Universal #1012

Legacy number: 1012

 Number  1008
 Original  If a language has an Exceed-2 Comparative or an Exceed-3 Comparative, it is nouny. If an Exceed-language is nouny, it has either an Exceed-2 or an Exceed-3 Comparative.
 Standardized  IF there is an Exceed-2 Comparative or an Exceed-3 Comparative, THEN the adjectives are nouny.

IF the adjectives are nouny and there is an Exceed Comparative, THEN the comparative will be of Exceed-2 or of Exceed-3 type.
 Formula  Exceed-2 V Exceed-3 Comparative ⇒ adjectives are nouny
 Keywords  comparative, adjective, nouny
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  sample of 110 languages
 Source  Stassen 1985: 180

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Discussion
Notes
1. In Exceed-2 Comparative, the comparative predicate is expressed in a subordinate form which functions syntactically as an adverbial phrase.In Exceed-3 Comparative, the comparative predicate is constructed as the sole main verb, while the exceed-verb receives some subordinate form (e.g., the form of a participle, or of an infinitive).2. The exceed comparative is an instance of fixed-case comparative constructions, in which the standard NP is invariably constructed as the direct object of a special transitive verb, the meaning of which can be glossed as ‘to exceed’, ‘to surpass’ or ‘to excel’.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. In Exceed-2 Comparative, the comparative predicate is expressed in a subordinate form which functions syntactically as an adverbial phrase. In Exceed-3 Comparative, the comparative predicate is constructed as the sole main verb, while the exceed-verb receives some subordinate form (e.g., the form of a participle, or of an infinitive).

2. The EXCEED COMPARATIVE is an instance of fixed-case comparative constructions, in which the standard NP is invariably constructed as the direct object of a special transitive verb, the meaning of which can be glossed as 'to exceed', 'to surpass' or 'to excel'.