Expression "four times saltier than"?

Nessie · Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:48 am *Expression "four times saltier than"?*

Hi,
Please have a look at this sentence:

The water in the Great Salt Lake is at least four times saltier than seawater.

=> I think it's not a very good and native usage (instead it should be "four times as salty as") Do you agree?
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Molly · Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:11 am *"four times saltier than"?*

Are you saying that "saltier" is not idiomatic?

Nessie · Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:28 am *"four times saltier than"?*

no, just because I was taught that usage is incorrect.
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Molly · Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:23 am *"four times saltier than"?*

Yankee · Fri Jul 11, 2008 13:31 pm *"four times saltier than"?*

Hi Nessie

I don't see anything wrong or unusual with any of the following:

- is four times bigger than
- is four times longer than
- is four times wider than
- is four times better than
- is four times heavier than
- is four times wealthier than
- is four times riskier than
- is four times saltier than

Something like the following would be considered incorrect grammar and would also sound odd to me:

- *is four times dangerouser than
.

Inga · Fri Jul 11, 2008 13:53 pm *"four times saltier than"?*

salty - (comparative saltier, superlative saltiest)
adjective

Microsoft® Encarta® 2006. © 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation.
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Inga · Fri Jul 11, 2008 13:54 pm *"four times saltier than"?*

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Yankee · Fri Jul 11, 2008 14:15 pm *"four times saltier than"?*

Nessie · Wed Jul 16, 2008 14:17 pm *"four times saltier than"?*

Thanks a lot everybody Smile

Actually, I am taught (by my teachers here, of course) that "twice bigger than..." or "four times bigger than..." is incorrect. Instead we must say "twice as big as..." or "four times as big as..."

It's not until now that I realized the formers are correct (+_+)

By the way, I just have 2 more queries:

1/ Is it the same in British English and American English?
2/ Do the two usages ("twice as big as" and "twice bigger than") imply the same meaning?

Thank you very much once again Smile

Nessie.
_________________
Sad

... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

Yankee · Wed Jul 16, 2008 15:32 pm *"four times saltier than"?*

Atomos · Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:08 am *Expression "four times saltier than"?*

My teacher taught me that "four times saltier than" was only used in spoken English. In formal written English, we have to use "four times as salty as" instead. I do not know if it is entirely correct but that's how we are taught in Vietnam.

Molly · Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:27 am *Expression "four times saltier than"?*

Nessie · Fri Jul 18, 2008 13:31 pm *Expression "four times saltier than"?*

Yankee · Fri Jul 18, 2008 13:36 pm *Expression "four times saltier than"?*

Hi Atomos

Was this supposed to be a specific "rule" exclusively for the word salty? Confused

.

Atomos · Fri Jul 18, 2008 13:55 pm *Expression "four times saltier than"?*

No, it's the same for all adjectives and adverbs. I've just found a Vietnamese learning site that mentions "multiple number comparative". As you can see, "as...as" must be used instead of "er, ier, more...". I guess that's just our country's specific rule Smile

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Link: http://www.onthi.com/dien-dan/anh-van/ngu-phap-tieng-anh/comparison-of-adjectives-and-adverbs_208785.html

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