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Zuotengdazuo Posted 5 years ago
Grammar

How should I understand the construction (the+comparative)?

I introduced him in a few words, and we both sat down. The stout young man had left us, but his sister still remained with her hand in that of the invalid. She was a striking-looking woman, a little short and thick for symmetry, but with a beautiful olive complexion, large, dark, Italian eyes, and a wealth of deep black hair. Her rich tints made the white face of her companion the more worn and haggard by the contrast.

The Naval Treaty
Sherlock Holmes Illustrated and Complete
Doyle, Arthur Conan

Hi. Could you please explain the grammar of the construction “the+comparative”, as in the underlined part? The following is my understanding, but I may be wrong:

As with "the young/old/poor", which means "the young/old/poor people", I think "the more worn and haggard" means "the more worn and haggard face" (the word "face" is omitted to avoid repetition).

Thank you.

  

Top answer

zuotengdazuo Could you please explain the grammar of the construction “the+comparative” That "the" is a different word from the definite article. It is spelled and pronounced the same, but it is an adverb, and it stems from a different Indo-European root. "To that extent; by that much.

— Anonymous

  • zuotengdazuo Could you please explain the grammar of the construction “the+comparative” That "the" is a different word from the definite article.
  • It is spelled and pronounced the same, but it is an adverb, and it stems from a different Indo-European root.
  • "To that extent; by that much.
  • Used before a comparative: the sooner the better.
  • q=the Doyle's use sounds old-fashioned now, but you still hear "all the more" in this context.
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2 Answers
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zuotengdazuoCould you please explain the grammar of the construction “the+comparative”

That "the" is a different word from the definite article. It is spelled and pronounced the same, but it is an adverb, and it stems from a different Indo-European root.

"To that extent; by that much. Used before a comparative: the sooner the better."

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zuotengdazuoHer rich tints made the white face of her companion the more worn and haggard by the contrast. ...
As with "the young/old/poor", ..., I think "the more worn and haggard" means "the more worn and haggard face" (the word "face" is omitted to avoid repetition).

Yes. That's a reasonable interpretation.

CJ

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