Unveiling the Secrets of Comparative Subordinate Adverbial Clauses

Are you ready to unleash the power of comparative subordinate adverbial clauses? These sentence structures not only add flair to your writing but also allow you to make comparisons between two elements. Let’s dive right in and explore the magic of these clauses.

The Basics of Comparative Subordinate Adverbial Clauses

In a comparative subordinate adverbial clause, we compare an element from the main clause with another from the subordinate clause. This comparison is formed using three key elements:

1. The compared part (main clause)
2. The comparative conjunction (linking the clauses)
3. The term of comparison (subordinate clause)

The structure of a comparative clause can indicate superiority (more… than), inferiority (less… than), or equality (the same… as). There’s also a special variant called Proportional or Correlative Comparatives, which express an increase or decrease between two quantities (the more… the more, the less… the less).

Identifying Comparative Subordinate Adverbial Clauses

Let’s learn how to spot these clauses in a sentence. Follow these steps:

Example Sentence: “El pan necesita menos harina que los bollos.”

1. Identify the comparative conjunctions. In this case, “menos” in the main clause and “que” in the subordinate clause.
2. Determine the type of comparison. The sentence indicates inferiority with the structure “menos… que.”
3. Take note of any omitted elements in the subordinate clause. In this case, “necesitan harina” is omitted. This information helps determine if the subordinate clause is transitive, as it is in this case.

Main Characteristics of Comparative Subordinate Adverbial Clauses

Let’s explore the key characteristics of comparative subordinate adverbial clauses:

• They establish a comparison between two elements.
• They consist of a main clause, a comparative conjunction, and a subordinate clause.

Types of Comparisons

There are three main types of comparisons:

1. Equality: “María es tan responsable como su madre” (María is as responsible as her mother).
2. Inferiority: “María no es tan responsable como su madre” (María is not as responsible as her mother).
3. Superiority: “Ha venido más gente que nunca al concierto” (More people have come to the concert than ever before).

Examples

Let’s put our knowledge to the test and examine some examples of comparative subordinate adverbial clauses:

1. “Ha venido más gente que nunca al concierto” (More people have come to the concert than ever before). This is a comparative of superiority, indicating that the number of people attending the concert is greater than ever.
2. “Tengo tanta prisa como siempre” (I’m in as much of a hurry as always). This is a comparative of equality.
3. “Busca en el salón, yo buscaré en la habitación” (Search in the living room, I’ll search in the bedroom). There is no comparison between the clauses; it is simply a juxtaposed sentence.
4. “Muchas veces compramos más de lo que necesitamos” (Many times we buy more than we need). This is a comparative of superiority, where the term of comparison is a noun phrase acting as the direct object.
5. “Me han cortado tan mal el pelo que me da vergüenza” (They’ve cut my hair so badly that I’m embarrassed). This example expresses cause and effect, making it a consecutive subordinate clause.

Practice Makes Perfect

Now it’s your turn to analyze some sentences and identify the comparative subordinate adverbial clauses. Can you spot them?

1. “En el teatro había tanta gente como en el concierto de piano.”
2. “Visto que nadie se había apuntado, se suspendió la reunión.”
3. “Pablo camina tan lento como una tortuga.”
4. “Tiene más cuento que Calleja.”
5. “Roma es una ciudad tan mágica como París.”
6. “El chico que acaba de salir de la farmacia ha comprado más medicamentos.”
7. “El concierto fue más corto de lo que esperábamos.”
8. “Manuel y Luis tienen menos amigos que Daniel.”
9. “El frigorífico estaba tan frío que la comida se congeló rápidamente.”
10. “Eres más pesado que una vaca en brazos.”

By mastering comparative subordinate adverbial clauses, you’ll elevate your writing to new heights! Give it a try and captivate your readers with your linguistic prowess.