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We cannot expect the possibility of such delay happening again.

English translation: possibility +ing form of the verb

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13:17 Aug 9, 2011

English to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Business/Commerce (general)

English term or phrase: We cannot expect the possibility of such delay happening again.

Why do we use "happening" and not "happen" in this sentence? It is a fill in the blanks exercise from the Market Leader workbook.

MrsDepp

English translation:possibility +ing form of the verb

Explanation:
possibility of being/doing/having/happening

Selected response from:

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 20:52

Grading comment

Thanks for your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +4

noun + preposition + gerund

Martina Pokupec

4 +1

we cannot expect the possibility of such a delay happening etc.

Liz Broomfield

4 +1

possibility +ing form of the verb

Sheila Wilson

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

9 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

we cannot expect the possibility of such delay happening again.

possibility +ing form of the verb

Explanation:
possibility of being/doing/having/happening

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 20:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12

Grading comment

Thanks for your help!

10 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

we cannot expect the possibility of such delay happening again. we cannot expect the possibility of such a delay happening etc.

Explanation:
We use the present tense with such a construction, so:

We cannot expect the possibility of such a delay happening
but
We cannot expect the possibility that such a delay will happen

There is always the possibility of the looter going to prison
There is always the possibility that the looter will go to prison

-- it works with that construction with whatever verb. Possibility of x happening, possibility that x will happen.

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Note added at 10 mins (2011-08-09 13:28:47 GMT)
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Ack - when I say present tense I mean that variety of the present tense, of course - sorry!

Possibility of takes x+ing
Possibility that takes will x

Liz Broomfield
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 26

24 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

we cannot expect the possibility of such delay happening again. noun + preposition + gerund

Explanation:
We use gerunds after prepositions, instead of infinitives

the possibility of traveling
the possibility of going...

see here for more info: http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/index.htm

Martina Pokupec
Croatia
Local time: 21:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Croatian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Tina Vonhof: but using English grammatical terms is not helpful for non-native speakers.

56 mins

-> Thank you! I found that most of my students like short rules that they can apply through various exercises, especially when there is no equivalent in their own language...

agree

Charles Davis: This answer will, I think, be useful to the asker, though "possibility of such delay happening" and "possibility of happening" are different cases. The essential point is that a preposition must be followed by a noun or noun clause, not by a verb.

1 hr

-> Thank you! I agree that these are different cases; however, grammatically they are quite similar for a student of English. I was trying to simplify...

agree

Ildiko Santana: I think that using precise grammatical terms and simple structures backed with examples can be especially helpful for language learners. Someone who is reading a 'Market Leader' workbook will most likely appreciate these terms. I also agree with Charles.

2 days17 hrs

-> Thank you!

agree

Thuy-PTT

2 days18 hrs

-> Thank you!

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We cannot expect the possibility of such delay happening again.

English translation: possibility +ing form of the verb

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We cannot expect the possibility of such delay happening again.

English translation: possibility +ing form of the verb

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KudoZ™ translation helpThe KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

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The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.