aniket16c wrote:
generis wrote:
Quote:
Correct answer B inserted in the sentence:
When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950's, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are fewer than one-quarter as many.
aniket16c wrote:
When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950???s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today "there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount"
In addition to the numerous faults already mentioned in the comments, I wanted to know if use of "that" is correct in the above sentence.
aniket16c , to avoid confusing anyone, let's clarify that
you are asking about the demonstrative pronoun
that in
incorrect option C.The full sentence with
correct option B is in the
quote above.
(C) there are fewer than one-quarter of that amountAre you asking whether you could eliminate this option because it uses
that amount and in particular
that amount?
No. I am not quite sure what underlies your unease about the word
that.
If (C) were to be written this way
there are fewer than one-quarter of that numberthen it would be correct. The construction is awkward, but not wrong.
that number would refer to 4,000.
The problem with
that amount is
amount, not the word
that.
Here is a similar correct example:
He would not share any of his 50 marbles with her, even though she possessed fewer than half that number.
Hope that helps.
1. Thank you for the explanation. Sorry, I did not articulate my question properly.
Normally while checking the use of "that", I substitute the object which "that" is referring to.
In the option I have mentioned, "that" refers to "4000 number". So substituting "4000 / 4000 number" in place of "that" will completely distort the sentence structure.
2. Thank you for the explanation provided for use of apostrophe.
I believe the question marks were a typing or copying error. Even then extra information is also helpful. Thank you.
aniket16cI think you might be a little mixed up.
In the phrase "that number,"
that is
not a pronoun.THAT in this instance is a demonstrative
adjective or a determiner,
not a pronoun.
A demonstrative adjective cannot stand in for a noun;
it must be attached to a noun, such as the word
number.THAT number means "the number that was just mentioned in the sentence."
Demonstrative adjectives:
This house [with a red door], those candies [in the box on the table],
that number [of drive-in theaters, a number that was just mentioned].
You cannot substitute a noun in for an adjective or an article.
HERE is a site
that discusses
the difference between demonstrative pronouns, which include THAT,
and demonstrative adjectives, which also include THAT.
These things are also known as demonstrative articles, determiners, demonstrative determiners
What they are called does not matter.
They are
not substitute nouns. They point to nouns.
Hope that helps.