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Akdom Posted 17 years ago
1. She was given a new post, namely, that of head of department.
2. Even as the economy spiraled downward last year, they increased their giving to $4.6 billion, for the first time exceeding that of corporate foundations.
3. For a while, talk of a potential nuclear threat was overshadowed by images like that of the young woman gunned down during an election protest.
"that of" I've been seeing this kind of construction for some times. Could you explain why they use it? to serve what function? If it were upto me, I would just say:
1. She was given a new post, namely,that of the head of department.
2. ... for the first time exceedingthat of the corporate foundations
3. ... by images likethat of the young woman gunned down during an election protest.
what do these "that" refers to?
And it doesn't seem to me making things simpler.
Grammar
Why use "that of"
1. She was given a new post, namely, that of head of department.
2. Even as the economy spiraled downward last year, they increased their giving to $4.6 billion, for the first time exceeding that of corporate foundations.
3. For a while, talk of a potential nuclear threat was overshadowed by images like that of the young woman gunned down during an election protest.
"that of" I've been seeing this kind of construction for some times. Could you explain why they use it? to serve what function? If it were upto me, I would just say:
1. She was given a new post, namely,
2. ... for the first time exceeding
3. ... by images like
what do these "that" refers to?
And it doesn't seem to me making things simpler.
Top answer
It is rather formal and is often omitted, but it is used to avoid what you have created in your version of #2– a comparison between 'giving' and 'corporate foundations', which cannot logically be compared. The correct comparison is between 'their giving ' and '[ the giving of ] corporate foundations'. 'That of' = 'the giving of'.
- It is rather formal and is often omitted, but it is used to avoid what you have created in your version of #2– a comparison between 'giving' and 'corporate foundations', which cannot logically be compared.
- The correct comparison is between 'their giving ' and '[ the giving of ] corporate foundations'.
- 'That of' = 'the giving of'.
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1 Answers
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It is rather formal and is often omitted, but it is used to avoid what you have created in your version of #2– a comparison between 'giving' and 'corporate foundations', which cannot logically be compared. The correct comparison is between 'their giving' and '[the giving of] corporate foundations'. 'That of' = 'the giving of'.
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