【正文】 Use simple present with state verbs such as KNOW and SIGNIFY Progressive tense Keep verb tense consistent If you want to switch tense, make it clear: Right: He is thinner now because he spent the last six months on a strict diet. Present perfect: still in effect Present perfect indicated either continued action or continued effect of a pleted action. Right: The child drew a square in the sand, but the ocean erased it. Right: The child drew a square in the sand, but the ocean has erased it. Awkward: The child has drawn a square in the sand, but the ocean has erased it. If you want to talk about a specific, pleted time period, use the simple past: Wrong: Veronica has traveled all over the world in 2020. Right: Veronica travelled all over the world in 2020. Past perfect: the earlier action You should use past perfect only to clarify or emphasize a sequence of past events. If the sequence is already obvious, we do not need to use past perfect. Right: Antonio drove to the store and bought some ice cream. When you see BEFORE Or AFTER, don?t use the past perfect. Right: Laura locked the deadbolt before she left for work. Tense sequence Scientist: The supercollider is ready, it did not cost too much, and it will provide new insights into the working of the universe. Report: The scientist announced that the supercollider was ready, that it had not cost too much, and that it would provide new insights into the workings of the universe. Avoid mixing present tense with conditional tense: Right: The scientist believes that the machine will be wonderful. Right: The scientist believed that the machine would be wonderful. Wrong: The scientist believes that the machine would be wonderful. Wrong: The scientist believed that the machine will be wonderful. The subjunctive mood Hypothetical subjunctive If… then constructions Type Form Example General rule with no uncertainty If present, then present If Sophie eats pizza, then she bees ill. General rule with some uncertainty If present, then CAN or MAY If Sophie eats pizza, then she may bee ill. Particular case (in the future) with no uncertainty If present, then future If Sophie eats pizza tomorrow, then she will bee ill. Unlikely case (in the future) If hypothetical subjunctive, then conditional If Sophie ate pizza tomorrow, then she would bee ill. Case that never happened (in the past) If past perfect, then conditional perfect If Sophie had eaten pizza yesterday, then she would have bee ill. The mand subjunctive Bossy verb + that + subject + mand subjunctive Wrong: We propose the school board disband. Wrong: We propose that the school board should disband. Type Word Example Verbs that take only the mand subjunctive Demand, dictate, insist, propose, remend, request, stipulate, suggest We demand that he be here. Verbs that take only infinitive Advise, allow, forbid, persuade, want We allow him to be here. Verbs that take either form Ask, beg, intend, order, prefer, urge, require We require that he be here. We require him to be here. Nouns that take the mand subjunctive Demand, request His demand that he be paid full severance was not met. Adjectives that take the mand subjunctive Advisable, crucial, desirable, fitting, imperative, important, mandatory, preferable, urgent, vital It is essential that Gary be ready before soon. Avoid the use of the mand subjunctive after WHETHER. Wrong: I like ice cream, whether it be chocolate, vanilla, or any other flavor. Right: I like ice cream, whether it is chocolate, vanilla, or any other flavor. Active voice vs. passive voice Do not use verbs besides BE to form the passive voice. Wrong: the pizza must got eaten today. Comparisons Comparison signals Like As Unlike As (adj.) as More than As much as Less than As little as Faster than As fast as Different from The same as In contrast to/with Keeping parisons parallel Comparisons must be logically parallel Wrong: Frank?s build, like his brother, is broad and muscular. Right: Frank?s build, like his brother?s, is broad and muscular. Right: Frank?s build, like that of his brother, is broad and muscular. Right: Frank, like his brother, has a broad and muscular build. Comparisons must be structurally parallel Wrong: I like to run through forests more than I enjoy walking through crowds. Right: I like running through forests more than walking through crowds. Omitted words Put in the omitted words or appropriate helping verbs only if you need to remove ambiguity. Right: Vishal eats more carrots than donuts. Wordy: Vishal eats more carrots than he dose donuts. Ambiguous: I like cheese more than Yvette. Right: I like cheese more than I do Yvette. Right: I like cheese more than Yvette does. Ambiguous: Tomas is more interested in video games than his girlfriend. Right: Tomas is more interested in video games than his girlfriend is. Right: Tomas is more interested in video games than in his girlfriend. GMAT occasionally allows unnecessary Helping verbs. Right: Apples are more healthy to eat than caramels. Right: Apples are more healthy to eat than caramels are. Comparative and superlative forms Do not pare an adverb that ends in –ly by changing the ending to –er. Wrong: Adrian runs quickly. He runs quicker than Jacob. Right: Adrian runs quickly. He runs more quickly than Jacob. However, some adverbs that do not end in –ly are made into paratives by adding –er. Right: Adrian runs fast. He runs faster than Jacob. Do not use a parative adjective unless you have a THAN in the sentence. Wrong: With winter ing, I will have higher energy bills. Wrong: I will have higher bills over last year. Right: I will have higher bills than last yea