In the previous High English quiz we were introduced to comparatives and we learnt how to use comparatives in sentences when we want to compare two or more elements. Since comparison involves two or more elements, avoiding repetition is important when using comparatives. . This is much easier than you might think!
When using comparatives we attribute different elements to the respective entities being compared. In order not to be misunderstood or misrepresented we tend to repeat things. Look at this sentence:
‘The skeleton of an ape resembles the skeleton of a human and it has the same number of teeth as a human has.’
[readmore]Here we see that ‘skeleton’ and ‘human’ are repeated twice. This sentence can be rewritten avoiding repetition like so:
‘The skeleton of an ape resembles THAT OF a human and it has the same number of teeth as THAT OF THE LATTER.’
The rewritten sentence reads much better because we have avoided repetition. There are certain conventions to be followed when we want to avoid repetition. We can use auxiliary verbs to avoid repetition. When ‘be’ is an auxiliary verb we use an appropriate form that takes care of tense, person and number, as in this example:
‘She’s naturally relishing it as I am relishing it,’ can be changed to:
‘She’s naturally relishing it as I am.’
The second sentence avoids repetition without taking away the meaning or the proper reference to the people concerned. Similarly, we can also use an appropriate form of ‘be’ when it is the main verb, as in this example:
‘I think it’s a wonderful present, but my friend doesn’t think it’s a wonderful present,’ can be replaced with:
‘I think it’s a wonderful present, but my friend doesn’t.’
Here we have used ‘does not’ (doesn't) because the verb is in simple present. If the verb is in the simple past we use 'did' rather than 'do,' as in this example:
‘She booked a ticket for the matinee, and I also booked a ticket for the matinee,’ could be replaced by
‘She booked a ticket for the matinee, which is what I did, too.’
There are many ways of avoiding repetition when using comparatives and the quiz that follows shows you some of them.
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We have to use 'do' or 'does' when the verb is in simple present. In option 2, 'do' is the wrong usage. The other options are grammatically wrong. Note, when auxiliaries are used to avoid repetition, the auxiliary can be in the same tense as the first verb
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We have to use 'did' when the verb is in simple past. In option 1, 'does' is the wrong usage. In option 2, a verb is missing in the second part. In option 3, 'do' is the wrong usage. Note, when auxiliaries are used to avoid repetition, the auxiliary can be in the same tense as the first verb
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We can use the auxiliary verb in a tense which is different from the main verb when we use two different time frames. In option 2 'does' is the wrong usage for 'people.' In the other options the auxiliary verb is not matching the time frame
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We can use the auxiliary verb in a tense which is different from the main verb when we use two different time frames. Option 2 is in negative form. In options 3 and 4 'do' is used rather than 'did' which is the wrong usage for 'it'. Option 4 is also in the negative
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Both options 1 and 2 are correct as they avoid repetition. However, option 1 avoids more (like/likes) by the use of just 'does'. In option 3 the subject and verb don't agree
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Note that just the verb 'is' is able to avoid so much of the repetition. In the other options the subject and verb don't agree
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Note that just the verb 'hadn't' is able to avoid so much of the repetition. Another way of avoiding repetition could be 'The burglar thought he had picked the lock but he hadn't picked it' by using the pronoun 'it' in place of lock but the sentence in the correct answer does a better job of avoiding repetition. In the other options the subject and verb don't agree
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'Those' is the correct pronoun to be used in place of 'the questions'
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The comparatives in both parts of the sentence must match and hence 'weaker' is the correct answer, matching with 'older.' In option 1 the base form is used, which is wrong. In option 2 the superlative is used, which is wrong. In option 3 the 'more' is redundant as 'weaker' is the comparative form
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The comparatives in both parts of the sentence must match and hence 'sooner' is the correct answer, matching with 'wiser.' In option 2 the base form is used, which is wrong. In option 3 the superlative is used, which is wrong. In option 4 the 'more' is redundant as 'sooner' is the comparative form
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