GMAT exam success Episode 1 Part 9 pdf

–VERB FORMS– PRESENT PAST PAST PARTICIPLE shake shook shaken take took taken forget forgot forgotten get got gotten give gave given forgive forgave forgiven forsake forsook forsaken hide hid hidden ride rode ridden write wrote written freeze froze frozen steal stole stolen SAME PRESENT AND PAST PARTICIPLE FORMS PRESENT PAST PAST PARTICIPLE come came come overcome overcame overcome run ran run In English, as in many other languages, the essential verb to be is also highly irregular: SUBJECT PRESENT PAST PAST PARTICIPLE I am was have been you are were have been he, she, it is was has been we are were have been they are were have been 149 –VERB FORMS– Helping Verbs Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) are essential to clear communication They enable us to indicate exactly when an action took place or will take place and suggest very specific meanings, such as the subject’s ability to perform an action or intention to something Helping verbs are used to form the future (e.g., will call) and conditional tenses: Future: I will call you tomorrow with the results Conditional: If the results were promising, Jamal would have requested another The following table lists the helping verbs, their forms, and their meanings Review this table carefully; a helping verb can often significantly change the meaning of a sentence PRESENT PAST MEANING EXAMPLES AND FUTURE will, shall would intention She will meet us at the hotel They said they would call first can could ability I can be there in ten minutes Rose could only find one glove may, might, could, might permission May I tag along? can, could Could we get together after the meeting? should should ؉ have ؉ past participle recommendation We should leave before the snow starts must, have (to) had (to) They should have known better necessity I must go to the dentist I had to draw two models should should ؉ have ؉ expectation They should be on the next train may, might past participle They should have been on that train might ؉ have ؉ possibility They may be lost past participle They might have gotten lost Subjunctive Mood The subjunctive mood is one of the verb forms that is often forgotten in conversation and is therefore often neglected in writing Like helping verbs, the subjunctive is used to express a specific meaning, indicating 150 –VERB FORMS– something that is wished for or that is contrary to fact It is formed by using were instead of was as in the fol- lowing examples: If she were a little more experienced, she would get the promotion (She is not a little more experienced.) If I were rich, I would travel the world (Unfortunately, I am not rich.) If you were in my shoes, you wouldn’t say such a thing (You are not in my shoes.) Troublesome Verbs Three verb pairs are particularly troublesome: lie / lay sit / set rise / raise The key to knowing which verb to use is remembering which verb takes an object In each pair, one verb is transitive—an object receives the action—whereas the other is intransitive—the subject itself receives or performs the action For example, lie is intransitive; the subject of the sentence performs the action on itself: I will lie down The transitive verb laid, on the other hand, is an action that the subject of the sentence per- forms upon an object: He lay the baby down in the crib In the following examples, the subjects are in bold and the objects are underlined: lie: to rest or recline (intransitive—subject only) lay: to put or place (transitive—needs an object) I will lie down for a while Will you please lay the papers on the table sit: to rest (intransitive—subject only) set: to put or place (transitive—needs an object) Why don’t we sit down and talk this over? He will set the record straight rise: to go up (intransitive—subject only) raise: to move something up (transitive—needs an object) The sun will rise at 5:48 A.M tomorrow He raised the rent to $750 per month 151 –VERB FORMS– The basic forms of these verbs can also be a bit tricky The following table shows how each verb is conjugated PRESENT PRESENT PARTICIPLE PAST PAST PARTICIPLE (WITH AM, IS, AND ARE) (WITH HAVE, HAS, AND HAD) lay lie, lies lying laid lain sat laid lay, lays laying set sat rose set sit, sits sitting raised risen raised set, sets setting rise, rises rising raise, raises raising Gerunds and Infinitives Gerunds look like verbs because they end in -ing, but they actually function as nouns in sentences: Tracy loves camping Here, the action (verb) Tracy performs is loves The thing (noun) she enjoys is camping In the follow- ing sentence, however, camping is the action Tracy performs, so it is functioning as a verb, not as a gerund: Tracy is camping in the Pine Barrens next week Words ending in -ing can also function as adjectives: Some of our camping gear needs to be replaced before our trip This means is that you cannot count on word endings to determine a word’s part of speech; you must look instead at how the word is functioning in the sentence Infinitives are the base (unconjugated) form of the verb preceded by to: to be, to delay, to manage, and so on They are often part of a verb chain, but they are not the main verb (main action) of a sentence: Priya likes to write poems In this example, likes is the main verb; what Priya likes (the action she likes to take) is to write poems 152 –VERB FORMS– When to Use Infinitives and Gerunds In many situations, you may be uncertain whether to use an infinitive or a gerund Which is correct: I like to swim or I like swimming? In this case, both are correct; like, hate, and other verbs that express preference can be followed by either a gerund or infinitive But other verbs can only be followed by one or the other Here are a few helpful guidelines: ■ Always use a gerund after a preposition: Keza thought that by taking the train, she would save money and time Noriel was afraid of offending her host ■ Always use a gerund after the following verbs: admit dislike practice appreciate enjoy put off avoid escape quit cannot help finish recall consider imagine resist delay keep risk deny miss suggest discuss postpone tolerate We should discuss buying a new computer I am going to quit smoking ■ In general, use an infinitive after these verbs: agree decide need refuse venture ask expect offer want wish beg fail plan bother hope pretend claim manage promise Aswad promises to be back by noon Fatima failed to keep her promise ■ When a noun or pronoun immediately follows these verbs, use an infinitive: advise command force remind want allow convince need require warn ask encourage order tell cause expect persuade urge I would like you to reconsider my offer The committee needs Tom to organize this event 153 CHAPTER Prefixes, Suffixes, and 10 Word Roots A familiarity with common prefixes, suffixes, and word roots can dramatically improve your ability to deter- mine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words The following tables list common prefixes, suffixes, and word roots; their meanings; an example of a word with that prefix, suffix, or word root; the meaning of that word; and a sentence that demonstrates the meaning of that word Refer to this chapter often to refresh your memory and improve your vocabulary Prefixes A prefix is a syllable added to the beginning of a word to change or add to its meaning The following table lists some of the most common prefixes in the English language They are grouped together by similar meanings 155 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE uni- one unify (v) to form into a single unit; to unite The new leader was able mono- one monologue to unify the three factions into (n) a long speech by one strong political party bi- two one person or bisect (v) performer I was very moved by the to divide into two monologue in Scene III duo- two duality (n) equal parts triangle (n) If you bisect a square, you will tri- three having two sides get two rectangles of equal or parts size quadri- four quadruped (n) a figure having tetralogy (n) three angles The novel explores the duality tetra- four of good and evil in humans an animal with four quint- five quintuplets (n) feet In an isosceles triangle, two of pentameter (n) series of four related the three angles are the same pent- five artistic works size multi- many multifaceted five offspring born Some quadrupeds evolved (adj) at one time into bipeds poly- many a line of verse polyglot (n) (poetry) with five “Time Zone” was the fourth metrical feet and final work in Classman’s having many sides tetralogy one who speaks or Each quintuplet weighed less understands several than four pounds at birth languages Most of Shakespeare’s sonnets are written in iambic pentameter This is a multifaceted issue, and we must examine each side carefully It is no wonder he is a polyglot; he has lived in eight different countries 156 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE omni- all omniscient knowing all Dr Perez seems omniscient; (adj) she knows what all of us are thinking in class micro- small microcosm (n) little or miniature Some people say that Brooklyn world; something Heights, the Brooklyn district representing something across the river from the Wall else on a very small Street area, is a microcosm of scale Manhattan mini- small minority (n) small group within a John voted for Bridget, but he larger group was in the minority; most peo- ple voted for Elaine macro- large macrocosm (n) the large scale world Any change to the macrocosm or universe; any great will eventually effect the whole microcosm ante- before anticipate (v) to give advance His decades of experience thought to; foresee; enabled him to anticipate the expect problem pre- before precede (v) to come before in The appetizers preceded the time or order main course post- after postscript (n) message added after His postscript was almost as the close of a letter long as his letter! inter- between intervene (v) to come between Romeo, trying to make peace, intervened in the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio inter- together interact (v) to act upon or The psychologist took notes as influence each other she watched the children interact intra- within intravenous within or into a vein She could not eat and had to (adj) be fed intravenously for three days intro- into, within introvert (n) a person whose Unlike his flamboyant sister, attention is largely quiet Zeke was a real directed inward, toward introvert himself or herself; a shy or withdrawn person 157 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE in- in, into induct (v) to bring in (to a group) She was inducted into the honor society ex- out, from expel (v) to drive out or away Let us expel the invaders! circumscribe (v) circum- around to draw a line around; She carefully circumscribed to mark the limits of the space that would become her office sub- under subvert (v) to bring about the His attempt to subvert my destruction of, authority will cost him his job overthrow; to undermine super- above, over supervisor (n) one who watches over Alex refused the promotion to supervisor because he did not feel comfortable being his friends’ boss con- with, together consensus (n) general agreement After hours of debate, the group finally reached a consensus and selected a candidate non- not nonviable (adj) not able to live The farmer explained that the or survive seedling was nonviable in- not invariable (adj) not changing The weather here is invariable— always sunny and warm un- not, against unmindful (adj) not conscious For better or worse, he is or aware of; forgetful unmindful of office politics contra- against contradict (v) to state that (what is I know we not have to agree said) is untrue; to state on everything, but she the opposite of contradicts everything I say anti- against, antipode (n) exact or direct North is the antipode of south opposite opposite counter- counter- against, productive (adj) working against Complaining is counter- opposing dispel (v) production productive dis- away, to drive away To dispel rumors that I was quitting, I scheduled a series of meetings for the next three months 158 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE Two people were hurt when the dis- not, opposite of disorderly (adj) not having order; crowd became disorderly during the protest messy, untidy, She misused her authority uncontrolled, or when she reassigned Charlie to a new team unruly After the dog saved his life, he swore he would never maltreat mis- wrong, ill misuse (v) to use wrongly another animal The malaise many women feel mal- bad, wrong maltreat (v) to treat badly during the first few months of or wrongly pregnancy is called morning sickness mal- ill malaise (n) feeling of discomfort Mark Twain is a pseudonym for or illness Samuel Clemens The workers on the assembly pseudo- false, fake pseudonym (n) false or fake name line looked like automatons auto- by oneself automaton (n) a robot; a person Though they came from co- or by itself cohesive (adj) who seems to act different backgrounds, they mechanically and have formed a remarkably together with, without thinking cohesive team jointly having a tendency to bond or stick together; united 159 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– Suffixes A suffix is a syllable added to the end of a word to change or add to its meaning The following table lists some of the most common suffixes in the English language They are grouped together by similar meanings SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE -en to cause broaden (v) to make more Traveling around the world will to become broad; to widen broaden your understanding of other cultures -ate to cause resuscitate (v) to bring or come Thanks to a generous gift from to be back to life or an alumnus, we were able to consciousness; resuscitate the study-abroad to revive program -ify/-fy to make or electrify (v) to charge with The singer electrified the cause to be electricity audience with her performance -ize to make, alphabetize (v) to put in alphabetical Please alphabetize these files to give order for me -al capable of, practical (adj) suitable for use; He has years of practical, suitable for involving activity, on-the-job experience as distinct from study or theory -ial pertaining to commercial of or engaged Commercial vehicles must have special license plates (adj) in commerce -ic pertaining to aristocratic of or pertaining Though he was never rich or (adj) to the aristocracy powerful, he has very aristocratic manners -ly resembling, tenderly (adv) done with tenderness; He held the newborn baby having the gently, delicately, and tenderly in his arms qualities of lovingly -ly in the manner boldly (adv) in a bold manner Despite his fear, he stepped of boldly onto the stage -ful full of meaningful significant; When Robert walked into the (adj) full of meaning room with Annette, she cast me a meaningful glance 160 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE -ous, -ose full of humorous (adj) full of humor; funny His humorous speech made the evening go by quickly -ive having the descriptive (adj) giving a description The letter was so descriptive quality of that I could picture every place he had been -less lacking, painless (adj) without pain; The doctor assured me that it free of not causing pain is a painless procedure -ish having the childish (adj) like a child; unsuitable He did not get the job because quality of for a grown person of his childish behavior during the interview -ance/ quality or tolerance (n) willingness or ability He has a high level of -ence state of to tolerate a person tolerance for rudeness or thing -acy quality or indeterminacy state or quality of The indeterminacy of his state state of (n) being undetermined ment made it impossible to tell (without defined limits) which side he was on or vague -tion act, state, completion (n) the act of completing; The second siren signaled the the state of being completion of the fire drill or condition of completed or finished -or/-er one who does narrator (n) one who tells the story; A first-person narrator is or performs the action of gives an account of usually not objective -atrium/ place for arboretum a garden devoted They built a deck with an -orium (n) primarily to trees arboretum for their bonsai tree and shrubs collection -ary place for, sanctuary (n) a sacred place; refuge With three noisy roommates, pertaining to Ellen frequently sought the quiet sanctuary of the library -cide kill pesticide (n) substance for killing This pesticide is also insects dangerous for humans 161 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE -ism quality, state, optimism (n) belief that things Her optimism makes people or condition of; doctrine of will turn out for the want to be around her best; tendency to take a hopeful view of things -ity quality or morality (n) state or quality He argued that the basic of being moral morality of civilized societies state of has not changed much over the centuries -itis inflammation tonsillitis (n) inflammation and Her tonsillitis was so severe infection of the that doctors had to remove her of tonsils tonsils immediately -ment act or judgment (n) ability to judge or He exercised good judgment condition of make decisions wisely; by keeping his mouth shut act of judging during the meeting -ology the study of zoology (n) the scientific study She took a summer job at the of animal life zoo because of her strong interest in zoology Common Latin Word Roots Many words in the English language derive from Latin The following table shows the original Latin words that are used to create various English words The Latin words serve as roots, providing the core meaning of the words; prefixes, suffixes, and other alterations give each word its distinct meaning The word roots are listed in alphabetical order ROOT MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE amare to love amorous (adj) readily showing She told him to stop his audire or feeling love amorous advances, as she was already engaged to hear audience (n) assembled group of The audience was stunned listeners or spectators; when the game show host people within hearing slapped the contestant 162 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– ROOT MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE bellum capere war belligerent inclined to fight; The citizens feared that their dicere duco hostile, aggressive belligerent leader would start equus facere an unjust war lucere manus to take captivate (v) to capture the fancy of The story captivated me from medius the beginning; I could not put mittere the book down omnis plicare to say, speak dictate (v) to state or order; She began to dictate her notes to say what needs to into the microphone be written down to lead conduct (v) to lead or guide He conducted a detailed tour (thorough) of the building equal equilibrium (n) a state of balance I have finally achieved an equilibrium between work and leisure to make manufacture (v) to make or produce The clothes are manufactured or here in this factory to light lucid (adj) very clear No one could possibly have misunderstood such a lucid explanation hand manicure (n) cosmetic treatment To take care of her long finger- of the fingernails nails, she gets a manicure every week middle median (adj) middle point; middle The median household income in a set of numbers in this wealthy neighborhood is $89,000 to send transmit (v) to send across The message was transmitted over the intercom all; every omnipresent present everywhere That top-40 song is (adj) omnipresent; everywhere I go, I hear it playing to fold application (n) putting one thing on His loan application was another; making a denied because of his poor formal request credit history 163 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– ROOT MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE ponere/ the place a person positum to place position (n) or thing occupies Although he is only 22, he protare holds a very powerful position quarere to carry transport (v) to carry across in the company scribere to ask or inquiry (n) act of inquiry, The goods will be transported question investigation, by boat sentire or questioning specere to write scribe (n) person who makes The inquiry lasted several copies of writings months but yielded no new spirare to feel sentient (adj) information tendere capable of feeling to look at spectacle (n) The scribe had developed verbum striking or impressive thick calluses on his fingers to breathe respiration (n) sight from years of writing to stretch extend (v) the act of breathing No sentient beings should be used for medical research word verbatim (adv) to make longer; stretch out The debate was quite a spectacle—you should have word for word seen the candidates attack one another His respiration was steady, but he remained unconscious Please extend the deadline by two weeks so we can complete the project properly The student failed because she had copied an article verbatim instead of writing her own essay Common Greek Word Roots Many other English words are derived from the ancient Greek language The following table shows the Greek words that are used to create various English words The Greek words serve as roots, providing the core mean- ing of the words; prefixes, suffixes, and other alterations give each word its distinct meaning The word roots are listed in alphabetical order 164 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– ROOT MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE bios chronos life biology (n) the science of He is majoring in biology and derma living organisms plans to go to medical school gamos time chronological arranged in the order The story is confusing because genos (adj) in which things she did not put the events in geo occurred chronological order graphein krates skin dermatology (n) branch of medical She has decided to study kryptos science dealing with dermatology because she has metron the skin and its always been plagued by diseases rashes marriage, polygamy (n) the practice or custom Throughout history, certain union of having more than cultures have practiced one spouse or mate polygamy, but it is uncommon at a time today race, sex, genocide (n) deliberate extermination The recent genocide in Bosnia kind of one race of people has created a sharp increase in the number of orphaned children earth geography (n) the study of the Earth’s The geography of this region surface; the surface or made it difficult for the different topographical features tribes to interact of a place to write calligraphy (n) beautiful or elegant She used calligraphy when handwriting she addressed the wedding invitations member of democrat (n) one who believes in I have always been a a group or advocates democ- democrat, but I refuse to join racy as a principle the Democratic Party of government hidden, cryptic (adj) concealing meaning; He left such a cryptic message secret puzzling on my answering machine that I don’t know what he wanted to measure metronome (n) device with a pendulum She used a metronome to that beats at a deter- help her keep the proper pace mined rate to measure as she played the song time/rhythm 165 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– ROOT MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE morphe form polymorphous having many forms Most mythologies have a (adj) polymorphous figure, a “shape shifter” who can be both ani- mal and human pathos suffering, pathetic (adj) arousing feelings Willy Loman is a complex feeling of pity or sadness character who is both pathetic and heroic philos loving xenophile (n) a person who is Alex is a xenophile; I doubt he attracted to foreign will ever come back to the peoples, cultures, States or customs phobos fear xenophobe (n) person who fears Don’t expect Len to go on the or hates foreigners trip; he is a xenophobe or strange cultures or customs photos light photobiotic living or thriving only Plants are photobiotic and will (adj) in the presence of light die without light podos foot podiatrist (n) an expert in diagnosis The podiatrist saw that the and treatment of ingrown toenail had become ailments of the human infected foot psuedein to deceive pseudonym (n) false name Was George Eliot a pseudo- nym for Mary Ann Evans? pyr fire pyromaniac (n) one who has a The warehouse fire was not an compulsion to set accident; it was set by a things on fire pyromaniac soma body psychoso- of or involving both In a psychosomatic illness, matic (adj) the mind and body physical symptoms are caused by emotional distress 166 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– ROOT MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE tele distant telescope (n) optical instrument for While Galileo did not invent the therme making distant objects telescope, he was the first to appear larger and use it to study the planets and nearer when viewed stars through the lens heat thermos (n) insulated jug or bottle The thermos kept my coffee that keeps liquids hot all afternoon hot or cold 167 ... 15 1 –VERB FORMS– The basic forms of these verbs can also be a bit tricky The following table shows how each verb is conjugated PRESENT PRESENT PARTICIPLE PAST PAST PARTICIPLE... pesticide is also insects dangerous for humans 16 1 –PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS– SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE -ism quality, state, optimism (n)... be on the next train may, might past participle They should have been on that train might ؉ have ؉ possibility They may be lost past participle They might have gotten