Than or "Than that"

Question

I am confused over the use of "than" or "than that" for cases like this:

I have more cars than you
OR
I have more cars than that by you

I know the answer should be the first one, but can someone give me examples (and explain) when we should use "than that" for instance when comparing A has more or less than B.

Thank you.

Chris

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI have more cars than that by you

That is not a possible sentence.

Anonymous can someone give me examples (and explain) when we should use "than that" for instance when comparing A has more or less than B.

My car is more expensive than that of Mr Jones.

However, the structure is quite formal and seldom used.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you. But what about:

The price for my car is higher than that of Mr Jones (correct?)
The population of China is larger than that of USA (correct?)

Mister Micawber · Answer

These are correct:

The price for my car is higher than that of Mr Jones's (car).
The population of China is larger than that of the USA.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much. Do you know of an online source where this kind of "than that" vs just "than" is taught?

Mister Micawber · Answer

No, sorry.

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousThank you so much. Do you know of an online source where this kind of "than that" vs just "than" is taught?

There's nothing much to teach, really. That is used to avoid repeating the noun:

The population of China is greater than that (= the population) of the USA.

In other words, that has nothing to do with the comparative greater.

CB

Snuppelina · Answer

I would like to repeat what I said earlier (for some reason, my message did not go through).

Some people have this theory differentiating the use of "than" and "than that of":

the difference lays in the nature of the objects being compared.
"Than of" is used when comparing objects directly, for instance, "my apple is bigger than yours".

When we do not compare objects directly, but their attributes, then "than that of" should be used, for instance, "The skin of your apple is redder than that of mine" (=the skin of your apple is redder than the skin of my apple). Ambiguity and semantic problems will occur if you say "the skin of your apple is redder than mine".

In some sentences, however, the first structure can be used instead of the second one. So it depends on a sentence.

Mister Micawber · Answer

snuppelinaSome people have this theory differentiating the use of "than" and "than that of":

I don't think that is either a theory or something held by only some people. That is the overt grammar of the structure.

Snuppelina · Answer

I suppose I was not clear enough: what I basically meant was that such an explanation can help English learners in differentiating these structures.

Mister Micawber · Answer

snuppelinawhat I basically meant was that such an explanation can help English learners in differentiating these structures.

I agree!

Than or "Than that"

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