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FN
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tricky SC 29 May 2008, 17:26
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Doctors and dermatologists cannot help but criticize the fact that there are few states with laws governing tanning parlors.



A. cannot help but criticize

B. can help but criticize

C. cannot help criticizing

D. cannot help and criticize

E. can help and criticize



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tricky SC 29 May 2008, 18:29
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fresinha12
Doctors and dermatologists cannot help but criticize the fact that there are few states with laws governing tanning parlors.



A. cannot help but criticize

B. can help but criticize

C. cannot help criticizing

D. cannot help and criticize

E. can help and criticize
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The idiom: 1. cannot help doing something, 2. cannot help but do somehting. So B, E, even D out

I always use the first with the verbs such as: think, feel, wonder, and the second with other verbs. So I think C should be best.
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tricky SC 29 May 2008, 18:41
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A for me - there's nothing wrong with it - some of the others change the meaning.
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tricky SC 29 May 2008, 20:42
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fresinha12
Doctors and dermatologists cannot help but criticize the fact that there are few states with laws governing tanning parlors.



A. cannot help but criticize

B. can help but criticize

C. cannot help criticizing

D. cannot help and criticize

E. can help and criticize
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Really torn between A and C. A sounds correct for everyday conversation, but I do not see anything wrong with C.
I went with A though.
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tricky SC 29 May 2008, 21:09
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OA is C
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tricky SC 29 May 2008, 22:01
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fresinha12
OA is C
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Huh? C?? That is a bit difficult to understand. Is it the ll-ism that is forcing the OA to be C?

Doctors and dermatologists cannot help criticizing the fact that there are few states with laws governing tanning parlors.

Choice "A" looks good from every possible angle I see. Can someone explain?
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tricky SC 29 May 2008, 22:08
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What is the idiom here ?

cannot help <something ending with ing> ?
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tricky SC Updated on: 29 May 2008, 22:28
Originally posted by wizardofwashington on 29 May 2008, 22:19.
Last edited by wizardofwashington on 29 May 2008, 22:28, edited 2 times in total.
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bsd_lover
What is the idiom here ?

cannot help <something ending with ing> ?
Show more

Good question. From the way fresinha mentioned it, that seems to be "rule". Damn Idioms. BTW, for those who care so much about Idioms, here is one source that will shower you with more idioms than you could ever come across in your lifetime. Boy! I didn't even know such a resource existed until now:

https://www.idiomconnection.com/

A very exhaustive list of idioms, all categorized so nicely. IMO, this is more idioms than what we want to know for GMAT but still can serv as a handy reference source. Oh, another thing worthy of mention here is that they have some neat Quizzes at the end of every page, which makes it a neat tool to test your skills at the end of every learning session/chapter.
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tricky SC 29 May 2008, 22:20
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bsd_lover
What is the idiom here ?

cannot help <something ending with ing> ?
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dont kno man :(

p247276#p247276

this link might help!
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tricky SC 30 May 2008, 01:52
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bsd_lover
What is the idiom here ?

cannot help ?
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One more time I re-paste my reasoning here. I hope put some light on this

The idiom:
1. cannot help doing something,
2. cannot help but do somehting.

I think both are correct. But there is slightly difference btw them in usage only.

I always use the first with the verbs such as: think, feel, wonder,

Do you recognize the similarity between these verbs and "criticize" in discussion.?



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