"a deteriorating of the quality" - why article?

Question

I wonder which factor is decisive for the article being used.

GPY · Accepted Answer

"a deterioration of/in..." is a lot more common.

Iasadih · Answer

Yes, I know, but I need to somehow explain to my student how come this form (a V+ing) appears so often on the G-MAT exam.

Why is "a deteriorating" favoured over "deteriorating" - does anyone know?

Grammarfreak · Answer

iasadihYes, I know, but I need to somehow explain to my student how come this form (a V+ing) appears so often on the G-MAT exam.Why is "a deteriorating" favoured over "deteriorating" - does anyone know?

I don't think it is possible to answer this question without a full context. The article "a" in your sentence pertains to "quality"
, not "deteriorating". It is possible to have "a deteriorating condition" but " a deteriorating of quality " doesn't sound right to me becasue "deterioarting " functions as an participle adjectinve, not a gerund. Maybe others can offer a better explanation.

Iasadih · Answer

Here is the sentence, as I remember it:

"loss of interest of the loyal clients resulted in a lowering of hte prices".

GPY · Answer

grammarfreakThe article "a" in your sentence pertains to "quality", not "deteriorating".

I don't think that's right...

Grammarfreak · Answer

GPYI don't think that's right...

Can you elaborate on your comment? A deteriorating of quality - is not semantically sensible in my opinion; perhaps it make more sense with " deterioration of qualifty ". So if we have to use "deteriorating " with quality, then the article can only pertain to the " quality that is deterioarting". Right or not, I explained my take. May I here yours?

Grammarfreak · Answer

iasadih"Loss of interest of the loyal clients resulted in a lowering of the prices".

I would prefer "the" to "a " in this sentence.

Grammarfreak · Answer

grammarfreak Right or not, I explained my take. May I here yours?

An "ooops " on the last post. It should be "hear ".

GPY · Answer

grammarfreakCan you elaborate on your comment? A deteriorating of quality - is not semantically sensible in my opinion; perhaps it make more sense with " deterioration of qualifty ". So if we have to use "deteriorating " with quality, then the article can only pertain to the " quality that is deterioarting". Right or not, I explained my take. May I here yours?

I agree that "a deteriorating of quality" sounds a bit odd (usually it would be "deterioration", as I mentioned in my first reply), but assuming it is possible "deteriorating" must be a noun as far as I can see. I think in the pattern "of", articles attach to the nearest noun. For example, you can see that "an advice of friend" is impossible (would have to be "advice of a friend") because "advice" cannot take the indefinite articlle while "friend" needs an article (or other determiner). The article does not "transfer through" to "friend".

GPY · Answer

iasadihYes, I know, but I need to somehow explain to my student how come this form (a V+ing) appears so often on the G-MAT exam.Why is "a deteriorating" favoured over "deteriorating" - does anyone know?

I don't know, but the question may be easier to examine if you choose an example that feels more natural, such as "a lowering of (the) prices". I think with "a deteriorating of quality" one mostly wonders why it does not say "deterioration" which then makes it harder to focus on the relevant question.

"a deteriorating of the quality" - why article?

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