bhikkhu1991  +  602019 Tue, 02 Dec 08 08:55 AM Hello,   Please bear in mind the advantages of being near a good water source.   Sentence A. What is the synonym of the underlined word “being” in bold in the sentence, please? Sentence B. Can we leave out the underlined word “being” in bold and the sentence remains the same in meaning?   I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for so much.   Best wishes. bhikkhu1991 Joined on Mon, Mar 31 2008 Full Member 116 Vocabulary, Synonyms

	CalifJim  +  602035 Tue, 02 Dec 08 09:16 AM bhikkhu1991 “What is the synonym of the underlined word “being” in bold in the sentence, please?” having a location that is Please bear in mind the advantages of having a location that is near a good water source. bhikkhu1991 “Can we leave out the underlined word “being” in bold and the sentence remains the same in meaning?” No.  Leaving out "being" will make the sentence ungrammatical. CJ    CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,385 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

	Avangi  +  602047 Tue, 02 Dec 08 09:25 AM bhikkhu1991 “  Please bear in mind the advantages of being near a good water source. Sentence A. What is the synonym of the underlined word “being” in bold in the sentence, please? Further context might clarify the circumstances of the being. "Living" is probably the most general, but that might not be it at all.  It could also be "camping" or "manufacturing."  "Existing" is probably the truest synonym.  The others are surely not.  But it's doubtful that "existing" would actually be used in the sentence. Sentence B. Can we leave out the underlined word “being” in bold and the sentence remains the same in meaning?  No.  But another wording would be " - - the advantages of proximity to a good water supply." ” Regards,  - A. Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,172 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

	bhikkhu1991  +  602102 Tue, 02 Dec 08 10:35 AM Hello CalifJim and Avangi,   I greatly appreciate your clear explanations that have widened my understanding of “being”. However, I would like to know from Avangi’s explanation whether other nouns can always follow “the advantages of” as well. For example, in CalifJim’s sentence “Please bear in mind the advantages of having a location that is near a good water source” may be reconstructed as “Please bear in mind the advantages of a location that is near a good water source”.   I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you so much for your help.   Best wishes. bhikkhu1991 Nouns, Synonyms

	Avangi  +  602465 Tue, 02 Dec 08 06:28 PM Yes and yes.  (advantages of nearness, etc.)  I hesitate to say always. Avangi