A comparative correlative construction (or proportional comparative construction) is a complex clause [S^d S^h] which codes a proportional comparison between situations S^d and S^h which change on continuous parameters such that the value reached by S^h depends on the value reached by S^d.

The dependent clause S^d precedes the main clause S^h by default (, a), but may follow it (b).

The correlation between the two values may be coded by correlative pronouns of the kind ‘how much – that much’; but this may be reduced (), coded by non-pronominal markers () or omitted, in which case a simple conditional construction results ().