[Grammar] Gerund question

[AndyJung]

Hi, I have a question about gerund. And this is a question in my book.

The cell-phone device Auto-Lock prevents _ _ _ dialing numbers. (accident)

Can 'accidental' be the answer?
Someone just explained me that only 'accidentally' can be the answer because only adverb can modify gerund.
But, after googling, many people said adjective can modify gerund as well.
So if accidental can't be the answer, then, what's the meaning if I fill the blank with accidental in that sentence? :?:

Please help me. Thank you as always~!

 

[Tdol]

With the adjective I'd use The cell-phone device Auto-Lock prevents the accidental dialing of numbers

 

[Rover_KE]

Neither the adverb nor the adjective gives a grammatical result here, as the question is badly worded.

'The cell-phone device Auto-Lock prevents the accidental dialing of numbers.'

'The cell-phone device Auto-Lock prevents you from accidentally dialing numbers.'

Rover

 

[White Hat]

For some reason, I thought you could, actually, use the word "accidentally" there.

By Ashleigh Walker, eHow Contributor

In addition to taking pictures and video, the Nokia 6133 camera phone can be used for other functions. The phone is also capable of sending and receiving emails, texting and playing music. The phone features a side button that can be used to quickly access the camera. Occasionally, you may accidentally take a picture using the side button. Although you cannot completely disable the buttons on the phone, you can lock the keypad and side buttons to prevent accidentally dialing numbers or taking pictures.

​

 

[AndyJung]

For some reason, I thought you could, actually, use the word "accidentally" there.

By Ashleigh Walker, eHow Contributor

In addition to taking pictures and video, the Nokia 6133 camera phone can be used for other functions. The phone is also capable of sending and receiving emails, texting and playing music. The phone features a side button that can be used to quickly access the camera. Occasionally, you may accidentally take a picture using the side button. Although you cannot completely disable the buttons on the phone, you can lock the keypad and side buttons to prevent accidentally dialing numbers or taking pictures.

​

Sorry, but now you really make me confused. Rover_KE said the question is badly worded but 'likes' your reply.
And you are saying accidentally could be the answer without correcting other words like Rober_KE said?
Also, I don't know why but, when I looked at your example, 'accidentally' is more correct answer in your example.

Could you help me little more please?

 

[Tdol]

I prefer Rover_KE's version with the gerund, but think that Bennevis has a point. I don't think it's wrong with just the gerund, but would add you from.

 

[SoothingDave]

The cell-phone device Auto-Lock prevents _ _ _ dialing numbers.

I thought the answer was "butt." ;-)

 

[Rover_KE]

Sorry, but now you really make me confused. Rover_KE said the question is badly worded but 'likes' your reply.​

I stand by my answer in the context given; I appreciate Bennevis's contribution in the different context.

Rover ​

 

[AndyJung]

Thank you everyone. I think I got it.

 

[philo2009]

You need to be aware that, in functional terms, gerunds fall into two types: pure gerunds and participial nouns. A pure gerund is closer to a verb in the sense that it can take adverbial modification and govern objects, e.g.

I objected to his playing music so loudly late at night.

in which the pure gerund 'playing' is modified by 'loudly' and governs 'music' as object.

On the other hand, particularly when an action is much more general in nature and not attributable to any particular agent, we often find a participial noun construction, in which the gerund, determined by the definite article, becomes no more than a noun denoting an action, with modification by adjectives rather than adverbs, and the loss of verbal powers of governance, the preposition 'of' being required to link the word to any notional objects, e.g.

The interminable playing of music gradually drove him mad.