A word order 2

pdh0224 · Post by **pdh0224** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 4:52 am

Dear teacher,

Beauty and brains are infinitely more important criteria for choosing Miss America than are a few extra pounds of body fat.

Q : I think the original place of "are" is at the end of the phrase like this.

Beauty and brains are infinitely more important criteria for choosing Miss America than a few extra pounds of body fat are important criteria for choosing Miss America

Q2 :Whether "are" is placed before the phrase or behind the phrase, Both are acceptable, aren't they?

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:56 am

Yes. When the subject NP is long, however, it is generally considered more elegant to prepose the copula. The same option normally applies to predicate-focused sentential as-clauses, e.g.

He is a farmer, as WERE both his father and his grandfather before him.