• Correct: My expectations are much lower than they were five years ago.
• Incorrect: I owe you lower than I did last year. (use “less” instead)


More Vs. Greater

When something countable increases, we use “more”
• Holland has more tulips than does any other country in Western Europe.
Tulips are separate: you can count how many tulips you have.
When something uncountable increases, we also use also “more”
• The US State of Georgia has more land than does the state of Pennsylvania.

• It costs more to go to the ballgame than to go to the opera.
In #1 Land is an uncountable noun, and in #2, the implicit noun is “money”, which is also uncountable.
The question arises: when do we use “greater” rather than “more”?

We use “greater” when the noun in question is a number. We can count the number of tulips, but a tulip itself is not a number.

Some examples of nouns that are themselves numbers are: percent, interest rate, population, volume, distance, price, cost, and number.

• The area of Georgia is greater than that of Pennsylvania.
• The price of a trip to the ballgame is greater than the cost of a night at the opera.
• Call option premia are greater when interest rates are higher.
(Notice, for certain economic quantities, we will use “higher” for an increase.) In general, things take “more” but numbers take “greater.” The “increasing” case is the easier of the two cases.


Less Vs. Fewer

The confusion of “less” and “fewer” is very troubling. This is also tested frequently on GMAT.

When something uncountable decreases, we use “less”:
• Pennsylvania has less land than does Georgia.
• I have gotten less water in my basement since sealing the windows.

When something countable decreases, we use “fewer”:
• Female drivers tend to get fewer speeding tickets.
• My dorm had fewer international students.
• When fewer people are unemployed, the interest rates tend to rise.
• If you were rich, would you have fewer problems?
It’s quite possible that some of those, or even all of those, “sound” wrong. Many many people would make the mistake of using the word “less” in those sentences even though the word “fewer” is 100% correct. If you can count it, you need to use “fewer” instead of “less.” In other words, whenever you would use “how many?” instead of “how much?”, you need to use “fewer” instead of “less.”

When we compare numbers, and numbers decrease, we can simply go back to using “less.”
• The population of Mongolia is less than that of Los Angeles.
• The cost of a night at the opera is less than total cost of a day at the ballgame.
• The melting point of zinc is less than that of copper.( BTW, “melting point” is a temperature, so it is indeed a number.)
User avatar
800Dreamer
Joined: 28 Jan 2017
Last visit: 04 Feb 2024
Posts: 197
Own Kudos:
184
 [1]
Given Kudos: 186
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V36
WE:Consulting (Computer Software)
Products:
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V36
Posts: 197
Kudos: 184
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Are the phrases "when compared to" and "when compared with" wrong?
avatar
sc02
Joined: 02 Nov 2019
Last visit: 25 Feb 2020
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Also what about " distinguish between X and Y" and Distinguish X from Y?
User avatar
DeveshB
Joined: 13 Feb 2019
Last visit: 14 Aug 2023
Posts: 12
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 294
Location: India
GMAT 1: 680 Q46 V39
GMAT 2: 730 Q50 V38 (Online)
GPA: 3.8
GMAT 2: 730 Q50 V38 (Online)
Posts: 12
Kudos: 10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi.
First of all, thanks for the awesome post. It is really helpful and informative.
Had just one doubt, is usage of "So as to" correct or incorrect as in the headline of the topic it is mentioned it is always incorrect but just below that headline it is mentioned that it is correct. Would be thankful if anyone can clarify.

Thanks!
User avatar
EducationAisle
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Jul 2025
Posts: 3,876
Own Kudos:
3,574
 [4]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,876
Kudos: 3,574
 [4]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
DeveshB
Hi.
First of all, thanks for the awesome post. It is really helpful and informative.
Had just one doubt, is usage of "So as to" correct or incorrect as in the headline of the topic it is mentioned it is always incorrect but just below that headline it is mentioned that it is correct. Would be thankful if anyone can clarify.
Hi Devesh, there are several officially correct answers that use so as to. For example:

Often major economic shifts are so gradual as to be indistinguishable at first from ordinary fluctuations in the financial markets.

The Emperor Augustus, it appears, commissioned an idealized sculpture portrait, the features of which are so unrealistic as to constitute what one scholar calls an "artificial face."


As a general guideline, the usage of so as to is correct when the intent is to redefine/explain the adjective following so (gradual and unrealistic respectively in the sentences above).

On the other hand, if the intent is to depict a cause & effect, then so that should be used.

For example:

Incorrect: Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.

Correct: Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid.

Cause: Saturation
Effect: It acquires the character of a liquid.
avatar
Gknight5603
Joined: 26 Oct 2019
Last visit: 03 Apr 2022
Posts: 131
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 292
Location: India
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
GPA: 4
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
Posts: 131
Kudos: 55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
abhimahna
oasis90
Can someone explain why

• Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak trees. (Incorrect)

is incorrect?

There is no ambiguity in meaning here. Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak tries (shed their autumn leaves).

Why is it labeled as incorrect?

Hey oasis90 ,

There is actually a wrong meaning conveyed by your sentence. It is implying Maple Trees shed leaves earlier than maple trees shed Oak trees. Hence, the sentence is incorrect.

Does that make sense?

Sir how could a tree shed another tree??
how is original sentence ambiguous???

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
bb
User avatar
Founder
Joined: 04 Dec 2002
Last visit: -
Posts: 41,115
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23,440
Location: United States (WA)
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
GPA: 3
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 41,115
Kudos: 80,255
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Gknight5603
abhimahna
oasis90
Can someone explain why

• Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak trees. (Incorrect)

is incorrect?

There is no ambiguity in meaning here. Maple trees shed their autumn leaves earlier than oak tries (shed their autumn leaves).

Why is it labeled as incorrect?

Hey oasis90 ,

There is actually a wrong meaning conveyed by your sentence. It is implying Maple Trees shed leaves earlier than maple trees shed Oak trees. Hence, the sentence is incorrect.

Does that make sense?

Sir how could a tree shed another tree??
how is original sentence ambiguous???

Posted from my mobile device

You answered your own question 😂
A tree cannot shed a tree. That is what the sentence says. It makes no sense to compare an action with a noun. You have to compare nouns with noun and actions with actions. Looks like you have not learned about proper comparisons yet. I suggest you get something and not try to wing it.
avatar
Gknight5603
Joined: 26 Oct 2019
Last visit: 03 Apr 2022
Posts: 131
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 292
Location: India
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
GPA: 4
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
Posts: 131
Kudos: 55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
bb
Gknight5603
abhimahna
Can someone explain why



Sir how could a tree shed another tree??
how is original sentence ambiguous???

Posted from my mobile device

You answered your own question 😂
A tree cannot shed a tree. That is what the sentence says. It makes no sense to compare an action with a noun. You have to compare nouns with noun and actions with actions. Looks like you have not learned about proper comparisons yet. I suggest you get something and not try to wing it.

Yes sir exactly ...here the action is compared to action.....but is there any need to write "do" after Oak trees.
isn't ellipsis is at action here?
The comparison is already clear that it is not between leaves and oak trees.
User avatar
bb
User avatar
Founder
Joined: 04 Dec 2002
Last visit: -
Posts: 41,115
Own Kudos:
80,255
 [3]
Given Kudos: 23,440
Location: United States (WA)
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
GPA: 3
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 41,115
Kudos: 80,255
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
It’s a grammar rule. Yes, you have been using English wrong all your life. Just learn it. That’s how it works. Otherwise it is illogical... the first post It tells you correct and incorrect versions. Why do you need to ask again? That’s how grammar works regardless of what you think is clear or logical... please read the original sentence. Remember it. I suggest you get a book or a tutor whom you can ask philosophical questions.

Posted from my mobile device
avatar
Maldonado
Joined: 09 Dec 2020
Last visit: 04 Apr 2021
Posts: 24
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 24
Kudos: 31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
Example 5
• Max dislikes broccoli more than his girlfriend. (Incorrect)

I think this is legit to say...
 1   2   
Moderators:
Current Student
714 posts
Current Student
278 posts