Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Calm-mind]

I have two questions.
1. If you had to paraphrase the part �compared with last year�s in the following sentence, how would you do that?

Compared with last year�s, statistics show a 15% reduction in burglary in this area.
Is it correct �if statistics are compared with last year�s�

2. Spoken English differs from written English more sharply than is the case in most languages.
I know the meaning. In the comparison, when you use the word than, than works like a bond connecting two sentence omitting part of the second sentence. How would you separate the example sentence and change the part �is the case in most languages?�

Thank you very much.

[battlecryorsilence]

Regarding your first question:
Your proposed correction is acceptable (though you might consider modifying "statistics" with "current", or "this year's"). Here's another possibility:

"When compared with those of/from last year, this year's statistics show a 15% reduction in burglary in this area."

Regarding your second question:
I hesitate to recommend any change for sentence (2), because it is extremely clear and well-written as it is! It conveys precise information with the minimal amount of necessary words (it strikes me as very academic in tone).
If you must change the sentence, you will most likely need two sentences in order to preserve the logical meaning of the original. The best alternative I can offer is the following:

"Languages tend to differ in their respective spoken and written forms. This difference in form is sharper in English than in most other languages."
(alternative second sentence: "In English, this difference is sharper than it is in most other languages.")

[Calm-mind]

Thank you very much, battlecryorsilence. It is difficult for me to make comapison sentences. Do you have any good advice?

[battlecryorsilence]

You're very welcome, Calm-mind!

It is difficult to offer general advice on comparison statements, in part because there are so many different ways to construct them. The best construction for a given sentence might be a function of conversational context and/or author intent. Here are a few general guidelines and examples:

1. The comparative form of an adjective or adverb implies that exactly two objects are being compared. The superlative form implies that three or more objects are being compared.

He is the stronger of the men. (There are two men being compared.)
He is the strongest of the men. (There are at least three men being compared.)

2. Both word choice and order of phrases in a comparative statement are flexible. This is true of both statements involving comparatives as well as those involving superlatives.

Of all the responses she received, his was the least helpful.
Of all those she received, his response was the least helpful.
His was the least helpful response of those she received.
His response was the least helpful of those she received.
In comparison with the other responses she received, his was the least helpful.
In comparison with the others she received, his response was the least helpful.

Today's lecture seemed more organized than yesterday's lecture.
Today's lecture seemed more organized than yesterday's.
Compared with yesterday's lecture, today's seemed more organized.
Compared with yesterday's, today's lecture seemed more organized.
Of the two lectures, today's seemed more organized than yesterday's.

3. The "than" construction tends to be used with comparisons between two objects.

This vacation is longer than the last one we took. (Comparison between two vacations)

Her students have a much better command of English than they did at the beginning of the course. (Comparison between the students' command of English at two different times)

If they take plenty of water on the expedition, they'll have a much better chance of survival than would otherwise be the case/than they otherwise would. (Comparison of the group's chance of survival in two possible situations: one in which they take plenty of water and one in which they don't. The latter is implied by the use of the word "otherwise".)

4. (Exception to 3.) A comparative construction is sometimes used to express what is, in effect, a superlative statement:

He is better than the rest. (Singular subject being compared to unspecified number of others.)

I hope these guidelines are helpful to you. If you have any specific examples of the sorts of comparison statements with which you're having difficulty, please post them, and I'll be happy to offer more help.

[Calm-mind]

Thank you very very very much, battlecryorsilence. They are very helpful!!!

[battlecryorsilence]

Well, you're very very very welcome, Calm-mind!