One queston abt grammer
Below is a sentence I am not sure about its meaning: They are more difficult to account for than are other factors involved in the growth of temporary employment during the 1980s. Does it mean that they are more difficult ...than other factors....? What's the function of "are" before "other factors"? or something wrong with this sentence? So if we put it back to nature order, should that be "They are more difficult to account for than other factors involved in the growth of temporary employment during the 1980s are. "? Can we omit "are" here? And why? Tks.
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Answers · 6
1
They are more difficult to account for than are other factors involved in the growth of temporary employment during the 1980s.
I could be written:
They are more difficult to account for than other factors are that are involved in the growth of temporary employment during the 1980s.
But as you can see, it is more cumbersome. In this case you can invert the verb and subject.
0
Yes it means that 'they' are more difficult than other factors
That structure is called inversion and it is a literary expression... quite formal...you wouldn't really encounter it in the spoken language... it has exactly the same meaning as if it was written the usual/normal way
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