Transit Authority

I will go with D.
'Provisions in' is more apt and Option E changes the intended meaning.

There is no significance of the present perfect here, as we are not showing any time sequence.

Left with B and D.

D - Apply VAN Rule, Verb>Noun, "are a failure" is better" than "fail"

It is B.

Hope this helps !!

Avik: there is no difference between "provision of"/"provision in".

"Provisions in" is a correct idiom.

imskpwr wrote:Avik: there is no difference between "provision of"/"provision in".

"Provisions in" is a correct idiom.

Both are correct usage - "provision in" and "provision of".

Just type in google and see the number of hits.

any way to get idioms correct.....

Hi Avik,
I can't find 'provision in' as idiomitic .
Could you please share the link.

@imskpwr:
Here the meaning of the sentence itself forces for the use of 'of'
Provision of a law/act failed.
There is no way that "provision in a law failed".

Just take another example:
The rules of humanity expect us to help others.
The rules in humanity expect us to help others.

Hope it helps.

MakeUrTimeCount wrote:Hi Avik,
I can't find 'provision in' as idiomitic .
Could you please share the link.

When you are modifying a noun with a prepositional phrase, any preposition can be used dependending on meaning.

A book on the table...
A book of quotation..
A book at the shelf...

another example with noun - evidence:
His trembling was evidence of his fear.
Scientists weigh the evidence for and against a hypothesis.

Here "provision" is a noun, I do not see any wrong in the following sentence,

A provision in the lok pak bill will be amended.
Provision of maritime code....... ( OG-12 SC#113).
Provision for bad debt...

According to me all are correct.

Hope this helps !!

Hello Avik,

Could you plz throw some light on the VAN rule you mentioned?

Thanx
Aditya

avik.ch wrote: When you are modifying a noun with a prepositional phrase, any preposition can be used dependending on meaning.

A book on the table...
A book of quotation..
A book at the shelf...

another example with noun - evidence:
His trembling was evidence of his fear.
Scientists weigh the evidence for and against a hypothesis.

Here "provision" is a noun, I do not see any wrong in the following sentence,

A provision in the lok pak bill will be amended.
Provision of maritime code....... ( OG-12 SC#113).
Provision for bad debt...

According to me all are correct.

Hope this helps !!

So we have to check only "adverb- prepositional phrases" for idiomatic errors.
All "adjective-prepositional phrases" can go with any "preposition" depending upon the context and meaning.


so in the below example,

Let's compare the virtues of savings accounts with investing in bonds.
Adj-Prep Phrase: "of saving account", is modifying "virtue"(noun), and clearly
adverb-prep phrase: "with investing" is modifying "compare" not "account".
So "compare with" is the only idiom present.
Now I know exactly where to check for an IDIOM error.

But, how can i fix an idiom error.

@Avik,

Point taken. I understand 'provision in' is idiomitic as per usage (as i mentioned for rules in prev post).

A/2/Some/All provisions in Lokpal will be amended.

But have you seen usage without the supporting words (as some mentioned in bold above).

imskpwr wrote:At a recent conference, the Transit Authority has stated that the provisions in the Clean Air Act fail to promote mass transit as an alternative to private transportation.

a.
b. stated that the provisions of the Clean Air Act fail.
c. has stated that the provisions of the Clean Air Act will fail
d. stated that the provisions in the Clean Air Act are a failure
e. has stated the provisions in the Clean Air Act failed

Give explanations with your answers.

In A, C and E, has stated (present perfect) cannot be used to refer to an action that took place at a specific moment in the past (at a recent press conference). Eliminate A, C, and E.

Avoid what I call the NOUNIFICATION of verbs: answer choices that change a verb to a NOUN. Whereas B uses fail (verb), D uses failure (noun). Since B is free of errors, preserves the intended meaning, and employs a verb instead of a noun, B is the clear winner. Eliminate D.

The correct answer is B.

NOUNIFICATION is an issue of style, not of grammar, but it can be very helpful. When you scan the 5 answer choices, be skeptical of any that change a verb to a noun.