Comparisons Flashcards
Comparisons must be logical
Ex:
The cost of summer camp is much higher than summer school. INCORRECT (this is comparing the cost of summer camp to summer school).
The cost of summer camp is much higher than summer school’s.
The cost of summer camp is much higher than that of summer school.
When something is mistakenly compared with itself
Ex:
Julie is more skilled at singing than any singer I’ve encountered. INCORRECT (this is comparing Julie to singers the narrator has encountered, which is illogical if the narrator has presumably encountered Julie).
Julie is more skilled at singing than any other singer I’ve encountered. CORRECT.
Julie is more skilled at singing than anyone else I’ve encountered. CORRECT.
Comparing Verbs
Verbs of multiple tenses can appear in comparisons as long as the resulting comparisons make sense. The wrong verb in a sentence can render the sentence illogical.
Jim attends the club meetings less regularly than Andrew does.
Catherine likes running more than most people do
Andrea worked more carefully than Shashank did
Michael Phelps swims faster than Mark Spitz swam
Early space exploration excited people more than space exploration excites people currently.
A light flashing IS more likely to attract attention that a light shinning WOULD. - INCORRECT.
A light flashing IS more likely to attract attention that a light shinning IS. - CORRECT.
Ellipsis in Comparisons
The omission of words that are understood without their being stated.
Ex:
She is quoted in the news less often than her sister is quoted in the news. CORRECT.
She is quoted in the news less often than her sister is. CORRECT.
She is quoted in the news less often than her sister. CORRECT.
Ambiguous Comparisons
Alex is much nicer to me than Alfredo - INCORRECT (this has two meanings. It could mean that two people, Alex and Alfredo, are nice to the speaker. It could also mean that Alex is much nicer to the speaker than to Alfredo.
Alex is much nicer to me than Alfredo is. CORRECT.
Alex is much nicer to me than to Alfredo. CORRECT.
Sara loves shark diving more than Scott - INCORRECT. (Does she love shark diving more than Scott loves shark diving? Or does the love shark diving more than she loves Scott?)
Sara loves shark diving more than Scott does - CORRECT.
Sara loves shark diving more than she loves Scott - CORRECT.
Incomplete Comparisons
This tent is just as waterproof - INCORRECT.
This project will cost less - INCORRECT.
Generally, people sent to the dictatorship’s “reeducation” camps are eventually released, but they face levels of barbarity similar to those existing in the political prisons. CORRECT. “to those” means levels of barbarity.
Generally, people sent to the dictatorship’s “reeducation” camps are eventually released, but they face similar levels of barbarity to those existing in the political prisons. INCORRECT. Don’t split similar to.
Sentences that Express Comparisons That are Incomplete, even though all items are mentioned.
When it is compared with eating butter, eating olive oil is healthier - INCORRECT.
Eating olive oil is healthier than eating butter - CORRECT.
Although Tigers can run fast, when compared with tigers, cheetahs run much faster. - INCORRECT. (this is saying that at the moment cheetahs are compared with tigers, they run faster).
Although tigers can run fast, cheetahs run much faster than tigers. CORRECT.
The bones of birds, if compared with those of other animals, are much different. INCORRECT. (this is saying the bones are different, but only if they are compared).
The bones of birds are much different from those of other animals.
The use of like, such as, and including
Like is strictly a comparison word and cannot be used to introduce examples.
Such as, including are used to introduce examples.
Ex:
When traveling through the Everglades, one may see many animals, like snakes, mammals, and alligators. INCORRECT.
When traveling through the Everglades, one may see many animals, such as snakes, mammals, and alligators. CORRECT.
Like vs. As
Like can only be used if its the object of a noun or pronoun. It’s not meant to be used to connect clauses.
As many as… is CORRECT. As to as.
As many than… is INCORRECT.
As is used to compare clauses or phrases. “think actions”.
The teacher acts like she were a drill sergeant. INCORRECT.
The teacher acts as though she were a drill sergeant. CORRECT.
The teacher acts like a drill sergeant. CORRECT.
The normally shy student was acting like an extrovert. CORRECT.
The normally shy student’s actions were like an extrovert’s. CORRECT.
Fewer vs. Less
Fewer vs. Less
Fewer is used on countable nouns. Less is used for uncountable nouns.
If you relax your face, you will have less wrinkles than you have now. INCORRECT. Wrinkles are countable. “you will have fewer wrinkles” is CORRECT.
As she prepares for the marathon, Alessandra is consuming less pasta and cookies. INCORRECT. “is consuming less pasta and fewer cookies”.
Many vs. Much
Many vs. Much
Many is used on countable nouns. Much is used with uncountable nouns.
She has much love in her heart. Correct.
There are many ways to get to Moscow from Seoul.
Number vs. Amount
Number is used with countable nouns. Amount is used with uncountable nouns. Quantities can be used for either type of noun.
The number of people at the beach was amazing. Correct.
The amount of water in the beaker is not sufficient for this experiment. Correct.
The amount of seals that inhabit Cape Cod is now greater than it was for decades. INCORRECT. Seals are countable to use “number”.
Time, Money or Weight
Unless the units themselves are being counted, time, money, and weight are treated as uncountable nouns similar to water.
The tank currently contains less than two gallons of water. CORRECT. “less” is used with water.
The account currently holds less than two dollars. CORRECT.
The sun will set less than five hours from now. CORRECT.
How many minutes are left? CORRECT.
Many Euros have been spent on the repairs of the classic cathedral. CORRECT.
Some people felt that 2 billion Euros was too much to spend on rebuilding a cathedral. CORRECT.
Some people felt that 2 billion Euros was too much money to spend on rebuilding a cathedral. CORRECT.
Greater Than vs. More Than
“Greater than” is used in comparing the sizes, levels, degrees, magnitudes, or extent of things. Synonymous with “larger than” or “higher than”. Substitute those in to check for logic.
Her dislike of gambling is greater than her dislike of exercise. CORRECT. (comparing the magnitudes of her dislikes).
Her dislike of gambling is more than her dislike of exercise. INCORRECT.
Sara has more space than Olivia has. CORRECT.
Sara has greater space than Olivia has. INCORRECT.
The amount of space that Sara has is greater than the amount that Olivia has. CORRECT.
When statistics are compared, use “greater than”. do not use “more than”.
The standard deviation of the test scores of the students in group A was more than that of the test scores of the students in group B. INCORRECT. Use “was greater than” since the sentence is comparing standard deviation.
Whereas, While, and Although are Different from Unlike
“Unlike” is used to compare nouns or pronouns that are similar.
Unlike Stacy Ann, Jovan enjoys photography
Unlike avocados, oranges do no contain significant quantities of omega-3 fatty acids.
Whereas can be used to compare clauses to each other. They don’t need to be similar.
As opposed to means “rather than” or “not”
Whereas you will go to Venice this fall, I will go to Rio de Janeiro
Whereas some people enjoy jewelry, jewelry is considered superfluous by others.
Whereas Lucas loves cookies, the likelihood that cookies will be popular with the other guests is low.
