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You can build a better company than he ever did.
You can build a company better than he ever did.
I know # 1 works, but does #2 work as well?
If #2 works, does it mean the same thing as #1?
Finally, in #1, is 'than he ever did' part of the noun phrase 'a better company than he ever did'?
How about, in #2? Is 'than he ever did' part of the noun phrase 'a company better than he ever did'?
#2 works as well but it has a different meaning to #1.
#1 means that you can build a company which is better than the company (or companies) that he built.
#2 means that your ability to build companies surpasses his.
Neither of the follow up questions are part of the noun phrases.
