That as a Relative Pronoun -

Question

Hi Experts,

Request you to clarify the following doubt.

I understand that "That" can act as a relative pronoun and hence modify noun/noun phrase. Here is one option from GMAT PREP and would like to understand how the usage of "that" is correct here.

Japan’s population is shrinking faster than that of any other nation.

What "That" is referring to. 
a)Is it Japan's population. If this is the case then the sentence would be illogical.
b) If it is referring to "Population", then how do we make sure what it is referring to.

Please post your reasoning.

Thanks
H

Vercules · Answer

Hi Himanshu,

"That" is a demonstrative pronoun and can serve two functions.

1 - As an adjective modifying noun or noun phrase --> The car  that  he drove through the wall is mine.
 2 - As a copy or copies of the antecedent -->   As in the example you mentioned.

Also consider the example below:

The height of my building is greater than  that  of Trump Tower. -->   Here "that" refers to the copy of "height", but this height is of "Trump Tower". "that" stands for "the height" and not "the height of my building"

Here "that" is referring to "population" (a copy of population for "other nations") and not "Japan's population". If "it" were used then "it" would have referred to "Japan's population". "than" in almost every case will refer to "a copy" when used in comparisons.

If you want to refer to "Japan's population" then you can frame the sentence as below.

If you want to refer to "Japan's population" then you can frame the sentence as below.

Japan's population is 40% greater than what  it  was 20 years ago. -->   "it" refers to "Japan's population" and not just "population"

Hope this helps,

Vercules

imhimanshu · Answer

+1. Indeed, it helped. 
Thanks

VerbalBot · Answer

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That as a Relative Pronoun -

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