The Lexico-Grammatical

Particularities
of the Colour Adjectives
and their Use in
the Formation
of the English
Comparative Constructions
 When we speak about comparative constructions
we mean the stability of connection of the logical
comparative elements between them.

Modern English, as well as the other languages,

uses many short comparisons in order to make
language vivid and clear .

“ Comparative construction’s scope is to

characterise the object from a different point of view,
but more often they are used to express its
unrepeatable imagine”
I. S. Stepanov
From the linguistic point of view
the comparison represent a compound unity of meaningful
elements, their special organization or model.

From the logical point of view

a comparison is the determination of similarities and
differences of objects and phenomena of reality.

It is considered that any object can be supposed to

comparison with the other object, if they have a common
feature or features.
THE USE OF COMPARATIVE CONSTRUCTIONS
1. Some comparative constructions are used
in typical situations and are therefore easy to
remember and to use correctly. The other ones
can be used in many different situations and
applied to many things.
2. Comparative constructions are used to refer to
people and/or things.
3. Some adjectives are used in more than one
comparative constructions; indeed , as many
as six, seven different comparisons.
 The English stable comparative constructions below
have been selected from the English book “English
Idioms and How to Use them”.

Most comparisons are used with adjectives and the

following structure:

as + adjective +as (a/the)+ noun

( Seild W. McMordie, English Idioms and How to use them).

 Comparative constructions
with the adjective Black
as black as the Ace of Spades.-to speak about something dirty as a child’s face,
hands…after play
as black as a sweep. --- very dirty, black;
e.g. My friend was as black as a sweep after he finished cleaning the basement.
as black as a stack of black cats --- very black
e.g. The little boy was as black as a stack of black cats after playing outside
all day
as black as a skillet. --- very black;
e.g. My hands were as black as a skillet when I finished working on the car engine.

negru ca taciunea.
negru ca abanosul. To tell of something dark
negru ca moartea.
negru de aniline.
 Comparative constructions
with the adjective WHITE
as white as the driven snow.
very white (The fur on the dog was as white as the driven snow.)

as white as a sheet.
very pale
(I felt terrible this morning and in the mirror I looked as white as a sheet.)

as white as a ghost
to describe a colour face, usually because of shock or illness.
(My sister became as white as a ghost when she saw the man at the window)

alb ca varul very pale

alb ca zapada
alb ca spuma laptelui very white
 Comparative constructions
with the adjective RED
as read as blood
as read as fire --- to say of a person who blushes or becomes flushed with anger.
as read as ruby --- deep red
e.g.The office assistant was wearing lipstick that was as red as a ruby.
as read as rose
as read as poppy bright red
e.g.The mark on my arm was as red as a poppy.
as read as a cherry --- to describe the special coloure of things

rosu ca focul to be angry

rosu ca racul to be ashamed
rosu ca macul
rosu ca caramida to describe the special coloure of things
rosu ca soarele
 palid ca moartea /
pale as a ghost . palid ca un mort
pale as death. palid ca ceara
To look ill palid ca marmura

as green as grass
to describe an ill verde ca broasca
–tempered person
 The comparative construction with colour can be classified as

Comparative construction Comparative Comparative construction Comparative construction Comparative constructions

that describe directly a construction that that describe the mood of that describe the special that describe the
person or a things describe indirectly
somebody environment
coloured of things

as black as jet as black as a as black as night

as white as a sheet as white as the
stack
as black as coal driven snow as white as the
of black cats as white as a ghost driven snow
as read as ruby
as black as sin as pale as a ghost Negru ca noaptea
as white as the as read as a cherry
driven snow as black as hell as green as grass as black as pitch
as read as blood As read as fire
Verde ca broasca Alb ca spuma
Rosu ca focul
laptelui
Negru ca taciunea Palid ca moartea
Negru ca moartea Negru ca abanosul

Negru ca abanosul pale as death Alb ca varul Rosu ca macul

Rosu ca racul Palid ca marmura

Alb ca zapada
Alb ca varul
Object of reference of the comparative constructions

people Objects of nature

things
or animals

as black as a stack as black as a skillet as read as rose

of black cats (negru ca tigaia) (rosu ca trandafirul)
as read as fire
as black as my hat as black as pitch (rosu ca focul)
(negru ca smoala)
as read as blood as black as night
as black as ink (negru ca noaptea)
(rosu ca singele)
(negru ca cerneala)
as white as the driven snow
as white as a sheet
(alb ca zapada)
(alb ca varul)
as read as poppy
as read as ruby (rosu ca macul)
(rosu ca rubinul) as green as grass
(verde ca iarba)
 How to translate the comparative constructions ?

Comparative constructions with colour adjectives that

have the same translations (equivalents) in Roumanian:
as black as coal – negru ca taciunea
as black as a skillet – negru ca tigaia, fundul tigaii/ciaunului
as black as night – negru ca noaptea
as black as pitch – negru ca smoala
as black as ink – negru ca cerneala
as white as a sheet – alb ca varul

as read as blood – rosu ca singele

as read as fire – rosu ca focul
as read as ruby – rosu ca rubinul

as green as grass – verde ca broasca

Comparative English and Roumanian constructions
with colour adjectives that have only one common term

as black as soot – negru ca carbunele

pale as a ghost – palid ca ceara

Comparative constructions with colour adjectives

that don’t have the equivalent in Roumanian:

as black as the Ace of Spades

as black as a stack of black cats
as black as my hat
Conclusion
Compare and contrast is frequently used when setting essays
and other assignments. It simply means that you show what two
phenomena have in common and how they differ.

They are both important as, they show the differences and
similarities of different things. Their diversity is incredible.

Comparative construction with colour adjective help to dignify :

feelings ( as white as a ghost) ;
description ( as black as jet) ;
the mood (as black as night) etc

Colour is one of the most fulfilling elements in our lives. Colour

can attract your attention or change your mood. It speaks who you
are, how you feel and where you're going.