In English compound sentences, many clauses are often equivalent to an adverb and act as adverbials of the sentence. According to the meaning of the clause, different types of adverbial clauses can be divided. A comparative adverbial clause is about the comparison between things, there is a comparison between the two, and there is also a comparison between more than three. Comparative adverbial clauses are mainly used in primary, comparative, and superlative sentences of adjectives and adverbs, usually caused by as or than, and unlike most adverbial clauses, they do not modify verbs, but adverbs such as as, so, less, more, or other comparative-level words.
1. Common guiding words
The introductory words of the comparative adverbial clause include:
as... AS (and...... the same);
not as/so... as（和...... 不一样）；
than（比）；the more... the more... （越...... 越...... ）等。
Adjectives or adverbs are used in the middle to illustrate the nature of things.
If it is a comparison between peers, that is, the two are the same in a certain aspect, then the primary level of the adjective or adverb is used. Commonly used sentence patterns are:
as… AS (and...... the same);
not so(as)… as … (和不一样)；
If it is a comparison between the two, where one side is better than the other in some way, the comparative level of adjectives or adverbs is used. The commonly used sentence form is: more... than (more);
If it is a comparison of more than three, then one of them must have an advantage over the other, that is, the "most...", in which adjectives or adverbs are used. Commonly used sentence patterns are:
the most… in/of，
the + 形容词+est… of/in。
Note that when using the highest level, the scope of comparison must be clearly defined, and it can be drawn out by of or in. of means that it is one of them, and in means that it is limited to a certain space or time range.
2. Comparison of usage
Comparative adverbial clause is also a way adverbial clause from a certain point of view.
1、as... as...
For example:
He woke up as suddenly as he had fallen asleep.
He woke up as abruptly as he fell asleep. (The first as is an adverb, and the second as is a conjunction.) )
I have never seen so much rain as （it） fell that February.
I've never seen as much rain as that February. (Negative structures are commonly used so... as, also available as... as)
The girl is as innocent as she is pretty.
The girl was beautiful and innocent.
As concatenated comparative adverbial clauses often omit the same part as the main clause, leaving only the comparative.
For example:
she is as sly as a fox.
She is as cunning as a fox.
He is as strong as an ox.
He was physically strong as an ox.
Your shoes are not so stylish as my shoes.
Your shoes are not as fashionable as mine.
也可以说成：Your shoes are not so stylish as mine.
注意：倍数 + as + adj/adv + as， 和...... 的几倍一样。
I spent three times as much as you did, so I finally passed the exam.
I spent three times as much effort studying as you, so I ended up passing the exam.
If quantity or extent is involved, you can also use:
as + much + 不可数名词 + as 或者
as + many + 复数名词 + as 的结构
For example:
Americans eat twice as many vegetables per person today as they did in 1910.
Americans today eat twice as many vegetables per person as they did in 1910.
Another example:
as fast as a hare，动如脱兔；像野兔一样快；
as brave as a bear，像熊一样英勇；
as free as a bird，像小鸟一样自在；
as neat as a new pin，非常整洁；
as quiet as a mouse，非常安静；像老鼠一样安静；
as big as a house，像房子一样大。
2、than
For example:
The youth of today are better off than we used to be.
Young people today are better off than we were in the past.
The lesson is more difficult than I expected it to be.
This lesson was much harder than I had thought.
than concatenated comparative adverbial clauses often omit the same part as the main clause, leaving only the comparative.
There were more casualties than that was reported.
The actual number of casualties was higher than reported.
It can also be said as:
There were more casualties than reported.
I know you better than he (knows you).
I know you better than he does.
It can also be said as:
I know you better than him.
此外还有：the more ... the more... “越...... 就越......”
For example:
The busier she is, the happier she feels.
The busier she gets, the happier she feels.
The more he learns, the more he wants to learn.
The more he learned, the more he wanted to learn.
The harder I work, the greater progress I will make.
The harder I worked, the more I improved.
3. according as, "according to ...... way, depending on ...... Depends. ”
For example:
They will be praised or blamed according as their work is good or bad．
The rewards and punishments given to them will depend on the quality of their work.
They are paid according as how well they work.
They are paid according to the quality of their work.
4 in proportion as, "with the ...... increase or decrease. (Indicates a proportional relationship between two things, where a change in one thing leads to a corresponding change in the other.) ）
For example:
In proportion as the sales increase the profit will rise.
As the volume of sales increases, the profit also increases proportionally [as the volume of sales increases, the profit also increases accordingly].
Men are happy in proportion as they are virtuous.
Human happiness is directly proportional to virtue.
5、The most… in/of，“最......”
For example:
This book is the most interesting of the three.
This book is the most interesting of the three.
6、the + 形容词+est… of/in，“最......”
For example:
This road is the busiest street in our city.
This road is the busiest street in our city.
7、no more than，“只不过(嫌少的意思)”
例如：I have no more than two pens.
I only have two pens.
The company employs no more than a couple of dozen people.
The company employs dozens of people at most.
If you've been asked for an interview you are probably on a short list of no more than six.
If you are asked to go for an interview, you are likely to be on a shortlist of no more than 6 people.
The restaurant was no more than a glorified fast-food cafe.
It's a beautiful restaurant, but it's just a fast food restaurant.
Some places were no more than glorified pubs.
Some places have nice names, but they're just taverns.
Unhappily, he had done no more than pay lip service to their views.
Unfortunately, his support for their views is only lip service.
8、not more than，“不如.....”(前者不如后者)；不超过
For example:
Jack is not more diligent than John.
Jack is not as diligent as John.
He was a kid really, not more than eighteen or nineteen.
He was actually a child, no more than eighteen or nineteen years old.
9、one of the +形容词最高级+ 名词(复数) … 之一(用于最高级)
For example:
Han Mei is one of the best students in our school.
Han Mei is one of the best students in our school.
This is one of the most commonly used methods.
This is one of the most commonly employed methods.
It is one of the greatest roles she has played.
This is one of the most important roles she has ever played.
It was one of the hardest things I ever did.
It's one of the hardest things I've ever done.
She was one of the greatest minds of her generation.
She was one of the brightest people of her generation.
This family is one of the most deserving cases.
This is the family that deserves the most help.
She was one of the best tennis players of her generation.
She is one of the best tennis players of her generation.
She is one of the most influential figures in local politics.
She is a prominent figure in local politics.
It is one of the safest cars in the world.
This is one of the safest models in the world.
That was one of the happiest moments of my life.
It was the happiest time of my life.
3. Summary:
(1) Peer comparison, using the original form of an adjective (adj.) or adverb (adv.).
Emphasis type:
1、as + adj/adv + as， “ 和...... 一样”。
2、not as (so) + adj/adv + as，”和...... 不一样”。
3、倍数 + as + adj/adv + as，“和...... 的几倍一样”。
(2) Comparison of different levels, using adjectives (adj.) or adverbs (adv.) at the comparatives or superlatives.
Emphasis type:
1、adj/adv 比较级 + than，“比...... 更”
2、the more ... the more... ，“越...... 就越......”
3. The comparative adverbial clause of the as and than connection often omits the same part as the main clause, leaving only the part of the comparison.