The article is devoted to the analys
 The article is devoted to the analysis of functioning of the union comparative construction, which includes the image of a child as an object of comparison. The construction in question is analyzed in several varieties: comparative turnover and subordinate clause of the comparative type. The novelty of the approach to the analysis of the functioning of the structure lies in the consideration of semantic and pragmatic role of each of the three elements of comparison, their interaction in the expression of the actual meaning. As a result of the study, the composition of the subjects of comparison has been established, in relation to which the image of the child acts as an object of comparison (adult, communities, animals, natural phenomena, objects, abstractions), the dominant role among them is that of an adult. The model of the construction, which includes multicomponent situations as a subject and object of comparison, is revealed, its semantic and functional specificity is shown. The ways of expressing comparison in the composition of the comparison object are compared (The name of the comparison base depends on the name of the comparison object: you're like an unreasonable child) and as part of the subject of comparison (The name of the basis of comparison depends on the name of the subject for comparison: you are unreasonable, like a child). (The name of the basis of comparison depends on the name of the subject of comparison: you are unreasonable, like a child). It is shown that in the absence of an explicit basis of comparison (you are like a child) it is induced by the context or modeled based on the recipient's knowledge of the child in all its aspects and connections. The role of the object of comparison is revealed, which consists in clarifying, visualizing the actual feature. The universal possibilities of the comparative construction in the actualization of any component of the structure of the child's image are shown. The conclusion is substantiated that the wide possibilities of this image as an object of comparison are due to the rich content of the concept and the ability of consciousness to creatively transform knowledge about the child, taking into account the nature of the subject of comparison.
 is of functioning of the union comparative construction, which includes the image of a child as an object of comparison. The construction in question is analyzed in several varieties: comparative turnover and subordinate clause of the comparative type. The novelty of the approach to the analysis of the functioning of the structure lies in the consideration of semantic and pragmatic role of each of the three elements of comparison, their interaction in the expression of the actual meaning. As a result of the study, the composition of the subjects of comparison has been established, in relation to which the image of the child acts as an object of comparison (adult, communities, animals, natural phenomena, objects, abstractions), the dominant role among them is that of an adult. The model of the construction, which includes multicomponent situations as a subject and object of comparison, is revealed, its semantic and functional specificity is shown. The ways of expressing comparison in the composition of the comparison object are compared (The name of the comparison base depends on the name of the comparison object: you're like an unreasonable child) and as part of the subject of comparison (The name of the basis of comparison depends on the name of the subject for comparison: you are unreasonable, like a child). (The name of the basis of comparison depends on the name of the subject of comparison: you are unreasonable, like a child). It is shown that in the absence of an explicit basis of comparison (you are like a child) it is induced by the context or modeled based on the recipient's knowledge of the child in all its aspects and connections. The role of the object of comparison is revealed, which consists in clarifying, visualizing the actual feature. The universal possibilities of the comparative construction in the actualization of any component of the structure of the child's image are shown. The conclusion is substantiated that the wide possibilities of this image as an object of comparison are due to the rich content of the concept and the ability of consciousness to creatively transform knowledge about the child, taking into account the nature of the subject of comparison.