The amount they receive in wages is greater than twenty years ago.

[Tait-ka]

The amount they receive in wages is greater than twenty years ago.
Source: English Precis and Composition paper (CSS), held on Feb 5, 2026.

In the paper, It was asked to correct this sentence. Can you please tell me how to correct it?

My try: The amount they receive in wages is greater than that of twenty years ago.

 

[jutfrank]

Your version is fine. You could also use 'it was' in place of 'that of'.

This is my try:

They earn a higher wage now than they did twenty years ago.

 

[emsr2d2]

I realise this is an exam question so it's not necessarily designed to teach you everyday colloquial English but I have to point out that "The amount they receive in wages" just wouldn't be uttered by a native speaker. We'd say "They earn" or "They're paid" - just two words instead of six.

 

[Tait-ka]

I realise this is an exam question so it's not necessarily designed to teach you everyday colloquial English but I have to point out that "The amount they receive in wages" just wouldn't be uttered by a native speaker. We'd say "They earn" or "They're paid" - just two words instead of six.

Do you agree that the part "than that of twenty years ago" is correct below?

The amount they receive in wages is greater than that of twenty years ago.

 

[Piscean]

jutfrank told you so in post no. 2.

 

[Skrej]

Since 'earning wages' is somewhat tautologous, you could even say "(Their) wages today are higher than 20 years ago."

 

[Tait-ka]

Since 'earning wages' is somewhat tautologous, you could even say "(Their) wages today are higher than 20 years ago."

So do you see nothing wrong with the bolded part below?
The amount they receive in wages is greater than twenty years ago.

 

[emsr2d2]

So do you see nothing wrong with the bolded part below?
The amount they receive in wages is greater than twenty years ago.

That works for me, although it's still much wordier than a native speaker would use.

 

[Skrej]

So do you see nothing wrong with the bolded part below?
The amount they receive in wages is greater than twenty years ago.

Grammatically, no. I would have said so otherwise. I would never actually say it, however.