Syntax B	Winter 2009
Problem 3	Comparatives
Due Tuesday, January 26

Here are some examples of the Comparative construction:

(1)  *Harvey peeled apples than Sue needed.
(1)   Harvey peeled more apples than Sue needed.
(1)   Harvey peeled more apples than Sue peeled.
(1)   Harvey peeled more apples than Sue.
(1)   More apples than Sue could use were peeled by Harvey.
(1)  *More apples than Sue were peeled by Harvey.
(1)   More apples than Sue could use were on the table.
(1)   More apples were on the table than Sue could use.
(1)   Harvey can run faster than Sue can run.
(1)   Harvey is faster than Sue is.
(1)   Harvey is faster than Sue.
(1)   I'm a better doctor than your brother is.
(1)  *I'm a better than your brother is doctor.

What are the interesting questions about this construction?
(Think hard about this.)

What are the answers to those questions?

My advice is that you limit your job in this first pass by ignoring
two sets of interesting questions.  First, there is a similar comparative
construction involving as ... as:

(2)   Harvey peeled as many apples as Sue needed.

I would set that aside until you have a complete story about 'than'
comparatives.

Second, there is some ellipsis going on in some of these comparatives,
seen in (1).  As a measure toward preserving sanity, I advise you to
set aside all the cases of ellipsis.  We can come back to that later,
if it fascinates you.