Also, notice that if you don't change the wording in Step 2, the "winner" will always be A. But, if you do decide (and there are sometimes good reasons) to change the wording, e.g. "Which ones taste more unpleasant?" then the "winner" changes to B. The medications in tablet or soft-gel form "wins" in that they taste more unpleasant.
This one doesn't make any sense to me, or maybe this is just a bad example. If you change what the sentence is comparing the subjects on, then the winner would be decided based on the context.
The reason this example is confusing is because there's no context behind the sentence. If we wanted to know which medication tasted less unpleasant, then changing the wording to "more unpleasant" would make B the "winner". But, if we wanted to know which one tasted worse, then the reverse would happen. The "more unpleasant" one would be the winner, and the "less unpleasant" one would be the loser.
It just seems to me that the example is basing the winner on which ones tastes better, but nowhere does it say that that's what were looking for. If were assuming that everything stays the same (the assumption that were looking for which one tastes less unpleasant) when the wording changes, then sure. Maybe including a something like "If all else stays the same..." would make it easier to understand.
The word "those" is referring back to medications. In most cases, not all, the referential refers back to something stated earlier in the sentence. For easier understanding, let's take a look at the same sentence, but rather than "those," I will substitute the word with medications.
Medications in capsule form taste less unpleasant than medications in tablet or soft-gel form.
Hmmmm...I am not sure why changing the wording more unpleasant changes the winner to B. If the quality is which tastes more unpleasant then A would still be the winner, right? I feel that just by making the quality negative does not change the winner of the characteristic. Anyone feel free to jump in on this #help
What JY is saying here isn’t that we’re just switching the word “less” out for “more.” Because you’re right in that it would make A the winner. He’s saying that we can keep the content and conclusion the same and adjust the wording in case using “more” is easier to understand.
“Medications in tablet or soft-gel form taste more unpleasant than those in capsule form.”
The meaning stays the same and the winner is still tablets/soft-gel. It’s just easier to parse the winner when we can quickly see which is more.
It probably would’ve been less confusing if the lesson’s last paragraph had just put what A and B were in parentheses next to the letter “A (capsule form) and B (tablet or soft-gel form). Maybe that’s a suggestion to add?
Quick note on referential phrases that are in comparative statements: Working through referential will be easier with comparative statements because of the cookie cutter A vs B structure that comparative statements take on. The complexity in these statements is shifted toward the comparison and away from the referential phrases. If you focus on the comparison, your brain will do the rest, naturally, in deciphering the referential phrase.
Let’s look at some basketball examples:
1. Basketball is easier people that are tall than for those that are short.
A=Tall people
B=Short people
Point of comparison: Basketball is easier
Winner: Tall people
2. The championship is one by teams that play good defense rather than the ones that play good offense.
A= Teams that play good defense
B= Teams that play good offense
Point of comparison: Winning the championship
Winner: Teams that play good defense
3. The best way to make the team is to practice more than you otherwise would think.
A=Practice more
B=Practicing what you think is enough practice
Point of comparison= The best way to make the team
15 comments
This one doesn't make any sense to me, or maybe this is just a bad example. If you change what the sentence is comparing the subjects on, then the winner would be decided based on the context.
The reason this example is confusing is because there's no context behind the sentence. If we wanted to know which medication tasted less unpleasant, then changing the wording to "more unpleasant" would make B the "winner". But, if we wanted to know which one tasted worse, then the reverse would happen. The "more unpleasant" one would be the winner, and the "less unpleasant" one would be the loser.
It just seems to me that the example is basing the winner on which ones tastes better, but nowhere does it say that that's what were looking for. If were assuming that everything stays the same (the assumption that were looking for which one tastes less unpleasant) when the wording changes, then sure. Maybe including a something like "If all else stays the same..." would make it easier to understand.
This one seems deceptively easy (or I'm just overlooking something lol)
AVB- Medications in capsule form v medications in soft gel or tablet form
Comparison- which tastes more pleasant
Winner- capsule form
Referential- those=medications
Medications in capsule form taste less unpleasant than those in tablet or soft-gel form.
A v. B
Medications in Capsule form vs. Medications in tablet or soft-gel form.
Identify the quality or the characteristic that we're comparing A v. B on.
Which one tastes less unpleasant?
Winner?
Capsule Form!
What are questions that deal with comparatives? I understand how to break these down, but I always struggle with the question itself.
#Feedback diagrams would be helpful.
question...wouldn't the referential "those" be for tablet or soft-gel form? someone explain on why that isn't it.
The word "those" is referring back to medications. In most cases, not all, the referential refers back to something stated earlier in the sentence. For easier understanding, let's take a look at the same sentence, but rather than "those," I will substitute the word with medications.
Medications in capsule form taste less unpleasant than medications in tablet or soft-gel form.
"those" indicates the referential
Trying to clarify here, is referent "Medications" and the referential is "those"? thanks!
Yes
Hmmmm...I am not sure why changing the wording more unpleasant changes the winner to B. If the quality is which tastes more unpleasant then A would still be the winner, right? I feel that just by making the quality negative does not change the winner of the characteristic. Anyone feel free to jump in on this #help
Chiming in for anyone who might read this later:
What JY is saying here isn’t that we’re just switching the word “less” out for “more.” Because you’re right in that it would make A the winner. He’s saying that we can keep the content and conclusion the same and adjust the wording in case using “more” is easier to understand.
“Medications in tablet or soft-gel form taste more unpleasant than those in capsule form.”
The meaning stays the same and the winner is still tablets/soft-gel. It’s just easier to parse the winner when we can quickly see which is more.
It probably would’ve been less confusing if the lesson’s last paragraph had just put what A and B were in parentheses next to the letter “A (capsule form) and B (tablet or soft-gel form). Maybe that’s a suggestion to add?
#feedback
I got the answers right on the last page but it’s always a good idea to still go through these examples. Good luck everyone 😄
Quick note on referential phrases that are in comparative statements: Working through referential will be easier with comparative statements because of the cookie cutter A vs B structure that comparative statements take on. The complexity in these statements is shifted toward the comparison and away from the referential phrases. If you focus on the comparison, your brain will do the rest, naturally, in deciphering the referential phrase.
Let’s look at some basketball examples:
1. Basketball is easier people that are tall than for those that are short.
A=Tall people
B=Short people
Point of comparison: Basketball is easier
Winner: Tall people
2. The championship is one by teams that play good defense rather than the ones that play good offense.
A= Teams that play good defense
B= Teams that play good offense
Point of comparison: Winning the championship
Winner: Teams that play good defense
3. The best way to make the team is to practice more than you otherwise would think.
A=Practice more
B=Practicing what you think is enough practice
Point of comparison= The best way to make the team
Winner= Practice more