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Hi,

I'm looking for help understanding the rules behind comparisons. Are these the right rules? (Nouns being compared are bolded below)

Descriptor is in between --> we need to compare nouns
* the white cedar used has four times the tensile strength steel has - INCORRECT
* the white cedar used has four times the tensile strength of steel - CORRECT

Descriptor is possessed --> we need to compare possessives
* because the white cedar's tensile strength is four times as strong as steel - INCORRECT
* because the white cedar's tensile strength is four times as strong as steel's - CORRECT

Descriptor is before --> we need to compare descriptors
* because the tensile strength of white cedar is four times as strong as steel - INCORRECT
* because the tensile strength of white cedar is four times as strong as that of steel - CORRECT

I think these would apply to other comparisons that people could be confused with like "does", "that", etc. Can someone check if these are the right rules? Am I missing any to know? Thanks.

1 Tensile strengths are compared-correct
2 Tensile strengths are compared-correct
3 Tensile strengths are compared-wordy but correct
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chenkc805

* the white cedar used has four times the tensile strength steel has - INCORRECT
Hi chenkc805, this doesn't look incorrect to me.
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chenkc805

* the white cedar used has four times the tensile strength steel has - INCORRECT
Hi chenkc805, this doesn't look incorrect to me.

I thought so too but this OG question proves me wrong: (GMAT link, sorry I can't post links yet because I'm too new of a member): chinese-public-buildings-erected-under-a-construction-code-of-the-sung-305962
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chenkc805

I thought so too but this OG question proves me wrong
Hi chenkc805, not really.

In this OG question, with option C, the sentence is:

Chinese public buildings erected under a construction code of the Sung dynasty have withstood earthquakes well because the white cedar that was used in them has four times the tensile strength steel has, and the timber frame, incorporating many joints and few nails, is flexible.


Official explanation of why C is wrong:

The comma after has breaks up the sentence in such a way that only the great tensile strength of white cedar is offered as an explanation of the buildings' ability to withstand earthquakes, rather than both white cedar's tensile strength and the timber frame's flexibility. The statement regarding the timber frame's flexibility is mentioned simply as a separate fact not falling under the scope of because.

Notice that OG does not point to any errors in the comparison construct of this option. So, C is correct from a comparison perspective.
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chenkc805

I thought so too but this OG question proves me wrong
Hi chenkc805, not really.

In this OG question, with option C, the sentence is:

Chinese public buildings erected under a construction code of the Sung dynasty have withstood earthquakes well because the white cedar that was used in them has four times the tensile strength steel has, and the timber frame, incorporating many joints and few nails, is flexible.


Official explanation of why C is wrong:

The comma after has breaks up the sentence in such a way that only the great tensile strength of white cedar is offered as an explanation of the buildings' ability to withstand earthquakes, rather than both white cedar's tensile strength and the timber frame's flexibility. The statement regarding the timber frame's flexibility is mentioned simply as a separate fact not falling under the scope of because.

Notice that OG does not point to any errors in the comparison construct of this option. So, C is correct from a comparison perspective.

What about option B? I don't see how Option B is technically wrong. Is it because "used in them" is ambiguous, since "them" could refer to Chinese public buildings or earthquakes?

For reference:
Option B: (B) used in them has four times the tensile strength of steel has and the timber frame, incorporating
Option B in the sentence: Chinese public buildings erected under a construction code of the Sung dynasty have withstood earthquakes well because the white cedar used in them has four times the tensile strength of steel has and the timber frame, incorporating many joints and few nails, is flexible.
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What about option B? I don't see how Option B is technically wrong.
Hi chenkc805, B is basically stating:

the white cedar has four times the tensile strength of steel has

has is a big red flag here. Generally speaking, after a preposition (of in this case), one would only expect a noun (e.g. steel) and not a verb (has).
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chenkc805
What about option B? I don't see how Option B is technically wrong.
Hi chenkc805, B is basically stating:

the white cedar has four times the tensile strength of steel has

has is a big red flag here. Generally speaking, after a preposition (of in this case), one would only expect a noun (e.g. steel) and not a verb (has).

Would changing "of" to "that" make the use of "has" correct? See below:
the white cedar has four times the tensile strength that steel has

Would the following also be correct, changing "of" to "as"? I ask because whenever there's multiplication involved in a comparison, "as" is often used.
* the white cedar used has four times the tensile strength as steel

Apologies if these questions are a bit tedious. Comparisons are not my strength
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chenkc805

Would changing "of" to "that" make the use of "has" correct? See below:
the white cedar has four times the tensile strength that steel has
Yes, this is almost a restatement of option C (in terms of comparison). that (a relative pronoun) is correctly modifying tensile strength.

Quote:
Would the following also be correct, changing "of" to "as"? I ask because whenever there's multiplication involved in a comparison, "as" is often used.
* the white cedar used has four times the tensile strength as steel
From a multiplication perspective, following would be a better construct:

The white cedar is four times as strong as steel.

* Couldn't really fit-in tensile appropriately, in the above sentence:).

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