SC problem-coyote

[Jason.tuyj]

The coyote is one of several recent ecological success stories: along with the white-tailed deer, the moose, and other species that are enlarging their natural domains, they have established themselves as supreme adapters in an era when the capability to adjust to the environmental changes wrought by human beings has created a whole new class of dominant large mammals.


A. they have established themselves as supreme adapters in an era when the
capability
B. they have established themselves as being supreme adapters in an era when
being able
C. it has established itself as a supreme adapter in an era when to be able
D. it has established itself as being a supreme adapter in an era when its ability
E. it has established itself as a supreme adapter in an era when the ability


Why C is wrong???

[tim]

Please post a source for the problem so we know the problem is not from a banned source..

[pranaygoyal02]

Hi Tim

The question is from GMAT PREP.Could you please throw some light on why is C wrong??

[ShyT]

Seems like if you use "to be" following "when" can change the meaning of the sentence. Almost as if "to be" is modifying "when" comes off as awkward and generally wordy when compared to "the ability to"
Is there a rule that I am missing here? Or is meaning the only issue?

Answer is E right?

[Neha.K]

The idiom "Ability TO" is correct. "To be able to" is wordy. Therefore "Ability To" is preferred.

Also, the concision rule of Verb- Adj - Noun, tells us to prefer Verb & Adj over noun. "To be Able to" of Noun. So its less preferred.

[tim]

thanks shayan and neha. let us know if there are any further questions about this one..

[vinny4nyc]

The idiom "Ability TO" is correct. "To be able to" is wordy. Therefore "Ability To" is preferred.

Also, the concision rule of Verb- Adj - Noun, tells us to prefer Verb & Adj over noun. "To be Able to" of Noun. So its less preferred.

Hi

How did you identify "To be able to " as a noun...? To me it looked like a verb.

Cheers
Vinayak

[tim]

well, try substituting it for a noun or a verb in a sentence. you can't say "he to be able to run", so it is not a verb. however, you can say "to be able to run is a good skill to have", so it can be used as a noun..

[vinny4nyc]

well, try substituting it for a noun or a verb in a sentence. you can't say "he to be able to run", so it is not a verb. however, you can say "to be able to run is a good skill to have", so it can be used as a noun..

Thanks Tim...

Cheers

[tim]

glad i could help!

[gauravtyagigmat]

well, try substituting it for a noun or a verb in a sentence. you can't say "he to be able to run", so it is not a verb. however, you can say "to be able to run is a good skill to have", so it can be used as a noun..

[gauravtyagigmat]

well, try substituting it for a noun or a verb in a sentence. you can't say "he to be able to run", so it is not a verb. however, you can say "to be able to run is a good skill to have", so it can be used as a noun..

I agree to be able to is wordy

but my question is
according to VAN patter 5 Adjective is better than the noun

I am to be able to adjust
here underline part is adjective

I have ability to adjust
here ability is noun

than how come option C is incorrect and E is correct

is all above is exception to VAN 5?
Please explain what understanding i am lacking ?

[RonPurewal]

Hi,

* If this problem is from gmat prep, it doesn't belong here. Please re-post it in the GMAT PREP folder.

* I have absolutely no idea what "VAN 5" means, so please do a better job of explaining that when you re-post.

Thanks.