Comparison clarification

[JbhB682]

Hi Experts - quick comparison related question

Question) In 2010, X killed 200 pigs, fewer than (that/those) in 2006.

Which usage is accurate
i) that
ii) those
iii) neither works
iv) either works

I think option (III) is the best but i was curious what your thoughts were

[JbhB682]

Reason

(a) THAT does not work because there is no singular antencedent for "THAT"

This eliminates i) and iv)

(b) Replacing "THOSE" with possible antecedent

In 2010, X killed 200 pigs, fewer than pigs in 2006

The expression pigs in 2006 sets up a false comparison.

I need to compare
In 2010, X killed 200 pigs, fewer than Number killed in 2006

Thus eliminate iii)

[esledge]

(b) Replacing "THOSE" with possible antecedent

In 2010, X killed 200 pigs, fewer than pigs in 2006

The expression pigs in 2006 sets up a false comparison.

I need to compare
In 2010, X killed 200 pigs, fewer than Number killed in 2006

Thus eliminate iii)

Yes, this is the correct logic, but I think if you are going to use "number killed" to refer back to "pigs," you need a "which" and another verb in the 2nd part, so that both "pigs" and "number killed" are objects of their respective verbs:
In 2010, X killed 200 pigs, which is fewer than the number killed in 2006

You could also fix the comparison like this, depending on what you mean:
In 2010, X killed 200 pigs, fewer than she/he/it did in 2006
In 2010, X killed 200 pigs, fewer than Y did in 2006

[ScottD643]

Greetings Emily,

Regarding the comparison construction written above, I have a doubt I hope you can clear up.

“In 2010, X killed 200 pigs, which is fewer than the number killed in 2006.”

Since the referent noun phrase of “which” is “200 pigs,” for ease of understanding I will substitute the phrase and focus on the relative clause:

“…..[200 pigs] is fewer than the number killed in 2006.”

Since we are using a relative pronoun/clause at the end of the sentence, we can not refer to the action of “killed.” Hence, we can not compare what X DID in 2010 to what X did in 2006 using the above construction.

Since the elements compared are “200 pigs” and “the number killed,” should we not use “less than” to compare the quantities/numbers killed? i.e., the NUMBER killed in 2010 (“200 pigs”) is less than “the number killed” in 2010.

One additional question if you have the time:

“In 2010, she killed 200 pigs, fewer than SHE DID in 2006.”

In this case, is the basis of comparison the Action of “killing”?
i.e., “In 2010, She killed less pigs than she killed in 2006.”

Or, are we effectively conveying the following:

“In 2010, she killed 200 pigs. These 200 pigs she killed are fewer than the pigs she killed in 2006.”

Again, the logic of what I wrote seems a bit off.

Are we not comparing a quantity/amount as a whole, such that “less than” should be used?

“The number of 200 pigs killed is LESS than the number of pigs she killed in 2006.”

I suppose the crux of the issue is that I am trying to understand the entities compared and they basis of the comparison in the examples cited in the above post.

Thank you in advance for any help.

All the best!

[Whit Garner]

“In 2010, X killed 200 pigs, which is fewer than the number killed in 2006.”

Since the referent noun phrase of “which” is “200 pigs,” for ease of understanding I will substitute the phrase and focus on the relative clause:

“…..[200 pigs] is fewer than the number killed in 2006.”

Since we are using a relative pronoun/clause at the end of the sentence, we can not refer to the action of “killed.” Hence, we can not compare what X DID in 2010 to what X did in 2006 using the above construction.

Since the elements compared are “200 pigs” and “the number killed,” should we not use “less than” to compare the quantities/numbers killed? i.e., the NUMBER killed in 2010 (“200 pigs”) is less than “the number killed” in 2010.

You bring up a great consideration here, and I would be inclined to agree with you. This version of the sentence seems to be treating "200 pigs" as a singular "number" (and therefore use the singular verb IS after which), you'd likely want to use "less than." I would actually be inclined to use the edited version you presented later:

“In 2010, she killed 200 pigs, fewer than SHE DID in 2006.”

In this context we are comparing the plural values - 200 pigs was a lot but not as many as she killed in 2006. Fewer is appropriate and the comparison is a little more clean than in the "which... example.