DEGREE COMPLEMENTS
When the adjective is graded, the complement is dependent, not on the adjective directly, but on the grading element (-er, more, less, as, etc.), and is realized according to the type and structure of the grading element. The following examples serve as a brief summary of this area of English grammar.
Comparative degree
This takes one of two forms: either adjective + -er + than, or more/less + adjective + than, plus a word, phrase or clause:
Adj + -er + than + PP It was cooler than in Russia
Adj + -er + than + clause It was better than we expected
more + adj + than + AdvG It was more comfortable than usual
less + adj + than + clause It was less complicated than any of us expected
more + adj. + than + -ing clause It was more enjoyable than travelling by air
Superlative degree
Adj + -est + PP (in) It is the longest in the world
most + adj + PP (of) It is the most famous of all his plays
least + adj + that-clause It is the least interesting novel (that) I have ever read
Degree of equality
as + adj + as +AdvG It was as lovely as ever
neg + as + adj + as + clause It was not as easy as most of us expected
so + adj + as + to-clause It was so difficult as to be impossible
If the comparison is between two adjectives, the complement of equality is realized by a finite clause:
She is as good-looking as she is intelligent.
*She is as good-looking as intelligent.
If the comparison is negative, the modifier not as may be replaced by not so, though so
suggests intensification besides equality: In winter, London is not as/so cold as New
York.
Degree of sufficiency (enough) and excess (too)
Heads modified by postposed enough and preposed by too are qualified by similar units to the above:
Sufficiency: Adj + enough + PP Is the water hot enough for you?
Adj + enough + to-cl Is the water hot enough to take a shower?
Adj + enough + PP + to-cl Is the water hot enough for you to take a shower?
Excess: Too + adj + PP This coffee is too hot for me.
Too + adj + to-cl This coffee is too hot to drink. (not *to drink it)
Too + adj + PP + to-cl This coffee is too hot for me to drink.
(not *for me to drink it)
If the to-infinitive verb is prepositional (e.g. think about), the preposition is stranded:
To-inf cl + prep. Your project is too expensive to think about. (*about it)
This knife is too blunt to cut with. (*with it)
Notice the emotive use of too in expressions such as: The film was too awful for words! and its equivalence to very in: I shall be only too pleased to help you (= very pleased).
