The growth rate of ABC Motors in 2017 was the same _______ XYZ Motors in 2016.
as that of
English Grammar: Understanding Comparisons with "That of"
The question asks us to complete a sentence that compares the growth rate of ABC Motors in 2017 with the growth rate of XYZ Motors in 2016. To ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in such comparisons, it is important to use parallel structure and avoid unnecessary repetition of nouns.
Growth Rate Comparison and Parallelism
When comparing two singular items or concepts, especially when they are similar in nature, English grammar often employs pronouns to prevent awkward repetition. In this sentence, we are comparing one "growth rate" (singular) with another "growth rate" (singular).
- To avoid repeating the singular noun "growth rate," we use a singular demonstrative pronoun.
- The appropriate singular demonstrative pronoun for this kind of comparison is "that."
- If the comparison involved plural nouns (e.g., "the policies of ABC Motors"), we would use "those."
Option Analysis for Correct Usage
Let's carefully examine each of the given options to determine which one forms a grammatically correct and coherent comparison.
| Option | Explanation | Correctness |
|---|---|---|
| 1. as off | The word "off" is a preposition that generally indicates separation, removal, or a state of being disconnected. It is not used to form a comparative phrase indicating similarity or equality, such as "the same as." Therefore, this option is grammatically incorrect in this context. | Incorrect |
| 2. as those of | The phrase "those of" is used when referring to a plural noun that has been mentioned previously. Since "growth rate" is a singular noun, using "those of" would be grammatically incorrect for this comparison. | Incorrect |
| 3. as that off | This option correctly uses "that" to refer to the singular "growth rate" but incorrectly uses the preposition "off." As explained for option 1, "off" is not suitable for indicating a comparison of similarity. | Incorrect |
| 4. as that of | This is the correct option. "That" correctly stands in for the singular noun "growth rate," preventing repetition. The preposition "of" appropriately connects "that" to "XYZ Motors in 2016," forming a grammatically sound and parallel comparison. This phrase ensures clarity and conciseness in the sentence. | Correct |
"That of" and "Those of" Examples
To further illustrate the correct usage of "that of" and "those of" in comparative sentences:
- Singular Noun Comparison: "The population of Tokyo is larger than that of London." (Here, "that" refers to "the population.")
- Plural Noun Comparison: "The features of modern smartphones are more advanced than those of older models." (Here, "those" refers to "the features.")
Comparative Structure Conclusion
To accurately complete the sentence "The growth rate of ABC Motors in 2017 was the same _______ XYZ Motors in 2016," we need a phrase that replaces the singular noun "growth rate" and correctly links it to the second entity. The phrase "as that of" precisely achieves this, maintaining parallel structure and grammatical correctness.
The complete and correct sentence is: "The growth rate of ABC Motors in 2017 was the same as that of XYZ Motors in 2016."
Important Questions from Verbal Analogies
Fuse : Fusion ∷ Use: _____
Daytime temperatures in Delhi can ______ 40°C.
Five friends P, Q, R, S and T went camping. At night, they had to sleep in a row inside the tent. P, Q and T refused to sleep next to R since he snored loudly. P and S wanted to avoid
Q as he usually hugged people in sleep.
Assuming everyone was satisfied with the sleeping arrangements, what is the order in which they slept?
Select the word that fits the analogy:
Partial : Impartial :: Popular :The lecture was attended by quite ________ students, so the hall was not very ________.
