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Infinik Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
A half smaller than?
Say, A and B are some quantities or sizes and A=3B.
Regarding the usage of comparative forms, which one sounds right?
1) B is 1/3 times smaller than A. (B is one-third smaller than A.)
This is very ineresting, since "1/3 times smaller" would actually mean 3 times bigger, wouldn't it? (Otherwise, "smaller" is redundant or not meaningful.)
2) B is 3 times smaller than A.
A=4B, maybe?
3) B is 2 times smaller than A.
This does not sound natural, but think about "B is 1 time smaller than A", which must mean A=2B (If A=B then there's no comparison!), therefore, "1" actually means "2" here. So for 3), 2 means 3, and A=3B.
I know should write properly like "A is 3 times as much as B." or "B is one-third as much as A." But wondering how popular 1)-3) occur in every sort of text.
Regarding the usage of comparative forms, which one sounds right?
1) B is 1/3 times smaller than A. (B is one-third smaller than A.)
This is very ineresting, since "1/3 times smaller" would actually mean 3 times bigger, wouldn't it? (Otherwise, "smaller" is redundant or not meaningful.)
2) B is 3 times smaller than A.
A=4B, maybe?
3) B is 2 times smaller than A.
This does not sound natural, but think about "B is 1 time smaller than A", which must mean A=2B (If A=B then there's no comparison!), therefore, "1" actually means "2" here. So for 3), 2 means 3, and A=3B.
I know should write properly like "A is 3 times as much as B." or "B is one-third as much as A." But wondering how popular 1)-3) occur in every sort of text.
Top answer
I like this question. It made me think. I don't think I have ever heard 1)-3), and I don't think they are acceptable or understandable.
- I like this question.
- It made me think.
- I don't think I have ever heard 1)-3), and I don't think they are acceptable or understandable.
- But the parenthetical statement in 1), (B is one third smaller than A), is OK.
- This would be B=A-1/3A or B=2/3A.
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3 Answers
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I like this question. It made me think.
I don't think I have ever heard 1)-3), and I don't think they are acceptable or understandable.
But the parenthetical statement in 1), (B is one third smaller than A), is OK. This would be B=A-1/3A or B=2/3A.
I don't think I have ever heard 1)-3), and I don't think they are acceptable or understandable.
But the parenthetical statement in 1), (B is one third smaller than A), is OK. This would be B=A-1/3A or B=2/3A.
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That's a good point. So can I infer that it's clear that the below means B=4A?
B is 3 times greater than A?
I'm wondering if 1/3 goes with smaller than or 3 goes with greater than would create less ambiguity?
B is 3 times greater than A?
I'm wondering if 1/3 goes with smaller than or 3 goes with greater than would create less ambiguity?
00
No. B=3A, B is 3 times greater than A. Here, as you might notice, 'greater than' is redundant.
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