[Grammar] "People often spend as much time worrying about the future as planning for it."

nininaz · May 9, 2017

"People often spend as much time worrying about the future as planning for it."

Hello all,
Are these sentences equivalent?

"People often spend as much time worrying about the future as planning for it."

"People often spend as much time worrying about the future as they often spend (as much time) planning for it."

GoesStation · May 9, 2017

Re: "People often spend as much time worrying about the future as planning for it."

nininaz said:
"People often spend as much time worrying about the future as planning for it.":tick:

"People often spend as much time worrying about the future as they often spend (as much time) planning for it.":cross:

Only the first is possible. "Often" applies equally to the phrases before and after as. It's wrong to repeat it.

ambitious-girl · May 10, 2017

Re: "People often spend as much time worrying about the future as planning for it."

GoesStation said:
Only the first is possible. "Often" applies equally to the phrases before and after as. It's wrong to repeat it.

I am not sure if I can ask my question into other posts. Sorry about that.

If we make the changes below, do these alternative versions make sense?

"People often spend as much time worrying about the future as they spend planning for it."

"People often spend as much time worrying about the future as they do planning for it."

emsr2d2 · May 10, 2017

Re: "People often spend as much time worrying about the future as planning for it."

ambitious-girl said:
I am not sure if I [STRIKE]can[/STRIKE] have to ask my question [STRIKE]into[/STRIKE] in another [STRIKE]posts[/STRIKE] post. Sorry about that.

If [STRIKE]we[/STRIKE] I make the changes below, does this alternative version make sense?
"People often spend as much time worrying about the future as they spend planning for it."

Your alternative version is OK. Most native speakers would use "as they do planning for it" at the end to avoid the repetition of "spend".

[Grammar] "People often spend as much time worrying about the future as planning for it."

nininaz

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GoesStation

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ambitious-girl

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emsr2d2

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