Less than

Question

Hi teachers,The U.S. role in the struggle is less to offer its own views than to help those Muslims with compatible views, especially on issues as relations with non-Muslims, modernization, and the rights of women and minorities."1.  Does that mean The U.S role offers more on helping those Muslims with[ ......] minorities?2.  What is "in the struggle"?Thank you.Tinanam

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Do you have a dog in this fight?

"In the struggle" refers to some conflict which is mentioned (hopefully) in prior context.

"Role" is actually the key word. What role does the US seek to play in this conflict?
What part do they want to play? What is their purpose? What is their position?

The sentence which you quote doesn't really make a lot of sense.
It says the US doesn't want to take sides, but it wants to help the people whom it agrees with. Go figure.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Avangi,

The whole sentence actually reads like this:

As the conservative Middle Eastern expert Daniel Pipes put it, "The U.S role [in theis struggle] is less to offer its own views than to help those Muslims with compatible views, espically on such issues as relations with non-Muslims, modernization, and the rights of women and minorities.

There are two comparisons using less than in the sentence. I just don't know if I understand "less to do something than to do something", as in

Take less baths than showers (save more water)

Take stairs than elevators (save electricity)

Am I using less than correct?

Thank you.

Tinanam

Avangi · Answer

tinanam0102There are two comparisons using less than in the sentence.

I don't find them.
"A is less than B" is one type of comparison, which does not appear in this excerpt.

"A is less B than C" is a different type of comparison, and it's the one which is used here.

It can be confusing. It means, "A is less like B than it is like C."
It does not mean, "A is less like B than C is like B."

This sort of comparison is not about doing things. It's about what things are.

Mary is less like Jane than like Sally. (She's less like Jane than she is like Sally.)

Mary is more like Sally than like Jane. (These two sentences have the same meaning.)

The "as" at the very beginning of the sentence is still a different type of comparison. A is like B.

As John said yesterday, we're going to win this thing! .
Like I keep trying to tell you, we're going to win! (more casual)

"Take less baths than showers" is fine. It's an imperative sentence, comparing the number of baths and showers.

"Take stairs rather than elevators." (another imperative) Do this rather than that!

The U.S. role in the struggle is less to offer its own views than to help those Muslims with compatible views .

Okay, I understand why you used "to do." "To offer" and "to help" are infinitives of purpose, as they say.
But they talk about what the role is, not what it does.
The rattlesnake is less beautiful than dangerous. .
It may be both, but it's less one than the other.
The rattlesnake is more dangerous than beautiful. (It's also MORE one than the other.)

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Avangi,

Thanks for the breakdown of the meaning.

When The rattlesnake is less beautiful than dangerous really means The rattlesnake is more dangerous than beautiful.

Does that mean using "less than" instead of "more than" would not be very direct and more reserve / safe to state the point so it won't enrage/offense the audience?

Thank you

Tinanam

Avangi · Answer

tinanam0102Does that mean using "less than" instead of "more than" would not be very direct and more reserve / safe to state the point so it won't enrage/offense the audience?

Very good point! You're right.

It won't enrage/offend the audience.
"offense" noun; "offend" verb
"reserve" verb/noun; "reserved" adjective (very direct; more reserved)

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Avangi,

Thank you very much for your help on this topic.

Have a great day.

Tinanam

Less than

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