Why ‘that’?
Why does the writer use ‘that’?
The more energy that is applied, the more work that can be completed.
Does this have something to do with the explanation below by Swan (famous grammarian)?
In longer structures, that is sometimes used before the first verb.| The more information that comes in, the more confused the picture is. |
Top answer
I'm not sure I follow you. [ The more energy that is applied ] , [ the more work that can be completed ] . This is called a correlative comparative construction.
- I'm not sure I follow you.
- [ The more energy that is applied ] , [ the more work that can be completed ] .
- This is called a correlative comparative construction.
- Correlatives like this consist of two clauses, as bracketed.
- In your example, the first clause is the subordinate one, and the second is the head clause.
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I'm not sure I follow you.
[The more energy that is applied], [the more work that can be completed].
This is called a correlative comparative construction.
Correlatives like this consist of two clauses, as bracketed. In your example, the first clause is the subordinate one, and the second is the head clause.
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