---
title: comparative — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «comparative» in the school dictionary: The comparative is the form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two things: bigger, taller, more beautiful, better. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# comparative

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** comparative, study, Taller, test, you, Long words · **What happens:** be, use, compare, mean, judge, describe · **To what, where:** form, adverb, two things, study, things, comparative · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«comparative» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [comparative in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/comparative.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The comparative is the form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two things: bigger, taller, more beautiful, better.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparative:m1:1
# text = The comparative is the form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two things: bigger, taller, more beautiful, better.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comparative	comparative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	adverb	adverb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	compare	compare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
14	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
17	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	taller	tall	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
21	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	22	advmod	_	_
22	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
24	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the comparative | the form |  |  |  | of a adjective or adverb | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | adverb *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **compare** | to-infinitive |  | two things |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Comparative means judged by comparing with something else: «comparative comfort», «comparatively easy».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparative:m2:1
# text = Comparative means judged by comparing with something else: «comparative comfort», «comparatively easy».
1	Comparative	comparative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	judged	judge	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	comparing	compare	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	else	else	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	comparative	comparative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	comfort	comfort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	comparatively	comparatively	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Comparative |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **judge** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn estimate-34.2-1-1 «NP V whether/if S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **compare** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | with something | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Patient with something=Co-Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Comparative describes a study that compares things: comparative religion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparative:m3:1
# text = Comparative describes a study that compares things: comparative religion.
1	Comparative	comparative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	compares	compare	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	comparative	comparative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	religion	religion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Comparative | a study |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent study=Theme |
| 2 | **compare** | present | a study | things  comparative religion |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Taller» is the comparative of «tall».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparative:x1:1
# text = «Taller» is the comparative of «tall».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Taller	tall	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	comparative	comparative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Taller | the comparative |  |  |  | of tall | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The comparative of «good» is «better».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparative:x2:1
# text = The comparative of «good» is «better».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comparative	comparative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the comparative |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the storm, the calm felt like comparative luxury.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparative:x3:1
# text = After the storm, the calm felt like comparative luxury.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	felt	felt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	comparative	comparative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	luxury	luxury	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The test was comparatively easy this time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparative:x4:1
# text = The test was comparatively easy this time.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	comparatively	comparatively	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the test |  |  |  | time | comparatively, easy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write the comparative and superlative of «fast».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparative:x5:1
# text = Write the comparative and superlative of «fast».
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	comparative	comparative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	superlative	superlative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | the comparative and superlative of fast |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent comparative=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long words use «more»: «more interesting» is a comparative.

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparative:x6:1
# text = Long words use «more»: «more interesting» is a comparative.
1	Long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	10	advmod	_	_
10	interesting	interesting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	comparative	comparative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Long words | more |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent more=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | interesting | a comparative |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is practically impossible to use the long tabulations for comparative purposes without some such shorthand.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comparative:x7:1
# text = It is practically impossible to use the long tabulations for comparative purposes without some such shorthand.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	expl	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	practically	practically	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	tabulations	tabulation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	comparative	comparative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	purposes	purpose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
13	without	without	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	16	det	_	_
15	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	shorthand	shorthand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | impossible, practically *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | to-infinitive |  | the long tabulations |  |  |  | for comparative purposes; without some such shorthand | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent tabulation=Theme for purpose=Eventuality |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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