GmatKiss wrote:A year advantage in a new computer product or process being introduced can give a company a significant edge on its competitors.

(A) A year advantage in a new computer product or process being introduced
(B) Introducing a new computer product or process by a year earlier
(C) A year's advantage to introduce a new computer product or process
(D) To introduce a new computer product or process by a year earlier
(E) Being a year ahead in introducing a new computer product or process

IMO D

ruled out A and E because of 'being'.
C - i felt is not constructed properly

stuck between B and D. both seem correct

IMO D.

B - The 'by' seems unnecessary

introducing X a year earlier can be advantageous
Introducing X by a year earlier can be advantageous

GmatKiss wrote:A year advantage in a new computer product or process being introduced can give a company a significant edge on its competitors.

(A) A year advantage in a new computer product or process being introduced
(B) Introducing a new computer product or process by a year earlier
(C) A year's advantage to introduce a new computer product or process
(D) To introduce a new computer product or process by a year earlier
(E) Being a year ahead in introducing a new computer product or process

We need a subject to "can give...".
C - subject is "advantage...can give..." - wrong;
B -"advantage...can give..." - drop

D - TO INTRODUCE ...can give (we need parallel element such as TO INTRODUCE....to give...)

EARLIER than what - we need a comparison indicator EARLIER THAN... (drop B/D)

IMO E

The meaning of the sentence tells us that : The advantage (Modified by 'year') can give a company something

It is similar to the phrasing Ravi can give Rahul the book - X can give Y Z
(My ear tells me it is not the best construction, but since the non-modifiable component of the question sticks to this construction - so do we)

Now in place of X, we need a subject - going by the meaning, it is 'Advantage'. I was confused for a second that the introduction in itself is a subject. But that does not make sense.

(A) Subject is Advantage -> Keep it
(B) Introducing is the subject (Gerund form) -> Reject
(C) Subject is Advantage -> Keep it
(D) Prepositional Phrase -> Reject
(E) Modifier phrase -> Nonsensical meaning -> Reject

I fell that (C) edges over (A) for 2 reasons:
Advantage in (A) is modified by year which is not required, whereas Advantage in (C) is possessed by Year - this makes sense.

IMO : (C)

I am confused between B and D.
Introducing or To introduce? whats the difference and how to choose between a gerund and an infinitive? Any ideas?

GmatKiss wrote:A year advantage in a new computer product or process being introduced can give a company a significant edge on its competitors.

(A) A year advantage in a new computer product or process being introduced
(B) Introducing a new computer product or process by a year earlier
(C) A year's advantage to introduce a new computer product or process
(D) To introduce a new computer product or process by a year earlier
(E) Being a year ahead in introducing a new computer product or process

Gerunds and Infinitives convey different meaning:
Gerunds are often used when actions are real, concrete or complete e.g. I stopped smoking - i was actually smoking and then, because of some reason, i stopped it
Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future e.g. I stopped to smoke - i stopped to smoke, which i was thinking to do in future. The intention is that i gave up the thought - this one is a bit hard to comprehend, just remember infinitives are related to future/unreal/abstract action

Two links to understand better
https://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/ ... gerinf.htm
https://eolf.univ-fcomte.fr/uploads/ress ... ngvsto.htm

Mitch says E is correct. END OF DISCUSSION. https://www.beatthegmat.com/brutal-sc-32 ... tml#291855