The conjunctions než (=than) and jako (=as) link both clauses and modifications. Their status in respect of subordination and co-ordination is not unequivocal. The conjunction jako (=as) can link two modifications both in a paratactic relation and in a relationship of dependency.
The conjunctions než (=than) and jako (=as) do not demand a specific form of the element that follows them; therefore the majority of cases in which the conjunction než (=than) or jako (=as) is followed at surface level by a noun in a certain case or by a prepositional phrase are represented as ellipsis of the verb. Cf.:
Tady to vypadá jako v ráji. (=It looks like paradise here.)
= Tady to vypadá, jako to vypadá v ráji. (=It looks here as it does in paradise.)
Pojedeme dříve do Prahy než do Brna. (=We will go to Prague sooner than to Brno.)
= Pojedeme dříve do Prahy, než pojedeme do Brna. (=We will go to Prague sooner than we will go to Brno.)
The clause acquires a new node for the verb; it will usually be a copy of the node representing the verb in the governing clause. The effective root node of the prepositional phrase following the conjunction jako (=as) or než (=than) will be a dependent node of the inserted node.
Exceptions. Exceptions are the following cases in which no new node for the verb is added in the structure:
the conjunction jako (=as):
the conjunction jako (=as) attaches a modification in the position of Patient, Effect or predicative complement.
The form of the modification is determined here by the agreement.
For example:
Vzali ji jako učitelku.COMPL (=They took her on as a teacher)
direct comparison with the conjunction jako (=as).
For example:
Člověk není jako Bůh.CPR (=A person is not like God)
For more on this, see Section 4.1, "Comparison by means of the conjunction "jako" (comparison based on identity and similarity)".
Apposition or co-ordination of sentence parts.
For example:
V Praze jako.APPS v hlavním městě sídlí většina důležitých organizací. (=The headquarters of most important organisations are located in Prague, as the capital city.)
On this, see also Section 6.2.1.3, "Apposition with the conjunction "jako"".
the conjunction než (=than):
comparing constructions with quantitative data.
For example:
Je to těžší než deset kilogramů.CPR (=It is heavier than ten kilograms.)
For more on this see Section 4.2.1, "Comparing quantities by means of the conjunction "než"".
Boundaries between constructions created by multifunctionality of the conjunction "jako". The multifunctionality of the conjunction jako (=as), which in terms of its form is treated as both paratactic and hypotactic, can also frequently give rise to a very vague boundary between the constructions:
paratactic connection (appositional and co-ordinating),
modification with dual dependency (predicative complement and arguments),
(dependent) modification with comparative meaning (CPR).
The correct determination of the construction depends on the assessment of the semantic dependency relationships: in the case of a modification with comparative meaning semantic dependency is essential; in the case of a predicative complement (or argument) the modification must exhibit dual dependency and in the case of a paratactic structure a relationship of co-ordination or apposition should exist between the modifications. Surface syntax may also play a significant role in the determination of relationships.
Cf:
Kantor si přál jako každý umělec, aby dílo přetrvalo jeho smrt. (=Kantor had the wish, like every artist, that his work would live on after his death.)
= Kantor si přál stejně, jako si přeje každý umělec, aby dílo přetrvalo jeho smrt. (=Kantor had the wish, just as every artist has, that his work would live on after his death.)
In the tectogrammatical tree the dependent clause is represented with comparative meaning (see Section 4.1, "Comparison by means of the conjunction "jako" (comparison based on identity and similarity)").
Kantor jako umělec si přál, aby dílo přetrvalo jeho smrt. (=Kantor had the wish, as an artist, that his work would live on after his death.)
The expression Kantor jako umělec (=Kantor as an artist) will be represented as an appositional expression (as a paratactic structure). See Section 6.1, "Representing parataxis in a tectogrammatical tree".
Kantor si přál jako umělec, aby dílo přetrvalo jeho smrt. (=Kantor had the wish, as an artist, that his work would live on after his death.)
The modification jako umělec (=as an artist) will be represented as a predicative complement (see Section 10, "Predicative complement (dual dependency)").
Plzeň a Krušovice ochutnal stejně jako Budvar. (He tasted Pilsner and Krušovice as well as Budvar.)
= Plzeň a Krušovice ochutnal stejně, jako ochutnal Budvar. (He tasted Pilsner and Krušovice as well as he tasted Budvar.)
The dependent clause is represented in the tectogrammatical tree with comparative meaning (see Section 4.1, "Comparison by means of the conjunction "jako" (comparison based on identity and similarity)").
Ochutnal Plzeň, Krušovice, stejně jako Budvar. (=He tasted Pilsner and Krušovice, as well as Budvar.)
The expression Plzeň, Krušovice, stejně jako Budvar (=Pilsner and Krušovice, as well as Budvar) will be represented as a paratactic structure. See Section 6.1, "Representing parataxis in a tectogrammatical tree".
Pro filharmonii to byl jedinečný večer, stejně jako pro diváky. (=For the philharmonic, as well as for the audience, it was a unique evening.)
= Pro filharmonii to byl jedinečný večer, stejně jako byl jedinečný pro diváky. (=It was a unique evening for the philharmonic, as unique as it was for the audience.)
The dependent clause is represented in the tectogrammatical tree with comparative meaning (see Section 4.1, "Comparison by means of the conjunction "jako" (comparison based on identity and similarity)").
Pro filharmonii, stejně jako pro diváky to byl jedinečný večer. (=For the philharmonic, as well as for the audience, it was a unique evening.)
The expression pro filharmonii, stejně jako pro diváky (=for the philharmonic, as well as for the audience) will be represented as a paratactic structure. See Section 6.1, "Representing parataxis in a tectogrammatical tree".