meaning of "amount to"

[rich7]

Test No. incompl/advan-84 "GMAT Verbal Quiz (7)", question 2

It's quite obvious that whatever you like to call his remarks they are impolite and ......... to slander.

(a) same
(b) amount
(c) total
(d) extend

Test No. incompl/advan-84 "GMAT Verbal Quiz (7)", answer 2

It's quite obvious that whatever you like to call his remarks they are impolite and amount to slander.

Correct answer: (b) amount

Your answer was: incorrect
It's quite obvious that whatever you like to call his remarks they are impolite and extend to slander.
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amount in this case? pls explain...

[Alan]

Amount to here means equivalent to. This expression is often used as a reply when someone says exactly what you have already said but in different words and your remark would be: 'Well, that amounts to the same thing.' It has the same idea as adds up to the same thing. For example if you help yourself to some envelopes at your place of work and take them home it amounts to the same thing as stealing.
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[rich7]

pretty interesting thanks...
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[nessie]

Hi Alan,
Thanks for your explaination. However I still have some query: which part of speech is "slander" here? If it is a noun, why isn't it "amount/ equivalent to slanders" why isn't in plural? And if it is a verb, I suppose it should be transitive...

Please explain more for me.
Thanks a lot
Nessie

[Alan]

Hi Nessie,

'Slander' in the sentence is a noun. It is also an abstract noun and in context doesn't require an article.

Alan
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