[Grammar] The GREATER IS THE INCREASE IN POPULATION/THE INCREASE IN POPULATION IS......

[Sahil Dhankhar]

This is not my homework.

Which of the following is correct and if both are correct ,do they have same meaning?

1:-The greater IS THE INCREASE IN POPULATION, the harder it is for people to find adequate housing.
2:-The greater THE INCREASE IN POPULATION IS, the harder it is for people to find adequate housing.


Thanks for replying.

 

[tedmc]

The greater the increase in population, the harder it is for people to find[STRIKE] adequate[/STRIKE] housing (because housing is inadequate).

not a teacher

 

[Raymott]

I'm not sure why you need to cross out 'adequate'. People might be able to get some sort of housing, but not adequate housing. 'Adequate' here refers to the housing for a family, not for the whole population. A family might find adequate housing in a market where there is inadequate housing overall.

 

[Sahil Dhankhar]

Out of these two, which is correct?

The greater the increase in population IS.......
The greater the increase in population...........

 

[emsr2d2]

The second, followed by a comma and then another clause.

 

[tedmc]

I'm not sure why you need to cross out 'adequate'. People might be able to get some sort of housing, not but not adequate housing. 'Adequate' here refers to the housing for a family, not for the whole population. A family might find adequate housing in a market where there is inadequate housing overall.

We are talking about quantity here. There are more people than houses available, so it is harder for people to find houses. The adjective 'adequate' is redundant(if you are referring to quantity and not quality). Of course, there are those who are able to find housing even though there is a shortage.

 

[Barb_D]

It is not redundant. There is a need for housing of suitable quality.

 

[Raymott]

If you're talking about "adequate housing for the whole population", no one can find "adequate housing", since it doesn't exist. However, some people must be able to find the type of "adequate housing" referred to - since if it's not possible, it can't become harder. "Adequate housing" has to mean "adequate for the the individual or family", not "adequate for the population". "Adequate" is necessary to the sentence.

 

[tedmc]

OK, we can only guess OP's intended meaning of the sentence, which only he can tell us what he means by 'adequate' - whether it is about numbers or the quality/suitability for use of the houses.

But I believe he is talking about numbers, in which case the word 'adequate' would be redundant.