Adjectives: Degree Complements
Comparative clauses and degree complements
Forms and Types of Degree Complements
When we make a comparison we need to know what we are comparing. Often this is easy:
-
Some languages
seem
harder
than
others.
(Sorace 2023)
In one short sentence we know that the comparison is between "some languages" and "others" (other languages) in terms of how hard they are to learn or understand. The comparison is made explicit by the use of the preposition "than". But in writing, especially academic writing, the comparison may not be so clear, especially if the sentence is taken out of context.
For example, what is being compared here?
- It was
warmer,
more acidic
and rich in iron.
(Jordan 2019)
The problem is we don't know what "It" refers to. And even if we did we might not know what "it" is being compared with. In fact, it is the ocean today compared with an ocean 4.5 billion years ago. Nevertheless, it is often important to make comparisons explicit. One way is to use a comparative phrase or clause following the comparative adjective, as in the first example above, which is a comparative phrase (a prepositional phrase).
Further examples of comparative phrases and clauses
- They’re a lot
cheaper
than a decent telescope, too.
(Laycock 2019)
"They" refers to binoculars. The comparative phrase is a prepositional phrase ("than a decent telescope"). - The Great Red Spot is a
storm
bigger
than earth.
(Kedziora-Chudczer 2022)
The comparative phrase is a prepositional phrase ("than earth"). - But gills and lungs are
more
similar
than than you might think. (Brown 2021)
The comparative is a clause "than you might think". - In the same way, a teenager’s brain is
less
mature
than an adult brain.
(Wilson 2019)
The comparative phrase is a prepositional phrase ("than an adult brain").
Other Degree Complements
Other degree complements use comparison to indicate other meanings such as adequacy (enough), excess (too), equivalence (as .. as), and result (so ... that).
adjective + enough + to-clause
- Early humans were smart enough to learn to-clause.(Longrich 2020)
- [A planet] also must be large adjective enough degree adverb to have a round, or spherical, physical shape. (Peroomian 2022)
too + adjective + to-clause
"too" denotes excess.
- too rubbery to support the weight of a person. (Heithaus 2022)
- Atoms and molecules are too small to see without very powerful microscopes. (Bosi 2021)
as + adjective + as + phrase/clause
This structure denotes equivalence (to the same degree), or lack of equivalence.
- They’re
as
distinct
as
human fingerprints.
(Cushing 2020)
"They" refers to tigers' stripes. The comparison is with "human fingerprints", a noun phrase. - [Secondary sources] aren’t as
strong
as
primary sources but are still useful.
(Britten 2022)
Here there is a lack of equivalence: not as ... as. - Well, wood isn’t quite
as,
solid
as
it looks. (Nolan 2019)
Here there is a lack of equivalence: not as ... as. The sentence is completed with a clause, not a phrase.
so + adjective + that-clause
- Eventually, [raindrops] get so heavy that they fall to the Earth as rain. (Halverson 2020)
- Once conditions become so degree adverb tough adjective that they can’t find enough to eat that-clause, geese migrate. (Langen 2020)