BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Noun + possessive case + VERB-ing

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 274
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2015 10:58 pm
Thanked: 12 times
Followed by:1 members
GMAT Score:530

Noun + possessive case + VERB-ing

by vishalwin » Wed Dec 09, 2015 9:59 am
In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species, dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism's trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.


In the above sentence ORGANISM'S TRYING is wrong but in below sentence Mike's SWIMMING is right.

Mike's SWIMMING is the product of new coaching techniques.


Can anyone please explain this?
Thanks & Regards
vishalwin
------------------------------------
GMAT Score - 530
I will BEAT the GMAT!
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Wed Dec 09, 2015 1:01 pm
vishalwin wrote:In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species, dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism's trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.


In the above sentence ORGANISM'S TRYING is wrong but in below sentence Mike's SWIMMING is right.

Mike's SWIMMING is the product of new coaching techniques.


Can anyone please explain this?
INCORRECT:
POSSESSIVE + VERBing + DIRECT OBJECT.
Answer choice A to SC24 in the OG12:
Dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism's trying to metabolize the chemical.
Here, to metabolize serves as the direct object of trying.
WHAT is the organism trying?
It is trying TO METABOLIZE.
The resulting structure in red -- POSSESSIVE + VERBing + DIRECT OBJECT -- is incorrect.
Eliminate A.

CORRECT:
POSSESSIVE + VERBing + NO DIRECT OBJECT.
Mike's swimming is the product of new coaching techniques.
Here, Mike's swimming -- POSSESSIVE + VERBing -- is NOT followed by a direct object.
Thus, the structure in green is correct.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 274
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2015 10:58 pm
Thanked: 12 times
Followed by:1 members
GMAT Score:530

by vishalwin » Wed Dec 09, 2015 9:44 pm
Hi Mitch,

I was studying from MGMAT sc guide and it says

"A noun preceding a gerund must be in the possessive case if the noun is the doer of the action described
by the gerund."


Can you please help me in understanding the above point.

Also, I see this point is not applicable in case of ORGANISM' TRYING.
Last edited by vishalwin on Thu Dec 10, 2015 10:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Thanks & Regards
vishalwin
------------------------------------
GMAT Score - 530
I will BEAT the GMAT!
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Thu Dec 10, 2015 4:11 am
vishalwin wrote: "A noun preceding a gerund must be in the possessive case if the noun is the doer of the action described
by the gerund."

Can you please help me in understanding the above point.
A gerund is a VERBing that serves as a NOUN.

Case 1: John likes the woman's dancing.
Here, dancing is a gerund serving as the DIRECT OBJECT of likes, while the woman's is an ADJECTIVE serving to describe dancing.
What type of DANCING?
THE WOMAN'S dancing.
Since the direct object of likes is DANCING, the conveyed meaning is that John likes THE DANCING.
To convey that the woman is performing the gerund action, we use a possessive:
THE WOMAN'S dancing.

Case 2: John likes the woman dancing.
Here, the woman serves as the DIRECT OBJECT of likes, while dancing is not a gerund but an ADJECTIVE serving to describe the woman.
What type of WOMAN?
The woman DANCING.
Since the direct object of likes is THE WOMAN, the conveyed meaning is that John likes THE WOMAN.
Since dancing here is not a gerund but a MODIFIER, a possessive is not warranted.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 132
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2016 2:52 pm
Thanked: 4 times
Followed by:1 members

by aflaam » Sat Jan 16, 2016 3:23 am
Hello Mitch,
Can you tell the difference between C and E?
What is the difference between "falling months behind in its paying " and "falling months behind in paying "

Thanks.

After several years of rapid growth, the healthy care company became one of the largest health care providers in the metropolitan area, while it then proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind in its payment to doctors and hospitals.


A. while it then proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind in its payment to
B. while it then proved unable to handle the increase in business and fell months behind in its payment to
C. but then it proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind in its paying
D. but then proving unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind in paying
E. but then proved unable to handle the increase in business, falling months behind in paying
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Sat Jan 16, 2016 3:46 am
aflaam wrote:Hello Mitch,
Can you tell the difference between C and E?
What is the difference between "falling months behind in its paying " and "falling months behind in paying "
C: its paying doctors
Here:
its = possessive
paying = VERBing
doctors = direct object of paying
As I noted in my post above, this structure -- POSSESSIVE + VERBing + DIRECT OBJECT -- is not viable.
Eliminate C.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1