Special constructions with the comparative

In a previous post, we saw the formation of the comparative and superlative in English. Today, we are going to deal with two special comparative constructions:

• The comparative of gradation or double comparative: two comparatives of the same adjective connected by and. This structure is generally used with the verbs get, grow and become and it implies constant change. (In Spanish it translates as “cada vez más...”)
• -er and -er: It’s growing darker and darker. I’m getting fatter and fatter.
• more and more: This situation has become more and more difficult. Note that when we use more and more we don’t repeat the adjective or adverb.
• less and less: Fortunately, her headaches became less and less frequent, until they ceased altogether.
• Comparative of proportion: two comparatives preceded by the forming parallel sentences. It is used to express proportional increase or decrease, or two changes that happen together. (In Spanish it translates as “cuanto más... más...)
• the  -er... the -er: The older you are, the happier you get. The sooner, the better.
• the more... the more.../ the more... the less... / the less... the less...:  The more I study, the less I know.

The more I study, the less I know
Image by betta design in Flickr

Idioms with comparisons
The comparative of equality as....as..., (not) so....as... is not a special construction as such, but there are many idioms that contain a comparison of this kind. They are mostly used in the description of people, and as all idioms, they cannot be translated literally, but a similar expression must be found in the other language. For instance, in Spanish, most of these comparisons will translate as comparatives of superiority (más... que) rather than equality: As black as coal (más negro que el carbón), as quick as lightning (más rápido que una centella), as pleased as Punch (más contento que unas pascuas). A literal translation will not have any meaning at all.

As pleased as Punch
Image

These comparisons usually follow the pattern “as + adjective as + noun” where the adjective generally expresses the quality that the noun is known to possess. But there are many of them in which adjective and noun rhyme (as loose as a goose) or there is alliteration, that is, repetition of a sound (as busy as a bee).
As a learner of English that wants to excel, you should try to use these idioms whenever necessary, but try not to overdo it, as you may not sound natural and the result may be the opposite of what you expected to achieve. Let’s try to learn a few of these comparisons in the following presentation. Then you can do the exercises below to check how much you have learnt.

More idioms here.

More exercises here.

In The phrase finder you can see the origin of some of these idioms.