This short video explains the usage of "agree with" versus "agree to", particularly useful for the GMAT sentence correction questions.
“Agree with” versus “Agree to” on GMAT
"Agree With" versus "Agree To" on GMAT
While attempting GMAT sentence correction questions, there are certain words and phrases that you must pay especially close attention to. The correct idiomatic use of such words and phrases can shift subtly but significantly, depending on the exact context. They are often used to set up highly complex questions that require a keen eye and a firm understanding of these words and phrases to navigate. In this brief article, we will cover the use of the phrases "agree with" and "agree to".
Use of "Agree With" and "Agree To" on GMAT
Both of these phrases denote a sense of agreement between two or more entities. The phrase "agree with" is used for referring to agreeing with a person, and the phrase "agree to" is used for referring to agreeing with a non-person. For instance, one can also be in agreement with an idea or an ideology. Let us illustrate this concept through the following examples:
Example 1 -
Jack agrees with his father on the decision to hold the stocks.
In this sentence, the agreement is between Jack, a person, and his father, another person. Therefore, the correct phrase here is "agrees with".
Example 2 -
Jack has agreed to hold the stocks.
Here, in example 2, Jack is in agreement with the idea to hold the stocks. As an idea is a non-human entity, the correct phrase to use here is "agree to".
While attempting the GMAT sentence correction, be sure to keep this distinction in mind. In doing so, you will be able to eliminate incorrect answer choices more efficiently and avoid traps.
This article has deliberately been kept brief; for a more elaborate explanation, please refer to Experts' Global's Stage One Sentence Correction videos.
