PRIVILEGE idiom

[thapliyalabhi]

Which sentence is correct?
1-Can I have the privilege to dance with you.
OR
2-Can I have the dancing privilege with you.

Please explain.

[RonPurewal]

Which sentence is correct?
1-Can I have the privilege to dance with you.
OR
2-Can I have the dancing privilege with you.

Please explain.

in american usage, neither -- you'd use "the privilege of dancing..."

is this somehow related to the GMAT?

[thapliyalabhi]

Which sentence is correct?
1-Can I have the privilege to dance with you.
OR
2-Can I have the dancing privilege with you.

Please explain.

in american usage, neither -- you'd use "the privilege of dancing..."

is this somehow related to the GMAT?

Yes Ron. In Manhattan SC guide, idiom related to "Privilege" was given.

PRIVILEGE

RIGHT: The academy gave senior cadets DANCING PRIVILEGES.

SUSPECT: The academy gave senior cadets THE PRIVILEGE OF DANCING.

WRONG: The academy gave senior cadets THE PRIVILEGE TO DANCE.

If we go by the american usage mentioned by you above, should the "SUSPECT" sentence be more appropriate than the "RIGHT" sentence.
Also, could you please explain what is wrong with the "WRONG" sentence.

[jlucero]

The second sentence of the chapter on idioms gives you your answer-

There is no hard and fast rule for determining the form of an idiom.

Therefore, you won't get a great explanation here, other than, that's the rule that the people who came up with the English language decided upon.

And for a similar reason, Ron's example is better in the context that you were asking. You wouldn't say "Can I have dancing privileges with you", but I can't tell you why other than, "it sounds bad". That's why the SC guide calls it suspect (more often wrong) and not wrong (never right).