0
Komountain Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
twice
Hi.
1. He earns twice more than she does.
2. He earns twice as much as she does.
I personally use the # 2 sentence. But I wonder if the # 1 sentence is incorrect at all.
I remember reading or hearing somewhere that the [twice + comparative + than] must be avoided.
I need your verification on this.
Thanks a lot.
1. He earns twice more than she does.
2. He earns twice as much as she does.
I personally use the # 2 sentence. But I wonder if the # 1 sentence is incorrect at all.
I remember reading or hearing somewhere that the [twice + comparative + than] must be avoided.
I need your verification on this.
Thanks a lot.
Top answer
Hi, 1. He earns twice more than she does. This sounds very wrong.
- Hi, 1.
- He earns twice more than she does.
- This sounds very wrong.
- We say 'five times more', so I guess by analogy we might say 'two times more' but it still sounds bad and very uncommon.
- 2.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
11 Answers
0
Hi,
1. He earns twice more than she does. This sounds very wrong. We say 'five times more', so I guess by analogy we might say 'two times more' but it still sounds bad and very uncommon.
2. He earns twice as much as she does. This sounds fine and is the standard way to say it.
Why is he earning twice as much as her
1. He earns twice more than she does. This sounds very wrong. We say 'five times more', so I guess by analogy we might say 'two times more' but it still sounds bad and very uncommon.
2. He earns twice as much as she does. This sounds fine and is the standard way to say it.
Why is he earning twice as much as her
00
Hello KoM
From Genius E-J dictionary.
(o) You have twice my strength.
(o) You are twice as strong as I.
(x) You are twice stronger than I am.
(o) You are two times stronger than I am.
Please don't ask me why. I don't know the reason.
paco
From Genius E-J dictionary.
(o) You have twice my strength.
(o) You are twice as strong as I.
(x) You are twice stronger than I am.
(o) You are two times stronger than I am.
Please don't ask me why. I don't know the reason.
paco
00
Hello KoM
I re-read the entry 'twice' in OED. The dictionary says that 'twice' of the sense 'in the twofold degree' is usually used with 'as'. But the dictionary adds that 'twice' is more rarely used with comparatives. And it quotes two sentences from literature. They are:
The fire is twice more subtle than the air. (1601, Dolman)
The driver wil
I re-read the entry 'twice' in OED. The dictionary says that 'twice' of the sense 'in the twofold degree' is usually used with 'as'. But the dictionary adds that 'twice' is more rarely used with comparatives. And it quotes two sentences from literature. They are:
The fire is twice more subtle than the air. (1601, Dolman)
The driver wil
00
Thanks, Clive and Paco.
To Clive:
Clive: Are they doing the same job or is she being discriminated against, because of her gender?
Komountain: I haven't thought of the nature of the job they are doing or of gender discrimination.
You may exchange he and she, if you like. But even after the exchange, the same problem
To Clive:
Clive: Are they doing the same job or is she being discriminated against, because of her gender?
Komountain: I haven't thought of the nature of the job they are doing or of gender discrimination.
You may exchange he and she, if you like. But even after the exchange, the same problem
00
Dear Komountain,
It is a most interesting question.
We may say:
«She earns more than he does.»
But we do not know how much more she earns.
Therefore, if we say «twice more», we still do not know how much it is.
It is twice an indefinite amount, no?
It is a most interesting question.
We may say:
«She earns more than he does.»
But we do not know how much more she earns.
Therefore, if we say «twice more», we still do not know how much it is.
It is twice an indefinite amount, no?
00
Hello
Reading Goldmund's message, I come to doubt somehow my understanding about comarative expressions. So could someone help me clarify my doubt?
Suppose X Bridge is 900 meters in length, and Y Bridge 300 meters. And let me make some expressions to compare their lengths.
[1] X Bridge is longer than Y Bridge by 600 meters.
[2] X Bridge is thrice as long as Y Brid
Reading Goldmund's message, I come to doubt somehow my understanding about comarative expressions. So could someone help me clarify my doubt?
Suppose X Bridge is 900 meters in length, and Y Bridge 300 meters. And let me make some expressions to compare their lengths.
[1] X Bridge is longer than Y Bridge by 600 meters.
[2] X Bridge is thrice as long as Y Brid
00
Hi, Paco.
Technically, all your three examples are correct. But I think the word 'thrice' is no longer in use in modern English.
Regarding your last question, you can simply say 'four times(300x4=1200).'
If the bridge is 901 meters or longer but shorter than 1200 meters, you can say 'more than three times longer,' not 'three times longer.'
Does this help, Paco?
Technically, all your three examples are correct. But I think the word 'thrice' is no longer in use in modern English.
Regarding your last question, you can simply say 'four times(300x4=1200).'
If the bridge is 901 meters or longer but shorter than 1200 meters, you can say 'more than three times longer,' not 'three times longer.'
Does this help, Paco?
00
Hello Professor KoM
Thank you for the comment. Yes, 'thrice' is a word almost obsolete now. I used it just as an analogue to 'twice' but indeed it should be 'three times' in current English. As for the latter question, you cleared off my doubt and I confirmed my original understanding is right. Thank you again.
paco
Thank you for the comment. Yes, 'thrice' is a word almost obsolete now. I used it just as an analogue to 'twice' but indeed it should be 'three times' in current English. As for the latter question, you cleared off my doubt and I confirmed my original understanding is right. Thank you again.
paco
00
Paco, "cleared" or "cleared up", not "cleared off". (You clear off a table or desk.) 
Jim
Jim00
Related Questions