as比较结构的问题(as was expected)

The economic situation is as serious as was expected.

The economic situation is serious, as was expected.

请问老师，这两句话的不同之处？

第一个句子能否理解为：

The economic situation is as serious as the economic was expected to be.

第二个句子中的as从句被书上称为非限制性定从，但我感觉它有点像方法状语。

1. The economic situation is as serious as was expected.

2. The economic situation is serious, as was expected.

【答】此两句都是含有比较状语从句的复合句。

第1句使用as...as...结构，主、从句的比较意义很明显。在主句中的第一个as表示程度，意为：“同样的，那样的”，第二个as引导比较状语从句。在as was expected中，as既是比较连词，又指代整个主句的内容，充当从句的主语。

第2句，主句和从句的比较，意义较松散，中间有逗号停顿。但as was expected同样也是比较状语从句，as指代整个主句的内容，充当从句的主语。

关于这两句有什么区别，没本质的差别。这从翻译就能看得出来：

1. 经济形势和预料的一样严峻。

2. 正如预料的那样，经济形势非常严峻。