Predicative comparative constructions are used to make statements locating one object on a scale of a given characteristic in comparison to another object. Its components are the predicate and two nouns (noun phrases). One of the nouns is the noun compared, known as the comparee; the other is the comparative standard (the measuring-stick to which the other object is compared). In this parameter, the standard is of primary importance and the comparee of secondary importance. Accordingly, the last three parameter values, listed with a plus sign (+), may appear alongside any of the previous nine.
Types:
Super: Comparative structures involve both an adjectival predicate and a second predicate: a transitive verb with the meaning ‘exceed’ and the standard as the object of the second verb.
Abl: The standard is grammatically or morphologically marked[1] to express an ablative (‘from’) meaning.
Lat: The standard is grammatically or morphologically marked to express a lative (‘to’) meaning.
Loc: The standard is grammatically or morphologically marked to express a locative (‘in’ or ‘on’) meaning.
Else: The standard is grammatically or morphologically marked using a strategy that appears in non-comparative constructions with a distinct meaning, not related to time or place.
Spec: The standard is marked using a specific case or adposition that only expresses the comparative function.
ConjAnt: Comparative structures consist of two loosely connected sentences expressing antonymy; the comparee is the subject of one, while the standard is the subject of the other.[2]
ConjNeg: Comparative structures consist of two loosely connected sentences; in one, the comparee appears with a predicate, and in the other, the same sentence appears with negation of the same predicate.[3]
PartComp: The comparative function is marked using a particle comparative.
+NoCompMk: The comparative function is not marked.
+CompMkAff: The comparative function is marked using a special affix (prefix, suffix, or circumfix).[4]
+CompMkAdv: The comparative function is marked using a special adverb.[5]
(The last three values should appear in combination with another value from this list.) When a language displays more than one strategy, multiple values can be listed. If usage is determined by grammatical factors, a slash (/) should separate the two values; if usage is determined by non-grammatical (for example, stylistic) consideration, they should be listed with an ampersand (&) separating them. [6] If multiple values are listed, their use should be detailed in the commentary.
[1] For this value and the following three, grammatical and morphological marking may include the use of a particular case or adposition.
[2] Consider the sentence This one’s good; that one’s bad, whose meaning is ‘This one is better than that one.’
[3] Consider the sentence This one’s good; that one’s not, whose meaning is ‘This one is better than that one.’
[4] The comparative marker appears within the NP.
[5] This independent word, with the mean ‘more than,’ appears before the NP of the predicate.
[6] For example, Hungarian is described as Loc+CompMkAff&Abl+CompMkAff&PartComp+CompMkAff. As seen in the example ‘taller than the house,’ the standard can be marked with either the adessive (magasabb a háznál) — ablative in some dialectal varieties (magasabb a háztól) — or a particle comparative (mint ‘than’) that appears before the comparee (magasabb, mint a ház). Their usage is not restricted by grammatical considerations, and in both cases the predicate is always marked with the comparative morpheme -bb.