Equative

Equative is a term used in linguistics to describe constructions that express equality or sameness between two expressions, either between two referents or between two properties. Equatives cover both identity statements and degree or quality equivalence, depending on the syntactic and semantic context.

Two primary subtypes are often distinguished. The first is identity or sameness, where two noun phrases denote the same entity and are linked by a copular verb, as in The winner is the one who crossed the line first, or Clark Kent is Superman. Such sentences are used to identify or define a referent by equating two expressions. The second subtype concerns equality of degree or quality, typically realized with as ... as or so ... as constructions, such as This car is as fast as that one or She is as talented as her sister. These express that the specified attribute or evaluation holds to the same degree for both sides.

In English, equatives contrast with standard comparatives that encode a stronger vs. weaker relationship. Equatives can occur across languages, but the exact form—copular syntax, dedicated markers, or absence of a copula—varies cross-linguistically. In semantics and syntax, equatives are analyzed to capture how sameness is established, whether by identity in reference or by equality in magnitude or quality.

Overall, equatives are a broad category used to describe statements that assert equivalence, whether by linking two names for the same entity or by equating the degree of a property between two subjects.