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Drive-ins AGAIN!!

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Drive-ins AGAIN!!

by gmat_perfect » Fri Jun 18, 2010 6:29 am
When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950's, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.

A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount

Let's discuss this sentence again.

I know some knows the use of Amount. Why is "as many" correct. Can some experts explain in details?

Thanks.
Last edited by gmat_perfect on Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by martin.jonson007 » Fri Jun 18, 2010 6:38 am
B is correct...!
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by pradeepkaushal9518 » Fri Jun 18, 2010 6:41 am
imo B

fewer is better for comparision
Last edited by pradeepkaushal9518 on Sat Jun 19, 2010 8:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by gmat_perfect » Sat Jun 19, 2010 8:35 am
Experts, please come and solve this question.

Thanks.
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by hardik.jadeja » Sat Jun 19, 2010 9:09 am
gmat_perfect wrote:Experts, please come and solve this question.

Thanks.
The answer is B.

A) We are comparing number of drive-ins, which is countable noun, so we have to use fewer. Less is used for uncountable nouns. So A is ruled out.

B) Just like "twice as many", "one-quarter as many" is idiomatic. B correctly uses fewer.

C) Plain awkward.

D & E) It is using less. So wrong.
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by mohit11 » Sat Jun 19, 2010 9:11 am
"As many" is used for numbers than can be counted (as much for uncountable nouns)
Fewer should be used to describe countable nouns (lesser for uncountable nouns)
Number should be used when quantities can be counted (amount when quantities cannot be counted)

Many, amount and Fewer are used in case of countable items.

C,D,E out because of usage of "amount"
A out because of usage of less.

B puts it all together. You want fries with that?
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by Haaress » Sat Jun 19, 2010 9:31 am
I thought along the same line as Mohit11. C is somewhat deceiving with the phrase "that of " ; however, amount - uncountable quantity- is not an acceptable substitute for number - countable quantity.
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by nikhilkatira » Sun Jun 20, 2010 4:56 am
gmat_perfect wrote:When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950's, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.

A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount

Let's discuss this sentence again.

I know some knows the use of Amount. Why is "as many" correct. Can some experts explain in details?

Thanks.
Can we have a source that confirms " one-quarter as many" as correct idiom ?
Best,
Nikhil H. Katira
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by nikhilkatira » Sun Jun 20, 2010 4:58 am
hardik.jadeja wrote:
gmat_perfect wrote:Experts, please come and solve this question.

Thanks.
The answer is B.

A) We are comparing number of drive-ins, which is countable noun, so we have to use fewer. Less is used for uncountable nouns. So A is ruled out.

B) Just like "twice as many", "one-quarter as many" is idiomatic. B correctly uses fewer.

C) Plain awkward.

D & E) It is using less. So wrong.
Hardik correct idiom is " twice as many as"

Also "some 4000" is countable ?

Please correct me if I am wrong.
Best,
Nikhil H. Katira
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by sumanr84 » Sun Jun 20, 2010 6:34 am
nikhilkatira wrote: Hardik correct idiom is " twice as many as"

Also "some 4000" is countable ?

Please correct me if I am wrong.
Let me put a take-away collected from Ron's post:
Idioms : "Twice as many.." , " One-quarter as many..", " Fewer than one-quarter as many.."

"As many " need not be followed by "as" if you have already mentioned the data elsewhere in the sentence.

Ex- There were once 20 shirts on this shelf, but,now,barely half as many are left. - Data "20 shirts" is present in the first half of the sentence,so its not mentioned again.

Ex - There are barely half as many shirts on this shelf as there were last week. - here second " as " is needed to complete the comparison point.
I am on a break !!
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by gmat_perfect » Sun Jun 20, 2010 8:12 am
gmat_perfect wrote:When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950's, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.

A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount

Let's discuss this sentence again.

I know some knows the use of Amount. Why is "as many" correct. Can some experts explain in details?

Thanks.
I have solved this question in the following way:

1. "LESS" is used for uncountable nouns, not for countable nouns. Example: Less water, less oil.
=> This rule eliminates A.

2. "AMOUNT" is used for uncountable nouns. Example: The amount of water in this pond is enough.
=> This rule eliminates C, D, and E.

The remaining option is B, which is the answer.
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by hardik.jadeja » Sun Jun 20, 2010 2:06 pm
nikhilkatira wrote: Hardik correct idiom is " twice as many as"

Also "some 4000" is countable ?

Please correct me if I am wrong.
Here you go buddy.

Ron's explanation: https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/pos ... tml#p24247
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