"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have"
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I do"
Are both okay?
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I do"
Are both okay?
Easier time than I have/do
In my opinion, both are OK. In the first case, you have in mind your past experiences and in the other your current situation.
Both sound just a tad awkward for me. I would say "than me". I suspect most folks would.
Then again, it depends on what you're trying to say. I can think of 3 possible fixes: "than I will", "than I had", or "than I did".
Then again, it depends on what you're trying to say. I can think of 3 possible fixes: "than I will", "than I had", or "than I did".
C'mon, this is basic grammar:
"you will have ...", "I will have ..."
so "I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I will"
"you will have ...", "I will have ..."
so "I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I will"
Actually, all are correct.
I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have-- speculating on your possible future versus my past experience
I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I do--
speculating on your possible future versus my present experience
I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I will/would--
speculating on your possible future versus my possible future
I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have-- speculating on your possible future versus my past experience
I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I do--
speculating on your possible future versus my present experience
I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I will/would--
speculating on your possible future versus my possible future
<<I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I will>>
I would go with the above because it keeps everything in the same tense (i.e. I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I will [have])
I would go with the above because it keeps everything in the same tense (i.e. I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I will [have])
I see some ambiguity in the first sentence (the one with "have"). "have" could be interpreted as simple present or as an abbreviation for "have had".
If you say "I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have had.", clearly you are comparing your listener's possible future to your own experience up until the present. This is the interpretation I see everyone taking.
On the other hand, if you interpret "have" as being simple present, then the two sentences have identical meaning.
If you say "I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have had.", clearly you are comparing your listener's possible future to your own experience up until the present. This is the interpretation I see everyone taking.
On the other hand, if you interpret "have" as being simple present, then the two sentences have identical meaning.
Uriel,
How about the other fixes put forth by Gillette?
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I had."
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I did."
Quizzically,
Achab
How about the other fixes put forth by Gillette?
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I had."
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I did."
Quizzically,
Achab
"I see some ambiguity in the first sentence (the one with "have"). "have" could be interpreted as simple present or as an abbreviation for "have had"."
Yes, I noticed that as well.
Yes, I noticed that as well.
Thanks for your answers.
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have had." - here, I'm talking about my past experiences
If I wanted to talk about my present experiences, could I use any of the following:
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I'm having."
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I do."
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have."
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have had." - here, I'm talking about my past experiences
If I wanted to talk about my present experiences, could I use any of the following:
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I'm having."
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I do."
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have."
<<If I wanted to talk about my present experiences, could I use any of the following:>>
[insert the following here]
Yes.
[insert the following here]
Yes.
Here's a recap:
_I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I had/did._ ···speculating on your future versus my own past···
_I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have._ ···speculating on your future versus my own present/past···
_I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I do._ ···speculating on your future versus my own present···
_I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I will/would._ ···speculating on your future versus my own future···
With my best wishes,
Achab
_I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I had/did._ ···speculating on your future versus my own past···
_I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I have._ ···speculating on your future versus my own present/past···
_I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I do._ ···speculating on your future versus my own present···
_I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I will/would._ ···speculating on your future versus my own future···
With my best wishes,
Achab
I'd go with:
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I do."
The first sentence is not correct, and the third one talks mostly about your past experiences.
"I think you will have a much easier time making friends than I do."
The first sentence is not correct, and the third one talks mostly about your past experiences.