Adrian runs FAST. He runs FASTER than Jacob

Question

Adrian runs FAST. He runs FASTER than Jacob <----- is this right?? doesn't it have to be He runs FASTER than Jacob DOES?

macjas · Answer

hi zerocool588, methinks both are gramatically correct:

Adrian runs FASTER than Jacob
Adrian runs faster than Jacob does.

Daagh correct me if I'm wrong, but 'does' in the second sentence is a helping verb.

I don't think the GMAT will make an answer right solely based on helping verbs although for the sake of simplicity and concision, the first sentence would be preferred but that does NOT mean the second sentence is wrong.

salut!

PS: welcome to the GMAT Club!

daagh · Answer

A helping verb is always accompanied by a main verb. The purpose of the helping verb do or does is to emphasize a point. Ex: I do need to take some medicine to put off my cough. Here you can see you hve two verbs, do, and need. Need alone may be enough to convey your thought but by reinforcing with a helping verb do, the point is further stressed.

In this given case does is a mere synonym or alternative for the verb runs; it is not used to add strength and hence not a helping verb

Now in this case, what are we comparing? Are you comparing Adrian with John or Adrian’s action of running with John’s action of running? Obviously, we are comparing the action of each other’s running. Therefore, an action verb such does which is a replacement for the main verb runs is required. However, some try to justify the first sentence saying that the second verb is elliptical and understood. That might however led to errors.

Look at the following sentences and derive which is better.
 
1. Nobody understands GMAT better than nobody understands Tom 
2. Nobody understands GMAT better than Tom does.

The fist sentence may mean that nobody understands GMAT better than Tom does or nobody understands GMAT as well as he or she understands TOM. You can see the ambiguity

Here. It will be more straight and clear to say that nobody understands GMAT better than Tom does All this is in my view and I am liable to be rebutted

mmagyar · Answer

On the topic of the presence of verbs in the second half of comparisons, what controls the order of the subject and verb?

For example:

1. Steve runs faster than Tom does.
2. Steve runs faster than does Tom.

I've seen correct examples of each and never understood the rule.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Adrian runs FAST. He runs FASTER than Jacob <----- is

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