[Grammar] Will you take it two ways?

[Heidi]

Dear friends,

I would like to know whether the following sentence is ambiguous to you or if it is a good one:

"Do you have more toys than your brother?'

Thank you!

 

[Barb_D]

I can't see anything ambiguous about it.

 

[Heidi]

I can't see anything ambiguous about it.

"Do you have more toys than your brother?'

Can I possibly answer it, for example, I have three brothers but I I've only got two toys, as 'No, I have more brothers than toys'?

 

[freezeframe]

"Do you have more toys than your brother?'

Can I possibly answer it, for example, I have three brothers but I I've only got two toys, as 'No, I have more brothers than toys'?

The questions asks you to compare the number of toys that you have with the number of toys that your brother has. If you have 4 toys, and your brother has 3, then you have more toys than your brother.

Your answer makes sense only if the question was "Do you have more toys than you have brothers".

 

[Heidi]

The questions asks you to compare the number of toys that you have with the number of toys that your brother has. If you have 4 toys, and your brother has 3, then you have more toys than your brother.

Your answer makes sense only if the question was "Do you have more toys than you have brothers".

"Do you have more toys than your brother?'

Can we ask that question this way: "Do you have more toys than your brother does?"

Is adding does redundant or it makes the sentence clearer?

Thank you!

 

[freezeframe]

"Do you have more toys than your brother?'

Can we ask that question this way: "Do you have more toys than your brother does?"

Is adding does redundant or it makes the sentence clearer?

Thank you!

You can add it if you want but the sentence is already perfectly clear. There's no ambiguity in it.

 

[Heidi]

Thank you!

 

[Tdol]

Your answer makes sense only if the question was "Do you have more toys than you have brothers".

Or Do you have more toys than brothers?