more than is necessary

Hung Tao · Post by **Hung Tao** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 10:04 am

Please tell me what is the subject of the verb "is" in the following sentence:
I do not wish to complicate the task more than is necessary.
Why is the subject omitted?
Could I say " more than necessary" or " more than necessarily"?
Thanks in advance.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 11:16 am

Yes, you could say simply 'more than necessary'. The expression, however, is natural as it stands, and is elliptical for 'more than IT is necessary (TO ...)'.