Usage of 'More...Than'

[bbll]

Which of the following 2 is correct? or are both fine?

Elephants are more tolerant of low temperature than are dogs.

Elephants are more tolerant of low temperature than dogs.

Thanks.

[messi10]

I think grammatically they are both fine.

In terms of meaning, the first one is better. Even though it is obvious what you are trying to say (Elephants are more tolerant of low temperatures than dogs are), the first sentence with the extra verb removes ambiguity.

The second one can have two meanings:

Elephants are more tolerant of low temperatures than dogs (are)

Elephants are more tolerant of low temperatures than (they are of) dogs.

[jlucero]

I think grammatically they are both fine.

In terms of meaning, the first one is better. Even though it is obvious what you are trying to say (Elephants are more tolerant of low temperatures than dogs are), the first sentence with the extra verb removes ambiguity.

The second one can have two meanings:

Elephants are more tolerant of low temperatures than dogs (are)

Elephants are more tolerant of low temperatures than (they are of) dogs.

Not quite. These 2 sentences have 2 very different meanings:

(1) Elephants are more tolerant of low temperature than are dogs.
Think of this sentence w/ dogs and are switched around:

Elephants are more tolerant of low temperature than dogs are (tolerant of low temperatures).
This is comparing elephants and dogs and which is more tolerant of low temperatures.


(2) Elephants are more tolerant of (low temperature than dogs).
This compares what elephants are more tolerant of: low temperature or dogs.