Isn't construction 3 the same as 2? In 恵理子さん’s 例文「勉強するの」and[に比べ] are distinct units, in which the the の is simply nominalizing the 勉強する. Therefore #3 doesn't exist I don't think? Or am I incorrect?
Be great to hear other people's views. Thanks :)
You're correct in that it is nominalizing the verb, so...techinically, yes, they could be considered the same. I added the second because I believe that a lot of people don't immediately think of nominalized nouns when they see the word 'Noun' as part of a grammar structure. In other words, it is just to make it a bit clearer for users.
に比べ is the version for formal writing (連用中止形). So the differences all derive from that.
Using the 連用中止形 and its friend である in speech make you sound like you're talking down to people -- or so I'm told.
That works - it's more of the "standard" way to use the verb, instead of a specific structure that has been "packaged" as a grammar/expression point for learning.
