SC - amount.

Question

SC....

viengsai · Answer

c.

I think "that" is needed to refer to the 4000 theaters.

dushver · Answer

Definitly B, as few is preferred over less (uncountable) and than aptly put brings out the comparison.

gayathri · Answer

Should it not be E? I thought we were supposed to use "less" with fractions, decimals & percentage...

sonaketu · Answer

Why not D <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" title="Rolling Eyes" />

ruhi · Answer

B for me.

We cant use 'amount ' for people... incorrect usage.

Thats leaves A and B.. A is very wierd. So i'll go with B.

gayathri · Answer

The reference is to the number of drive ins in the country not to people.

target780 · Answer

THe question seems quite tricky to me.

'less' should be used for non-countable things and 'fewer' for countable. While searching for correct usage of 'less' 'fewer' i came across this link/

https://www.uhv.edu/ac/student/writing/grammartip102604.html

this rules out choices A, D and E.

However, at the same time the: Amount relates to a quantity of things that are measured in bulk. Number relates to things that can be counted individually

so this rules out choices C, D and E.

leaving me with B. However i am not very convinced with choice B also, because the idiom 'as many' is incorrect, the correct idion shoud be 'as many as' .

SO i am left with no choice... :evil:

Can some gurus (Paul, Anand, venksune) throw some more light on it...?

Can some gurus (Paul, Anand, venksune) throw some more light on it...?

praveen_rao7 · Answer

I would go with C. Unless there is a typo in other answer choices.

I agree with you on the usage of less & fewer. However amount can be used to indicate numbers. Please see the explanations from the dictionary

Amount:
n. 
The total of two or more quantities; the aggregate. 
A number; a sum. 
A principal plus its interest, as in a loan. 
The full effect or meaning; import. 
Quantity: a great amount of intelligence. 

intr.v. aÂ·mountÂ·ed, aÂ·mountÂ·ing, aÂ·mounts 
To add up in number or quantity: The purchases amounted to 50 dollars. 
To add up in import or effect: That plan will never amount to anything. 
To be equivalent or tantamount: accusations that amount to an indictment.

rthothad · Answer

I will go with â€˜Bâ€™
Since we are referring to countable nouns â€“ we would have to go with â€˜fewer thanâ€™, so we can eliminate â€˜Aâ€™, â€˜Dâ€™ & â€˜Eâ€™.
Between â€˜Bâ€™ & â€˜Câ€™, â€˜Câ€™ uses â€˜amountâ€™ which is used only for non-countable nouns whereas â€˜Bâ€™ correctly uses â€˜as manyâ€™.
On the whole I am not sure if â€˜Bâ€™ brings out the correct meaning of the sentence, but if this question is to test the usage of words used for countable/non-countable nouns â€˜Bâ€™ makes the most sense.

ruhi · Answer

Sorry, what I meant is - 'amount' is used 'things' which cant be counted. Since the number of drive- inns can be counted (its given that it was around 4000), 'amount' is improper... 

"Amount of drive- inns " is wrong English.

forumsmba · Answer

I don't think you can eliminate D & E because of uncountable noun reason.
I remember reading somewhere that you can use "less" when using terms like "one-quarter" of a countable noun.

However, I don't like using ther word 'amount' for the number of drive-ins. 

I am between B and D.

-fm

saurabhmalpani · Answer

Hi I wil opt for B. But has somebody noted that this post id 3 months old :roll:

. No OA has been posted. Thanks saurabh malpani

ruhi · Answer

yes, you are right!! dint notice that

SC - amount.

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