Scott,
There are two constructions that explain what is going on. The that modifies ounce and this noun phrase modifies the comparative of much, which is more in some of the sentences (extrapolent) and less in others (infrapolent) [my terms]. These adjectives have been pronominalized by adding the of nerve as a partitive phrase. The comparative noun clause introduced by than is a post-posed complement to the comparative form.
How the comparative works with modifiers is different depending on whether the adjective (or adverb) is short or long. I think the heart of your question is addressed most completely in chapter 12 of my Syntax of English Sentences. These little words are called quantifiers and take their own modification in at least two distinct constructions. It depends on whether they are in an extent phrase modifying the adjective (or adverb), or in a comparative extent phrase modifying the comparative form of the adjective (or adverb) in -er.
Complicating matters is the fact that more can appear as a comparative adjective, comparative adverb, in a comparative phrase with longer adjectives or adverbs, or as a quantifier.
At the risk of confusing you, Scott, I will refer you to my web site. There are rules and trees in the figures, but I think the text without the figures may lay out the phenomena and my observations well enough to give you a general idea of these complications.
Bruce
>Studies
>Syntax of English Sentences
>p. 175ff. (use the hyperlink in table of contents for chapter 12)
[By the way: post-positive transformations (discontinuous constituents) are described here as the result of grafting onto the tree structure at a specified branch]
Dear List,
Why can adjectives of amount sometimes follow the noun they modify? Are there other types of adjective that can go after the noun?
<he has that ounce more of nerve control than a woman has>
<he has that ounce less of nerve control than a woman has>
and
<he has one more ounce of nerve control than a woman has>
<he has one less ounce of nerve control than a woman has>
<he has one ounce less of nerve control than a woman has>
but not
*<he has that more ounce than a woman has>
Also,
<I want one more bite>
<I want one bite more>
<I want just one bite more>
<I ate fewer potato chips today>
<I ate three fewer potato chips today>
?<I ate three potato chips fewer today>
<Today, I ate three potato chips fewer than yesterday>
Thanks,
Scott Woods
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