Various constructions express a comparison between two arguments.

## [ss ComparisonRef] for second argument

When the second argument (the point of reference) is adpositionally marked, [ss ComparisonRef] is used, regardless of its complement’s syntactic type:

- [ex 001 "Your face is as red [p en/as ComparisonRef] <u>a rose</u>/<u>mine is</u>. ([ss ComparisonRef])"]

- [ex 002 "Your face is redder [p en/than ComparisonRef] <u>a rose</u>/<u>mine is</u>. ([ss ComparisonRef])"]

See further examples at [ss ComparisonRef].

## [pspecial As en/as]—[p en/as] comparative construction

### [ss Extent] argument

In an [p en/as]—[p en/as] comparison, the scene role of the first argument (the object of the first [p en/as]) is the role that would be operative if the construction were removed and only the first argument remained: e.g., <i>I stayed as long as I could</i> → <i>I stayed long</i>.
The function of the first [p en/as] is always [ss Extent] to reflect that it marks the degree on a scale:

- [ex 003 "I helped [p en/as Extent] much as I could. ([ss Extent])"]

- [ex 004 "Your face is [p en/as Characteristic--Extent] red as a rose. ([ss Characteristic--Extent])"]

- [ex 005 "I helped [p en/as Manner--Extent] carefully as I could. ([ss Manner--Extent])"]

- [ex 006 "I stayed [p en/as Duration--Extent] long as I could. ([ss Duration--Extent])"]

- [ex 007 "I helped [p en/as Frequency--Extent] often as I could. ([ss Frequency--Extent])"]

- [ex 008 "I’ve eaten (twice) [p en/as Approximator--Extent] much (food) as you. [amount of something]   ([ss Approximator--Extent])"]

### Second argument: [ss ComparisonRef]

See [exref 001 "Comparatives and Superlatives"] above.

## Superlatives

[ss Whole] is used for the superset or gestalt licensed by a superlative:

- [ex 009 "the youngest [p en/of Whole] the children ([ss Whole])"]

See more at [ss Whole].