The Adverbial Complement of Comparison/Обставина порівняння

This adverbial complement is introduced in English by the conjunctions than, as, as if, as though or by the preposition like, all having direct semantic and functional equivalents in Ukrainian (ніж, як, за, ще). The adverbial modifier of comparison usually complements the noun or the adjective as a head component of the word-group. Cf.

"...my Tegumai, you're no better "...моя Теґумай, ти не краща, ніж/за

than my Taffy". (Kipling) мою Таффі."

"It (cave) isn't as high as the hills, "Вона (землянка) насправді не така

really..." (Ibid.) висока, як горби."

The preposition like, on the other hand, acquires a connective function joining the predicative part of the sentence and the adverbial complement of comparison, as it is also in Ukrainian. Cf.

The man spoke English like an Чоловік розмовляв по-англійськи, як

Oxford graduate. (Carnegie) Like оксфордський випускник. Яка пані, mistress, like maid. (Proverb) така й служниця/Який Сава, така й

слава.

There exist some ambiguous conjunctive constructions in which the complement of comparison overlaps the adverbial meaning of degree. Cf.

Be as clear and short as possible. Будь чітким і виразним, наскільки (Carnegie) можливо.

Transparent comparison is also expressed when objects and phenomena are compared by the conjunctions as and than in sentences of each of the contrasted languages. For example:

Her eyes are bright as diamonds and її очі яскраві, як діаманти, і блакит-

bluer than the skies above. (Kipling) ніші, ніж небеса над нами.

"If you even live to be as old as I am, "Якщо ти коли-небудь доживеш до

you will find many things strange." стількох років, як я, ти зрозумієш,

(Hemingway) що багато що є дивним."