Matt drives fast cars like his sister

Question

Hi,

In the Idioms section of MGMAT SC, the book claims that the below is correct -

Correct: Matt drives fast cars like his sister (= Both drive fast cars OR both drive fast cars in the similar way)
Isn't above ambiguous in terms of meaning (as given by the book in the parentheses)?

Thanks

sudish · Answer

I believe a more apt choice would have looked like:

Matt drives fast cars like his sister does.

I do believe that the sentence you've written is a bit ambiguous. Can someone shed some light on this question?

MichaelS · Answer

The point we're making with that example is that among the many ways in which  like  can be used are these two:

FIRST  Subject+predicate+like X  (no comma), to suggest that the subject and X perform the predicate in the same manner. For instance,  Matt walks like Sarah  might mean not just that both walk, but that they walk in the same manner. Maybe this makes it clear,  You can tell that Matt and Sarah are related, because Matt walks like Sarah.

SECOND  Subject+predicate+like X  (no comma), to suggest that the subject and X perform the predicate, but not to suggest anything about the manner. For instance,  Matt walks like Sarah  might mean just that both walk. Maybe this makes it clear,  Because his car broke down at the same time as hers, Matt walks like Sarah.

Notice that only context, not structure, tells you what is being compared.

Off the GMAT, not every style guide approves of that second usage, but we must have seen it in a correct answer on the GMAT if we have it recorded as a correct usage in our idiom list.

immaculatesahai · Answer

Nice explanation Michael. Thanks.

Matt drives fast cars like his sister

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards