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Li Ming Lok Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Greed and ignorance

............which being ruined by greed and ignorance.

why is it correct? why shouldn't be " greedy & ignorance"?
  

Top answer

"ruined by" must be followed by a noun (or noun phrase). "greed" is a noun; "greedy" is an adjective. Note that "ruined by greedy ignorance" is possible because "greedy ignorance" is a noun phrase, consisting of adjective + noun.

— Mr Wordy

  • "ruined by" must be followed by a noun (or noun phrase).
  • "greed" is a noun; "greedy" is an adjective.
  • Note that "ruined by greedy ignorance" is possible because "greedy ignorance" is a noun phrase, consisting of adjective + noun.
  • However, "ruined by greedy and ignorance" does not work because it means "ruined by greedy and ruined by ignorance", and "ruined by greedy" is ungrammatical.
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2 Answers
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"ruined by" must be followed by a noun (or noun phrase). "greed" is a noun; "greedy" is an adjective.

Note that "ruined by greedy ignorance" is possible because "greedy ignorance" is a noun phrase, consisting of adjective + noun. However, "ruined by greedy and ignorance" does not work because it means "ruined by greedy and ruined by ignorance", and "ruined by greedy" is ungrammatical.
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Hi,
Mr Wordy explained beautifully.And I can say it in another way.

1-By is a preposition so it is followed by a noun,gerund or noun phrase like:

A:....which being ruined by greed and ignorance

B:.....which being ruined by being

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