Grammar behind comparing two qualities.

Question

Dear Community,There is something I'd like to ask regarding the grammar behind comparing two qualities. Let me provide an example to illustrate what I mean:-I am going to tidy up my bedroom faster that you are going to tidy up kitchen.That is the base sentence. I don't think it sounds natural as many native speakers abbreviate similar sentences to the effect that the second part is shorter. That's particularly where I have difficulties and need help.Firstly, is the above sentence correct at all?Secondly, can I say instead:-I am going to tidy up my bedroom faster than you are kitchen - that way avoiding repeating the verb denoting action. This is tricky to me as the second part is abbreviated to only '' you are'' and in my language such a way of shortening speech does not exist.And finally, tense variations - are they okay? Could  I say:-I am going to tidy up my bedroom faster than you will (tidy up) kitchen?-You're going to need it more that I will?Or perhaps, the sentence structure should follow that the tenses used must be consistent with each other? Last but not least, if the answer to the above is affirmative, can you mix up two different tenses in one sentence in informal speech? Do native speakers do that?

GPY · Accepted Answer

floydlip-I am going to tidy up my bedroom faster than you are going to tidy up the kitchen.That is the base sentence. I don't think it sounds natural as many native speakers abbreviate similar sentences to the effect that the second part is shorter. That's particularly where I have difficulties and need help.Firstly, is the above sentence correct at all?

With the corrections noted above, yes, correct and natural.

floydlipSecondly, can I say instead:-I am going to tidy up my bedroom faster than you are the kitchen

It is understandable and might be used in conversation. Formally, or written down, it looks slightly lacking to me.

floydlipAnd finally, tense variations - are they okay? Could I say:-I am going to tidy up my bedroom faster than you will (tidy up) the kitchen?

Same answer as the last one.

floydlipLast but not least, if the answer to the above is affirmative, can you mix up two different tenses in one sentence in informal speech? Do native speakers do that?

It is not possible to give a general answer to that. Many sentences used mixed tenses. Many other sentences require consistent tenses. It depends entirely on what you want to say. "going to" and "will" are both future tense anyway (strictly speaking not both tenses, but we call them that).

CalifJim · Answer

floydlipI am going to tidy up my bedroom faster than you are going to tidy up the kitchen.

It seems to me that "can" is more idiomatic than "going to".

I can tidy up my bedroom faster than you can tidy up the kitchen.

The only possibility for ellipsis, as I see it, is

I can tidy up my bedroom faster than you can the kitchen.

You need at least the first verb in the verb phrase that you're repeating.

floydliptense variations - are they okay?

Not in most cases. Of course the whole point of your sentence may be to compare times. In that case, you'll have to use different tenses.

floydlipI am going to tidy up my bedroom faster than you will (tidy up) kitchen?

That's rather clunky, I'd say. I don't recommend it.

floydlipYou're going to need it more than I will?

It's not that bad, even though it's a curious mix of different ways to express the future, but more usually the tenses match:

You'll need it more than I will. / You need it more than I do. / You needed it more than I did.

floydlipcan you mix up two different tenses

As I said above, you can do that if it's essential to the meaning. It doesn't matter if it's formal or informal. If a contrast in time is needed, you have to express that in your sentence.

Good catch! Now it's my turn to try, but I'm sure that you did better than I will.

CJ

Grammar behind comparing two qualities.

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