形容词和副词的比较级¶
1. 形容词或副词比较级的修饰语¶
(1) 用于形容词或副词原级比较结构前的词语有:exactly, just, nearly, almost, hardly, twice, three times 等。¶
exactly/just as big as
与……正好一样大
almost/nearly as wide as
与……几乎一样宽
twice as many as
是……数量的两倍
three times as long as
是……长度的三倍
(2) 修饰形容词或副词最高级的词语有:by far, the second, the third 等。¶
by far the finest weather
最好的天气
the third largest company
第三大公司
2. 形容词的原级或比较级表示最高级的意义¶
用形容词的原级或比较级也可表示最高级的意义,其结构为:
(1) 否定词语+so/as+形容词原级+as。如:¶
No boy is so brave as Tom in his class.
在班里没有哪个男孩比汤姆更勇敢。
(2) 否定词语+形容词比较级+than。如:¶
Nothing is more exciting than to travel.
没有什么比去旅游更令人兴奋。
(3) the +形容词比较级+than+any other +单数名词/all the other +复数名词。如:¶
The technique is more than the other three.
这种技术比任何其他方法都有效。
This plan is nicer than the other three.
这个计划比其他三个都好。
注:大多数形容词是可分等级的,其等级性是通过比较级和最高级表现出来的。但有些形容词没有等级,不具有等级性的形容词主要是一些从名词派生的形容词。如:atomic, tidal, earthen, monthly, weekly 等。
一些表示起源的词。如:
British, English, original 等;
一些表示绝对意义的形容词。如:
dead , living , blind, lame, square, wrong 等;
一些表示时间、方位和方向的形容词。如:
daily,present, front , east, middle, central 等;
一些本身表示极限性质的形容词。如:
absolute, perfect, excellent,maximal , wonderful, unique 等。
3. 具有特殊意义的比较结构¶
(1) more + 形容词/名词 + than(与其说……不如说……)。如:¶
He is more brave than wise.
他有勇无谋。
Success in language is more a matter of application than of intelligence.
语言上的成功与其说是一个智力的问题不如说是个运用的问题。
(2) no more...than (只)。如:¶
It's no more than a false alarm.
那只是虚惊一场。
He is no more than a puppet.
他只是个傀儡罢了。
(3) not more than (最多)。如:¶
He is not more than twenty years old.
他最多有二十岁。
I have not more than five dollars with me.
我身上最多有五美元。
(4) no less than (多达……)。如:¶
He stayed there for no less than two months.
他在那儿呆了两个月之久。
There were no less than fifty wounded.
受伤者多达50人。
(5) not less than (多于,至少)。如:¶
He gave her not less than one thousand dollars.
他至少给了她一千美元。
Not less than 300 people attended the conference.
至少有三百人出席了会议。
(6) no less...than (和……一样)。如:¶
He is no less diligent than you.
他和你一样勤奋。
Mary is no less active than she used to be.
玛丽和从前一样活跃。
(7) not less...than (也许比……更……)。如:¶
He is not less rich than his brother.
他也许比他哥哥富有。
She is not less busy than you.
他也许比你更忙。
(8) not so much...as...(与其说……不如说……)。如:¶
She is not so much an actress as a singer.
与其说她是个演员,不如说她是个歌手。
I do not feel so much angry as sad.
与其说我感到生气,不如说我感到伤心。
(9) as much...as... 同……一样,跟……到同一程度。如:¶
It is as much your responsibility as yours.
这是你们的责任,同样也是我们的责任。
I have experienced as much pain as pleasure.
我经历的痛苦和欢乐一样多。
(10) much less / still less 用于否定句之后,意思是“更不用说,更何况”。如:¶
She wouldn't take a drink, much less stay for dinner.
她连饮料都不愿喝一口,更别提留下吃饭了。
French is not the private property of Frenchmen, and still less is English the private property of Englishmen.
法语不是法国人的私有财产,英语就更不成其为英国人的私有财产了。