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to do vs of doing

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to do vs of doing

by gauravkhare » Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:47 am
can please somebody explian what is the difference between the phares "ability to do" and "ability of doing". i am not ablr to figure out when they are used. I find these two used quite freuently in answer choices.
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by dumb.doofus » Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:56 am
As far as I know, ability to do is the correct usage and ability of doing is incorrect.

You'll find examples on the net where they have used "ability of", but that in my knowledge is incorrect.

If you encounter any sentence correction on gmat forums that has "ability of" as the right answer, then please share. I would be really glad to know.
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by goelmohit2002 » Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:11 am
dumb.doofus wrote:As far as I know, ability to do is the correct usage and ability of doing is incorrect.

You'll find examples on the net where they have used "ability of", but that in my knowledge is incorrect.

If you encounter any sentence correction on gmat forums that has "ability of" as the right answer, then please share. I would be really glad to know.
Hi DD,

I too have same doubt...there is one GMAT question that looks to be breaking this rule...the same is discussed at the following thread...

https://www.beatthegmat.com/parallel-con ... tml#168147

Can you please look in the above thread.
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by dumb.doofus » Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:42 am
goelmohit2002 wrote:
dumb.doofus wrote:As far as I know, ability to do is the correct usage and ability of doing is incorrect.

You'll find examples on the net where they have used "ability of", but that in my knowledge is incorrect.

If you encounter any sentence correction on gmat forums that has "ability of" as the right answer, then please share. I would be really glad to know.
Hi DD,

I too have same doubt...there is one GMAT question that looks to be breaking this rule...the same is discussed at the following thread...

https://www.beatthegmat.com/parallel-con ... tml#168147

Can you please look in the above thread.
See even there it uses "ability to distinguish" and not "ability of distinguising"

ability of + verb - ing is always wrong.. if you can find any example where they have used "ability of" + verb-ing.. and is the correct choice.. then please share..

I haven't come across any such examples.. its always "ability to do"..

You can say ability of.. but it will always be "ability of x to do y".. not like the original post "ability of doing".. thta is wrong..
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by gauravkhare » Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:09 am
ok...
thanks, i appreciate your explanations.
But my doubt was not specific to "ability". In general i find various answer choices containg " to do (activity)" and " of doing(activity)". I am not able to figure out when is what applicable. Is there any rules or is it just IDIOMS.

for eg: "gave aid to help" vs "gave aid for helping" vs "gave aid in helping"
"we went hotel to celebrate..." vs " we went to hotel for celebrating..."
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by goelmohit2002 » Tue Jul 14, 2009 10:05 am
dumb.doofus wrote: You can say ability of.. but it will always be "ability of x to do y".. not like the original post "ability of doing".. thta is wrong..
Thanks DD....does it mean that
a) Ability of X doing Y = incorrect
b) Ability of X to do Y = correct
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by goelmohit2002 » Tue Jul 14, 2009 10:06 am
gauravkhare wrote:ok...
thanks, i appreciate your explanations.
But my doubt was not specific to "ability". In general i find various answer choices containg " to do (activity)" and " of doing(activity)". I am not able to figure out when is what applicable. Is there any rules or is it just IDIOMS.

for eg: "gave aid to help" vs "gave aid for helping" vs "gave aid in helping"
"we went hotel to celebrate..." vs " we went to hotel for celebrating..."
IMO it all depends on idiomatic usage....for e.g. as per my understanding only aid + in works...other usage with aid are wrong....
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