The population of Korea is larger than (that of) Canada.

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keannu

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Dec 27, 2010
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Korean
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South Korea
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When you compare two things in English, you sholud compare matching things, but in Korean, it's almost possible to compare vaguely like in the following. You should compare Korea's population with Canada's population, but in Korean even if you just compare "Korea's pupulation" with "Canada", they fully understand the two populations are compared. But in English, I've seen strict rules for comparing only matching things, but does it happen to have any exception like Korean?

ex1)Korean: The population of Korea is larger than Canada.
English: The population of Korea is larger than that of Canada.

ex2)Korean: The size of this computer is bigger than that computer.
English: The size of this computer is bigger than that of that computer..
 
When you compare two things in English, you sholud compare matching things, but in Korean, it's almost possible to compare vaguely like in the following. You should compare Korea's population with Canada's population, but in Korean even if you just compare "Korea's pupulation" with "Canada", they fully understand the two populations are compared. But in English, I've seen strict rules for comparing only matching things, but does it happen to have any exception like Korean?

ex1)Korean: The population of Korea is larger than Canada.
English: The population of Korea is larger than that of Canada.

ex2)Korean: The size of this computer is bigger than that computer.
English: The size of this computer is bigger than that of that computer..
In example #2 it would be more natural in English to say "This computer is bigger than than that one".
 
1. The population of Korea is larger than Canada.
2. The population of Korea is larger than that of Canada
.

You may well hear/see sentences like #1, but they are not good English; #2 is fine.
 
You'll also hear/see The population of Korea is larger than Canada's.

Rover

.
 
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