Clauses that show degree are often incomplete. Sentence 31, Exercise 149 means, Mary is as tall as her mother is tall. Sentence 32 means, Mary is taller than her mother is tall.

In Sentence 31 the first as is an adverb added to the adjective tall. It gives the general idea of degree. The clause makes the degree more definite and is therefore added to this first as.

In Sentence 32 the clause is added to the adjective taller.

Exercise 150

What word in each of these sentences begins to express degree? Express the degree fully by supplying omitted words. To what is each clause added?

1. She went as soon as she could (go soon).

2. We can go to Chicago more quickly than (we can go quickly) to St. Louis.

3. She is older than I.

4. There is no other book I like so well as this.

5. She is happier to-day than yesterday.

6. My hands are as cold as stones.

7. This story is not so interesting as that.

8. We are more excited than they.

9. This is a more interesting story than the one we read yesterday.

10. He is fonder of play than of work.

11. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty (is good).

12. There's nothing so kingly as kindness.

Exercise 151

Fill the blanks in these sentences with correct pronoun forms (§§ 53 and 117). The only way to tell what pronouns are correct is to complete the clauses.

1. They did better than - .

2. Mary reached here sooner than - .

3. I like her better than - .

4. I expected that we should play a better game than - .

5. Mother helped Alice more than - . (Two meanings).

6. I saw you sooner than - .

124. Clauses of Concession tell something that seems opposed to another statement, but in spite of which that statement is true.

Exercise 152

Select the independent statements in these sentences. Show that the other statements are clauses of concession.

1. Mary came to the picnic, though she was busy.

2. The corn is growing well, though the weather is cold.

3. Although there was no evidence against him, he was sent to prison.