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Comparative Clauses

Comparative clauses are a type of subordinate clause that cannot function as sentence elements like subjects, objects, or adjectives. They are not a subtype of nominal or relative clauses because they cannot be replaced by noun or adjective phrases. They also do not express circumstances like adverbial clauses. Comparative clauses have two main structures - they can be finite clauses introduced by subordinators like "as" or "than", or nonfinite clauses using infinitives. They function as postmodifiers, usually modifying adjectives. The element they are modifying is called the comparative element, which can be a single word or phrase being compared between two items.

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1K views3 pages

Comparative Clauses

Comparative clauses are a type of subordinate clause that cannot function as sentence elements like subjects, objects, or adjectives. They are not a subtype of nominal or relative clauses because they cannot be replaced by noun or adjective phrases. They also do not express circumstances like adverbial clauses. Comparative clauses have two main structures - they can be finite clauses introduced by subordinators like "as" or "than", or nonfinite clauses using infinitives. They function as postmodifiers, usually modifying adjectives. The element they are modifying is called the comparative element, which can be a single word or phrase being compared between two items.

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Martabm29
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Gramtica Inglesa II

Grado en Estudios Ingleses

COMPARATIVE CLAUSES
a type of subordinate clauses

SYNTAX

[1] They cannot function as clause elements (S, O, A) since they are part
of phrases.
[2] They are not a subtype of nominal or relative clauses because they
cannot be replaced by noun or adjective phrases in their sentences.
[3] They are not a subtype of adverbial clauses because they do not
express circumstances and cannot be replaced by prepositional or adverb
phrases.
Compare:
ADVERBIAL SUBORDINATE CLAUSES OF SIMILARITY AND COMPARISON
(Do you like my copy of the picture?)
No, please paint it (exactly) AS I SAID.
Please paint it according to my instructions.
Please paint it faithfully.
(How did she behave when you met at the airport?)
She treated me AS IF I WERE A STRANGER.
She treated me with suspicion.
She treated me frostily.
COMPARATIVE SUBORDINATE CLAUSES
Jane is as healthy AS HER SISTER (IS).
*Jane is as healthy in a sisterly comparison(!).
Youve been working much harder THAN I (HAVE).
*Youve been working much harder in contrast to me(!).
Gramtica Inglesa II
Grado en Estudios Ingleses

STRUCTURE
[1] A comparative clause may be:
- a finite clause introduced by a subordinator (AS / THAN), or
- a nonfinite clause (a to-infinitive clause, sometimes with overt for-
subject).
[2] Finite comparative clauses allow of constituent omission (ellipsis; note
potential ambiguity in some cases):
James and Susan often go to plays but
James enjoys the theatre more.
James enjoys the theatre more than Susan.
James enjoys the theatre more than Susan does.
James enjoys the theatre more than Susan enjoys it.
James enjoys the theatre more than Susan enjoys the theatre.
[3] Comparative clauses function as POSTMODIFIERS (usually
adjectival complements, Cadj).
[4] The phrase in which a comparative clause operates may be (in Head
terms):
- an adjective phrase (the usual type), or
- an adverb phrase (less frequently) or a noun phrase.
[5] The postmodified elements in the phrase are known as THE
COMPARATIVE ELEMENT (the comp-element). The comp-element
may include:
- one word (more), or
- several words (as healthy, healthier, more intelligent, sensitive
enough, too polite, more jobs, much harder).
[6] One-word comp-elements are phrase Heads:
James enjoys the theatre more than Susan does.
S V Od A
adverb phrase
Head postmodifier
[7] Multi-word comp-elements consist of a premodified Head and an
adverbial (as, enough, too, more, *-er, much more) premodifier (which
includes false postmodifiers, e.g. enough) :
Marilyn was too polite to say anything about my clothes.
Subject complement
pre Head post (Cadj)
Gramtica Inglesa II
Grado en Estudios Ingleses

adverb adjective (nonfinite) clause = comparative clause


Don is sensitive enough to understand your feelings.

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