<ol>
<li>Aerial photography is thought (to be) (the most efficient) technique (to gather) accurate (information) about the use of the land.
a. Replace to gather with for gathering </li>
</ol>
<p>why is to gather wrong? is it an idiomatic expression? thanks!</p>
<p>Abstract nouns such as “technique” often take “of” and a gerund as modifiers: [Gerund</a> after prepositions (nouns) - English Grammar](<a href=“http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/gerund_prepositions_nouns.htm]Gerund”>Gerund after prepositions)</p>
<p>“to gather” is wrong because “technique” is not a catenative verb – it’s not even a verb.</p>
<p>Yes, silverturtle provides a very nice explanation.</p>
<p>The error occurs at the “C” part of the sentence. A catenative verb is essentially a verb that can be placed before a gerund (verb + ing) or a present participle (another verb + ing). For instance, in the example, “The boy wanted to gather wood for the campfire,” “to gather” would be proper since “gather” causes “wanted” to act as the catenative.</p>
<p>Wow, people actually come up with names for these things…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Like many fields, linguistics has extensive jargon; the words help to communicate the commonalities among various languages’ grammars.</p>
<p>Great, I learned what a “catenative verb” is. 
Now I have something meaningful to say to those people who ask this kind of question besides just “well, ‘for gathering’ sounds better than ‘to gather’, you know…”</p>
<p>^The intuitive approach is actually the most effective way to take the Writing section if one is familiar with the conventions of English. I do not believe that any sane individual would seek (that’s a catenative!) to identify present participles or catenatives while taking the SAT.</p>
<p>Okay silverturtle I am confused. You taught me that infinitives should follow abstract nouns, so why should it be “of gathering” ? Isn’t “technique” an abstract noun?</p>
<p>Or is “Technique of” an idiom? in which case, it would make sense that a gerund goes after a preposition. </p>
<p>So would it be “desire to play soccer” or “desire of playing soccer” ? Or are both correct.</p>
<p>RAlec114, maybe this will help: [Gerunds</a> and Infinitives: Their Noun Roles](<a href=“http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/GRAMMAR/gerunds.htm]Gerunds”>http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/GRAMMAR/gerunds.htm).</p>