General question: simple gerunds

[kiranck007]

Sentence : Tracking satellites accurately is important for the space agency.
Source : Simple Gerund Phrases GMAT, Manhattan (2012-04-24). Sentence Correction GMAT Strategy Guide, 5th Edition (Manhattan GMAT Strategy Guides) (Kindle Location 4346). Manhattan Prep. Kindle Edition.
Hi, Please help me with these questions. I find the above sentence quiet confusing.
Is this a complete sentence? Is "Tracking" an adjective or noun here? If it is noun then what is satellites functioning as ? "accurately" is modifying "is"?

[divineacclivity]

IMO:
Tracking satellites accurately is important for the space agency.

Tracking - gerund (functions as a noun)
accurately - is modifying tracking, so, it should be adjective
is - verb
important -adjective as it modifies the gerund

[jlucero]

IMO:
Tracking satellites accurately is important for the space agency.

Tracking - gerund (functions as a noun)
accurately - is modifying tracking, so, it should be adjective
is - verb
important -adjective as it modifies the gerund

Very close. "Tracking is important" is the most basic idea here. But the expression "tracking satellites accurately" is the full gerund phrase. Accurately, while modifying a word that is used as a noun in this example, is an adverb (like most words that end in -ly). Accurately tells us HOW the space agency tracks satellites. Regardless, the GMAT doesn't test this. What's important for you to be able to break down is: X is important, X = tracking satellites accurately.

[divineacclivity]

got it. thank you.

[jonesA10]

IMO:
Tracking satellites accurately is important for the space agency.

Tracking - gerund (functions as a noun)
accurately - is modifying tracking, so, it should be adjective
is - verb
important -adjective as it modifies the gerund

Well explained. Thank you.

[tim]

:)