A general comparison question

[HanzZ]

Hello Experts,

I have a question about a comparison structure in one of the correct answer from OG. However since OG is a banned source, I will recreate the sentence. Please feel free to delete this post if such action still violates the forum rule.

Less happy after I moved to the new company than I had been in the old company, I decided to rethink about my employment.

I think I can understand what this sentence is trying to compare(my experience in two different situations, which are presented through two complete clauses). However, I am just wondering whether there should be a "when" right after "than", so the comparison is:

Less happy [after I moved to the new company] than [when I had been in the old company]... It looks like after and when can be parallel, and then two clauses are parallel too.

Thank you for your kind reply!

[RonPurewal]

Please provide the edition # and problem # of the problem you're trying to imitate. It's important to put boundaries on how this type of thing is actually being tested.

Thanks.

[HanzZ]

Please provide the edition # and problem # of the problem you're trying to imitate. It's important to put boundaries on how this type of thing is actually being tested.

Thanks.

Hello Ron,

Please refer to OG12 #123 (or OG13 #124).

Thanks!

[RonPurewal]

Thanks for the reference.

However, I am just wondering whether there should be ...

The official answer doesn't have what you're asking about, so the answer is no.

Do not question the official answers!
The official answers are not wrong!

"I am wondering whether there should be xxxx" is a waste of your time.

"Why does the sentence work WITHOUT xxxx?" is the right question to ask instead. By asking this question, you'll learn stuff about how the sentences work.

--

[RonPurewal]

In any case, here's the best explanation I can give you:

These sorts of initial modifiers are equivalent to saying "[subject] is/was/are/were xxxxx".

For instance,
The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney.
"”> modifier: Invented by Eli Whitney, the cotton gin...

This modifier derives from
I was less happy after moving to the new company than I had been at the old company.
"”> modifier: Less happy after moving to the new company than I had been at the old company, I...

You're correct that the actual parallel construction (I was ... I had been) "disappears" here. That's an interesting point.

I guess you'll just have to remember this as an exceptional case, like other comparisons that don't contain actual parallel structures (e.g., Lately there has been more traffic than usual on the roads).