Are these sentences correct

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I think she has a problem with the boys being irresponsible. Or I think she has a problem with the boys for being irresponsible.And is it correct to omit the article "a" before problem?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
I think she has a problem with the boys being irresponsible.
OK, but to be more precise you should place an apostrophe after boys. But it is commonly omitted.

Or I think she has a problem with the boys for being irresponsible. OK

And is it correct to omit the article "a" before problem? No. 'Problem' is a countable noun.

Clive

Mister Micawber · Answer

You cannot omit 'a' but you must delete 'for'.

Mercyful_fate · Answer

Thanks guys. But I have a question, why do we use "being" instead of "be" when there is no "for" if it's not the preposition object, then why ING form? Can someone explain that to me?

Mercyful_fate · Answer

CliveHi,I think she has a problem with the boys being irresponsible. OK, but to be more precise you should place an apostrophe after boys. But it is commonly omitted.Or I think she has a problem with the boys for being irresponsible. OKAnd is it correct to omit the article "a" before problem? No. 'Problem' is a countable noun.Clive

Why do we use the possessive form?

Mister Micawber · Answer

I think she has a problem with the boys(') being irresponsible.

'With' is the preposition and 'the boys(') being responsible' is the noun object or prepositional complement. With the genitive (boys'), 'being' seems more like a gerund in a noun phrase, and with the objective (boys), 'being' seems more like a participle in a nonfinite clause.

The genitive (possessive) focusses the problem on the irresponsible behavior; the object pronoun focusses the problem more on the boys themselves.

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