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improved answer about 4 and 5
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To supplement cruthers' fine answer:

Sentences 4 and 5 are impossible for anyone to understand.

The comparison is made with "isn't much more than". Here's the structure, with the two items being compared in bold:

  1. Signing a form isn’t much more than signing a form is a formality.

The first part of the comparison is a noun: the act of signing a form. The second part of the comparison is the degree to which signing a form is a formalityclause: an statement about signing forms. You cannot compare an action to a degree of formalitystatement.

Sentence 5 has the same issue.

To supplement cruthers' fine answer:

Sentences 4 and 5 are impossible for anyone to understand.

The comparison is made with "isn't much more than". Here's the structure, with the two items being compared in bold:

  1. Signing a form isn’t much more than signing a form is a formality.

The first part of the comparison is the act of signing a form. The second part of the comparison is the degree to which signing a form is a formality. You cannot compare an action to a degree of formality.

Sentence 5 has the same issue.

To supplement cruthers' fine answer:

Sentences 4 and 5 are impossible for anyone to understand.

The comparison is made with "isn't much more than". Here's the structure, with the two items being compared in bold:

  1. Signing a form isn’t much more than signing a form is a formality.

The first part of the comparison is a noun: the act of signing a form. The second part of the comparison is a clause: an statement about signing forms. You cannot compare an action to a statement.

Sentence 5 has the same issue.

Source Link
gotube
  • 51.1k
  • 7
  • 75
  • 160

To supplement cruthers' fine answer:

Sentences 4 and 5 are impossible for anyone to understand.

The comparison is made with "isn't much more than". Here's the structure, with the two items being compared in bold:

  1. Signing a form isn’t much more than signing a form is a formality.

The first part of the comparison is the act of signing a form. The second part of the comparison is the degree to which signing a form is a formality. You cannot compare an action to a degree of formality.

Sentence 5 has the same issue.