The comparative involves a comparison between two arguments which have received identical thematic roles from identical adjectives. Of the two arguments compared, one expresses the reference set for the comparison: this argument can syntactically be termed the comparative complement. The other argument is compared to the reference set, and it functions as subject or object. The comparative complement is expressed in a phrase introduced by the function word as as:

The comparative complement may be expressed as a Noun Phrase (NP) or as a sentence. In the latter case, a sequence of two identical complementiser is avoided