This topic is taken from Advanced Oxford Grammar by M. Swan. I’m just struggling as to how to use them and literally translate them into my native language sense. Some online dictionaries label them as idioms when it combines with comparatives. Collin E.g. 1) nobody is any the wiser/someone is none the wiser means someone … Read more
Those men actually run faster than have/has been expected. Someone argued that the verb should agree with "those men", thus taking the plural form. But I think the understood subject of have/has isn’t really "those men". It is what has been expected. So the correct verb form has to be "has". What do you think? … Read more
Although learning a foreign language is really important, it plays a subordinate role in children’s life compared with other components of education such as social skills, intellect and craftsmanship. I accept that learning a foreign language is really important, but there are some other things that should be priority. I mean, learning a foreign language … Read more
For academic writing, which of these three comparative styles is preferred, or more correct? The mantle velocity of the China Craton is around 8 Km/s, similar to the typical cratons. The mantle velocity of the China Craton is around 8 Km/s, similar to those of the typical cratons. The mantle velocity of the China Craton … Read more
I am trying to state a comparative argument in a long sentence for an academic paper. I don’t want to split it. Is there any way for shortening it? Is it always necessary to use "those of the" "that of the" in these kinds of comparative sentences? Sentence: "The Tarim Basin presents transitional values between … Read more
In England it isn’t so cold as in Russia. England isn’t so cold as Russia. It’s not so cold in England as it is in Russia. Are all of the sentences fine? As I understand it, the third version is the best one from the point of view of English grammar. Is it possible to … Read more
The context In fact, those people were probably disappointed when they saw another show that didn’t contain something as, well, as elaborate or exciting. Sentence A. when they saw another show that didn’t contain something as, well, as elaborate or exciting. I did not understand that the meaning of as and usage of as. Is … Read more
In Taylor Swift’s I bet you think about me, a lyrical line says I’m harder to forget than I was to leave. I’ve been thinking about the meaning for a while and come up with the following explanation: It means both "forgetting me" and "leaving me" are hard but the former is even harder. The … Read more
I have seen the following paragraph in some article: One can imagine a computer simulation of the action of peptides in the hypothalamus that is accurate down to the last synapse. But equally one can imagine a computer simulation of the oxidation of hydrocarbons in a car engine or the action of digestive processes in … Read more
She is a smarter person than him. In this example, what does ‘than him’ modify? I know that this is a comparative adjective, but the grammatical reasoning eludes me. Is the prepositional phrase functioning adverbially and modifying the adjective ‘smarter’? Answer "Than" has become a preposition in English, as evidenced by "than him". It can … Read more
