earticle

영어

English adjectives and comparatives can be used in two different ways: attributive and predicative. Mondorf(2003) stated that adults prefer to use Periphrastic comparatives(‘more + Adjectives,’ as in more interesting) rather than Synthetic comparatives(‘Adjectives+-er,’ as in stronger) in the predicative position. This research aims at finding out determinants of English-speaking children's comparative constructions in predicates, using linguistic and frequency variables employed in the previous adult's preference research. In the CHILDES database, children used Synthetic comparatives more than Periphrastic ones in predicates. One reason might be that children used monosyllabic adjectives more while adults used more multisyllabic adjectives. The two determining factors in predicative comparatives are ‘to-infinitive as a complement’ and ‘value,’ the meaning of adjectives. Also, children produced correct forms of Periphrastic comparatives in predicates at the ages of 4 and/or 5.