To Supplement Vs in Supplementing

[Saurabh Malpani]

The failing of the book lies not in a lack of attention to scientific detail but in the depiction of scenes of life and death in the marine world with emotional overtones that reduce the credibility of the work.
(A) depiction of scenes of life and death in the marine world with emotional overtones that
(B) fact that it depicts marine world scenes of life and death as having emotional overtones that
(C) depiction of scenes of life and death in the marine world, whose emotional overtones
(D) depiction of marine world scenes of life and death, which have emotional overtones and thus
(E) fact that it depicts scenes of life and death in the marine world, whose emotional overtones

My Question is -- In Supplementing ---an Idiom?

[StaceyKoprince]

Please don't forget to cite the author of the problem!

[Guest]

GMAC Test Code 42

[RonPurewal]

I don't see the word 'supplement' or 'supplementing' anywhere in this problem. Please elaborate...

[Saurabh Malpani]

Sorry for the Confusiion-- I copied the wrong question. This question is also from GMAC PP42

In an effort improve the quality of patient care, Dr. Lydia Temoscho is directing one of several clinical research projects that seek to determine the extent that psychological counseling helps to supplement the medical treatment of serious disease.

(A) seek to determine the extent that psychological counseling helps to supplement
(B) seek to determine how helpful psychological counseling is in supplementing
(C) seeks to determine how helpful psychological counseling is to supplement
(D) seeks to determine to what extent psychological counseling is a help in supplementing
(E) seeks to determine the extent that psychological counseling is helpful in supplementing

[GK]

Sorry for the Confusiion-- I copied the wrong question. This question is also from GMAC PP42

In an effort improve the quality of patient care, Dr. Lydia Temoscho is directing one of several clinical research projects that seek to determine the extent that psychological counseling helps to supplement the medical treatment of serious disease.

(A) seek to determine the extent that psychological counseling helps to supplement
(B) seek to determine how helpful psychological counseling is in supplementing
(C) seeks to determine how helpful psychological counseling is to supplement
(D) seeks to determine to what extent psychological counseling is a help in supplementing
(E) seeks to determine the extent that psychological counseling is helpful in supplementing

C, D, E are out because 'projects that' requires 'seek'.
I eliminate A because 'the extent that' seems incorrect to me. 'the extent to which' would have been correct.
Therefore, I assume, 'in supplementing' is correct.

Let's get an expert opinion from MGMAT staff.

[StaceyKoprince]

Either "to supplement" or "in supplementing" can be used correctly. "to supplement" is the infinitive form of the verb and "in supplementing" is an idiom.

We use the idiom "in supplementing" when we have the construction "how [useful] X is in [doing] Y" In this case, we have "helpful" instead of "useful" and "supplementing" instead of "doing," as in choice B.

We use the infinitive "to supplement" when we want to use this verb right after another conjugated verb, as in choice A "helps to supplement."

So, actually A and B are correct just with respect to the supplement / supplementing issue.

GK is correct to eliminate C, D, and E due to "seeks." GK is also correct that choice A should say "extent to which" instead of "extent that" - another idiom. That leaves us with B.

[Saurabh Malpani]

Stacey,

Thank you very much! So Extent To wich is an Idiom correct? Extent THAT is wrong?

Either "to supplement" or "in supplementing" can be used correctly. "to supplement" is the infinitive form of the verb and "in supplementing" is an idiom.

We use the idiom "in supplementing" when we have the construction "how [useful] X is in [doing] Y" In this case, we have "helpful" instead of "useful" and "supplementing" instead of "doing," as in choice B.

We use the infinitive "to supplement" when we want to use this verb right after another conjugated verb, as in choice A "helps to supplement."

So, actually A and B are correct just with respect to the supplement / supplementing issue.

GK is correct to eliminate C, D, and E due to "seeks." GK is also correct that choice A should say "extent to which" instead of "extent that" - another idiom. That leaves us with B.

[StaceyKoprince]

Not necessarily
You could say "to the extent that" eg:

She was tired to the extent that she fell asleep standing up.

Isn't English grammar fun? :)

[dataiwandude]

It looks like it's all about the placement of "to" relative to "extent."

If "extent" shows up without a "to" in front, then the idiomatic expression appears to be "extent to which."

If "extent" shows up with a "to" in front, then the idiomatic expression appears to be "to the extent that."

So, could I re-write the original sentence as follows:

"In an effort improve the quality of patient care, Dr. Lydia Temoscho is directing one of several clinical research projects that seek to determine to what extent that psychological counseling helps to supplement the medical treatment of serious disease."

?

Thanks!

[dataiwandude]

Stacey,

Given the construction "how [useful] X is in [doing] Y," would the following "best answer" be possible, by combining answer choices (A) and (B):

"seek to determine how helpful psychological counseling is to supplement"

What I am trying to get at here is, based on your experiences, how undesirable can a "best answer" be?

Thanks!

[RonPurewal]

"In an effort improve the quality of patient care, Dr. Lydia Temoscho is directing one of several clinical research projects that seek to determine to what extent that psychological counseling helps to supplement the medical treatment of serious disease."

?

Thanks!

nope. in this case, to and that are trying to do double duty. you need to kill that.

analogy:
i'm going back to the store from which i bought this item --> correct
i'm going back to the store from which that i bought this item --> incorrect

your sentence above is like the second, although it's harder to notice (because there are more words).

[RonPurewal]

would the following "best answer" be possible...

"seek to determine how helpful psychological counseling is to supplement"


Thanks!

nope. bad idiomatic usage.

if you mean that activity x assists in doing activity y, then you must say 'x is helpful in doing y.'
if the statement starts with 'it is helpful...' only then do you use the infinitive: 'it is helpful to read the passage thoroughly before answering the questions.'

[dataiwandude]

Ron,

I know that you had replied on 12/18, but I just saw your reply. Thanks for the clarification!

(Was my past perfect-simple past usage necessary and correct?)

Leon

[StaceyKoprince]

yep! Love to see you using the rules in your own writing ;)