Expressing Comparison

6) Expressing Comparison:

Express comparisons with a declarative sentence, much like in the first section—but now use a compound subject, a compound direct object, or a compound object of the preposition.

For example—

Morgan and Jack photograph sunrises.

The names Morgan and Jack create a compound subject in the above sentence.

Or—

Morgan photographs sunrises and sunsets.

 Now sunrises and sunsets create a compound object.

Or—

The laws in New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach permit people to drive across the sand.

Neither the subject, laws, or the object, people, are now compounded—instead, the object of the preposition, New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach is compounded.

Writers can also combine any of these comparative structures with a contrasting structure to compose one sentence that shows both ideas, side by side.

For example—

Morgan and Jack photograph sunrises, but Morgan photographs sunrises and sunsets.

 Or—

 Morgan photographs sunrises and sunsets, but Jack only photographs sunrises.

The second example includes the adverb only, which further focuses the reader’s attention on the writer’s explanation of exactly how the two photographers differ. The adverb only also prohibits readers from any overly literal interpretations of the first sentence, which might see the statements about what Morgan and Jack do photograph as no clear indication of what Jack does not photograph.

A few words on subject/verb agreement: Notice how the present tense verb shifts to accommodate the singularity or plurality of the subject. A compound subject functions like a plural subject, so the present tense verb loses its s.

For example—

Morgan photographs…

Verses—

Morgan and Jack photograph…