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Comparison with "DO"

Expert replies
by shulapa » Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:21 pm
I would like to raise a general question I seem to be having a problem with. I hope your analysis will be able to create a method to solve such question.

I have seen more than a few comparison question that tests the ability to make both sides logically comparable.
However it is not obvious how to use the comparison when action are involved. Can you tell me what is right and why:

My father works harder than your father.
My father works harder than your father does.

I feel the second one is better - comparing actions.

However, I have problem understanding the issue as it presented in the following question taken from the Verbal Review (q. 29):

A study commissioned by the Department of Agriculture showed that if calves exercise and associated with other calves, they will require less medication and gain weight quicker than do those raised in confinement.

(A) associated with other calves, they will require less medication and gain weight quicker than do
(B) associated with other calves, they require less medication and gain weight quicker than
(C) associate with other calves, they required less medication and will gain weight quicker than do
(D) associate with other calves, they have required less medication and will gain weight more quickly than do
(E) associate with other calves, they require less medication and gain weight more quickly than

OA: E

[spoiler]The books clearly states (in its usual clear explanation) that the "do" is "ungrammatically interrupts the comparison and should be eliminated"[/spoiler]

I hope we can find a clear way to distinguish the different options because this issue seems very common in the test. Thanks in advance,
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Source: — Sentence Correction |

by Sher1 » Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:10 pm
A study commissioned by the Department of Agriculture showed that if calves exercise and associated with other calves, they will require less medication and gain weight quicker than do those raised in confinement.

(A) associated with other calves, they will require less medication and gain weight quicker than do
Exercise and associated is not parallel. eliminate

(B) associated with other calves, they require less medication and gain weight quicker than
Same as A

(C) associate with other calves, they required less medication and will gain weight quicker than do
The subject is in present tense so "required" should be require. Eliminated

(D) associate with other calves, they have required less medication and will gain weight more quickly than do
Needless use of perfect tense with the addition of "have".

(E) associate with other calves, they require less medication and gain weight more quickly than

associate is parallel with exercise, require is in the present tense. Correct.
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by Stacey Koprince » Fri Apr 03, 2009 1:42 pm
Actually, either version of your sample sentence would be correct. When making a comparison, we're allowed to use something called an elliptical construction. When a word (or even several words) is used for both things in the comparison, we can construct it in such a way that the second instance of that word is assumed, even though we don't write it out. It's a more concise way to write the sentence.

So, in this sentence:
My father works harder than your father.

The elliptical construction is:
My father works harder than your father (works).

The two fathers are the two halves of the comparison, and the verb "works" applies equally well to either father.

Here's a bit more discussion on Elliptical Construction, if you're interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptical_construction

But just know that if you can literally pick up a word (or a couple of words) from the first half of the comparison and place it with the second half of the comparison and it works perfectly (you don't need to change the form or anything), then that's grammatically okay.

We can use the same thing in your full problem (though it seems a little awkward because you have a compound verb, so it's easier to split the two ideas):

they require less medication than those raised in confinement <require>

they gain weight more quickly than those raised in confinement <gain weight>

Does that make sense?
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