Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes on the

I chose C over D because it is a description, not focusing on an action which D is.

Polydactyl refers to a noun.

Having ..... is a gerund(which is a noun)

This narrows down to choices A and C.

ALso the 's' in More than the usual number(s) is incorrect.

Hence the answer is C.

"numbers of fingers or toes"

C or D ?

I chose C finally

D sounds strange
To have more than the usual number of fingers or toes on the hands or feet is (to) termed polydactyly.

Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes on the hands or feet is termed polydactyly.

A) Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes
B) Having had more than the usual number of fingers or toes
C) Having more than the usual number of fingers or toes
D) To have more than the usual number of fingers or toes
E) To have more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes

I go with D ...

Check the following explnation I found in net

Gerunds are often used when actions are real, concrete or completed:
I stopped smoking.
(The smoking was real and happened until I stopped.)
Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future::

I stopped to smoke.
(I was doing something else, and I stopped; the smoking had not happened yet.)

I am leaning towards A because fingers and toes are two separate entities. That seems to indicate the use of "numbers".

I also gone for C initially. Now I think it should be A.
Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes is singular subject phrase so A is right.

"The number of" or "A number of " usage does not work here.


Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes on the hands or feet is termed polydactyly.

but what makes you think "numbers" is right?

According to Manhattan SC:
1. The number is singular, a number is plural
2. The numbers of is incorrect. It is advised to stick to the expression the number of

Not posting the OA yet. I think we are having a good argument which should continue for sometime.

D for me. From what I understand participle phrases function as adjectives only. In choice C the participle phrase is functioning as a noun.

Swagatalakshmi,

Remember this doozy from last week? You promised you'd give us your thoughts on this one:
https://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... sc&start=0

I have 10 fingers and 10 toes. 10 is a number. I have....a number of... fingers and toes.

I chose "to have" versus "having" because it sounded better. I think that the infinitive "to have" and the gerund "having" can both act as nouns in this case, I cant exactly say whether one or the other is right. Can anyone give a better explanation of when to use "to have" or "having"??