prep1-183

[saintjingjing]

I want to ask about something about the comparision, I just glimpsed at a post you have explained about it, but sorry, I still do not understand, and I write and ask again

No1 from prep1-new 183 Despite recent increases in sales and cash flow that have propelled automobile companies' common stocks to new highs, several industry analysts expect automakers, in order to conserve cash, to set dividends more conservatively than they were
A. to set dividends more conservatively than they were
B. to set dividends more conservatively than they have been
C. to be more conservative than they have been in setting dividends
D. that they will be more conservative than they were in setting dividends
E. that they will be more conservative than they have been to set dividends

Hi Ron, I want to ask something on the comparative pattern like this question.
A I think "set dividends" belongs to verb, but in A, were belongs to be, So it is not parallel. Delete
B "set dividends" belongs to verb, in B, "have been "belongs Verb( I think) because it is the perfect tense of verb,
C " be.. belongs to be, but have been belongs Verb because it is the perfect tense of verb,

And I search posts from M, and I read what you have written, but I still do not realize why my idea is wrong?
What is more, some one explains that I could directly choose C becuase the meaning of this question.
But I do not know, so can you explain that point to me? thank you

Besides, I want to ask another one
.
NO.2(prep-1(old) A recent national study of the public schools shows that there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were four years ago.


(A) there are now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were

(B) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many than there were

(C) there is now one microcomputer for every thirty-two pupils, four times as many as there were

(D) every thirty-two pupils now have one microcomputer, four times as many than there were

(E) every thirty-two pupils now has one microcomputer, four times as many as
I choose E, but the answer is B, I think in B, microcomputers are omited, but why I can not choose E

And from both of two questions, I want to know when I can omit verb, noun ( like No.2) or else in comparative pattern, and when I can not
I know the rules must be clear, but I can not apply it into the practice, So I really need your advice
Thank you

[RonPurewal]

please read through the following thread. if you still have this question after reading the whole thread, please post it there, not here:
post35595.html