Subcomparative construction

A subcomparative construction is a comparative construction in which the standard expression is a complete non-elliptical clause.

Examples

In ordinary comparative constructions, the standard can be regarded as elliptical:

• (i) Inga is older than Britta [...]. (= is old)
• (ii) Inga found more mushrooms than Britta [...]. (= found mushrooms)

In subcomparatives, there is no ellipsis:

• (iii) This door is taller than that window is wide.
• (iv) Lee invited more men than Raj invited women.

References

• Corver, Norbert. (1993) “A Note on Subcomparatives.” Linguistic Inquiry 24.4:773-781.

Other languages

German Subkomparativ