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Pokh Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
That of Construction
1.Wild animals have less total fat than that of livestock fed on grain.
Is above sentence correct? Experts, Please let me know whether rule below is a standard one?
Is above sentence correct? Experts, Please let me know whether rule below is a standard one?
A comparison needs "than that of" or "than those of" only when it is comparing one possession or attribute to another possession or attribute. Generally the first item in the comparison will either be followed by a prepositional phrase beginning with "of" or be preceded by a possessive.
Top answer
To be careful and formal, you normally need to include 'that/those of'; nonetheless, it is often omitted without adverse comment in many informal manifestations.
- To be careful and formal, you normally need to include 'that/those of'; nonetheless, it is often omitted without adverse comment in many informal manifestations.
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9 Answers
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To be careful and formal, you normally need to include 'that/those of'; nonetheless, it is often omitted without adverse comment in many informal manifestations.
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pokh1.Wild animals have less total fat than that of livestock fed on grain.Is above sentence correct?Guys Is comparison logical in above sentence? I guess its comparing Wild animals with FAT..Please clarify
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pokh1.Wild animals have less total fat than that of livestock fed on grain.It's a bit of a stretch. You're right. It does seem to compare animals with fat.
Is above sentence correct?
Wild animals have less fat than livestock fed on grain
is much simpler and doesn't suffer from the weird comparison the original seems to set
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Wait a minute, wait a minute – how do you all come to that conclusion?
Wild animals have less total fat than that [= the total fat] of livestock fed on grain.
Wild animals have less fat than livestock fed on grain = Wild animals have more livestock than fat.
I agree with CJ, of course, that common sense will accept the simplified ver
Wild animals have less total fat than that [= the total fat] of livestock fed on grain.
Wild animals have less fat than livestock fed on grain = Wild animals have more livestock than fat.
I agree with CJ, of course, that common sense will accept the simplified ver
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Mister MicawberWait a minute, wait a minute – how do you all come to that conclusion?
Wild animals have less total fat than that [= the total fat] of livestock fed on grain.
Wild animals have less fat than livestock fed on grain = Wild animals have more livestock than fat.
I agree with CJ, of course, that common sense will accept the simplified versi
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I don't see it, sorry, pokh. Maybe common sense is working against me?
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These are the structures that come to mind when I try to parse the thing. All seems to go well for me as long as I ignore the implied "have" at the end - and until I try to imagine what "that" could refer to.
Wild animals have less fat than pet dogs (have).
Wild animals have less fat than that of pet dogs.
Wild animals have less fat than that of pet dogs has.
Wild animals ha
Wild animals have less fat than pet dogs (have).
Wild animals have less fat than that of pet dogs.
Wild animals have less fat than that of pet dogs has.
Wild animals ha
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( Mister M runs screaming into the sunset and is never seen on this thread again...)
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