single word requests - What are the terms for the parts of a comparative?


If I am comparing "thee" to "a summer's day", in other words comparing for equality a == b


What are the proper terms that relate to a and b?
I'd call == the comparator, maybe a the subject.. b the object?


I looked here and they only mention 'entities' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative



Answer



The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar (p77) has this extract in its entry on comparison:



In comparative clauses introduced by than or as, whatever is represented by the adjective, adverb etc. that functions as the comparative element is sometimes called the standard of comparison, and the basis of comparison is whoever or whatever is being compared in the comparative clause, Thus in Pete is happier than Paul, the standard of comparison is happiness and the basis of comparison is Paul.



If we rewrite Shakespeare's famous line as:



You are more beautiful than a summer's day



then the standard of comparison is beauty and the basis of comparison is a summer's day. And you could say that you is the subject of the comparison.


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