By showing that South Africa does not have a free market and is in fac

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/grounds - This link doesnt show any idiom like grounds to . so we can safely avoid B and the correct idiom should be grounds for .

C is the correct answer.

"Grounds to" is not a correct idiom, so we can eliminate A and B. "Grounds for" is idiomatically correct. Although "grounds that" can be correct, when it's negated ("no grounds"), the correct idiom is "no grounds for." So C is the correct answer choice.

Tense and framework of the question shows that the Conservatives are still doing the action of sympathizing with Whites. The right tense should be in continuous form, i.e. verb-ing.

C is the right answer.

Cheers,
Der alte Fritz.

Hi OldFritz:
Y
ou are absolutely correct in saying that this sentence talks about all the present events and that are correctly written in simple present tense verbs – “does not have”, “is”, “argues” and “have”. “Sympathizing” is not a verb. To be a verb, “sympathizing” must be preceded by “is/am/are/was/were” etc. “Sympathizing” in the correct answer choice is a gerund, a noun. It denotes an action but acts as a noun.

Thanks.
Shraddha.

Isolate the idiom (grounds to vs. grounds for), then form a simple test sentence.

(b) Perjury is grounds to disbar someone.
(c) Perjury is grounds for disbarment.

I've definitely heard (c) in real life, but not (b). So (c) wins.

The reason "for" is correct rather than "to" is that "for" is used when we have to show "what for" aspect whereas "to" is used to show reasoning i.e. "why" aspect

IDIOMS


Correct idiom is (to have) GROUNDS + FOR + PRESENT PARTICIPLE


ANSWER: C

Lets do it without idiom
While almost all answers are saying rounds for > rounds to is wrong . But how does a nonnative approach such questions?

By showing that South Africa does not have a free market and is in fact a kind of collectivist welfare state for Whites only, Sowell argues that (SUB CLAUSE) American conservatives (SUBJECT OF SUB CLAUSE)have (VERB) no valid ideological grounds(NOUN) to be in sympathy with the Pretoria regime.

step1 ) structure - modifier , subject . We have noun = ideological grounds . always use adjectives/prepositions with NOUNS .
step 2 - tense - present
step 3 - eliminate D & E as we are already dealing with an incomplete sub-clause 'that'


(A) to be in sympathy with- to be (base form) is used in subjunctive cases or events that are about to happen.

(B) to sympathize with - to+ verb (this isn't a verb but a to form of verb which is used to show an action with purpose /intention)

(C) for sympathizing with - CORRECT (our NOUN ideological grounds need FOR (preposition)


rejected d&e
(D) that they should sympathize with

(E) that they should have sympathy for

Hope this helped!
Please reward Kudos

In this sentence's forum, experts are divided between the options "B" and "C".
What is the answer and what is the explanation?
Is "Grounds to" also a correct idiom?

_______________________
The OA for this question is C.

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Concepts tested here: Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy

A:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "grounds + to"; remember, “grounds + for” is the correct, idiomatic usage.
2/ Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase "be in sympathy with", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "grounds + to"; remember, “grounds + for” is the correct, idiomatic usage.

C: Correct.
1/ This answer choice correctly uses the idiomatic construction "grounds + for".
2/ Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

D:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "grounds + that"; remember, “grounds + for” is the correct, idiomatic usage.

E:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "grounds + that"; remember, “grounds + for” is the correct, idiomatic usage.
2/ Option E uses the needlessly wordy phrase "have sympathy for", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

@GMATNinja/@KarishmaB/@EMPOWERgmatVerbal/@MartyTargetTestPrep/@egmat
Apart from idioms use, Is there any other way to solve this question ?