比较级和比较结构

第25讲 比较等级和比较结构 英语中大多数形容词和副词都是“可等级的”(Gradable),因而可以用于比较结构。当形容词和副词用于比较结构时,它们采取特殊的语法形式,这就是比较结构。 25.1形容词和副词的比较等级 大多数形容词和副词的比较等级有三:原级(Positive/Absolute Degree)、比较级(Comparative Degree)和最高级(Superlative Degree)。比较级和最高级又可分为、规则形式和不规则形式。大多数形容词和副词的比较级和最高级都是规则的,只有少数几个是不规则的。兹分述如下。 1)形容词比较级和最高级的规则形式 形容词比较级和最高级的规则形式有两种表示方法:一是由原级加后缀-er和-est构成,即所谓“综合形式”(Synthetic Form);二是在原级之前加more和most构成,即所谓“分析形式”(Analytic Form)。 一般说来,单音节形容词的比较级和最高级多采用综合形式,即加-er和-est的形式。例如: Kind kinder kindest Clear clearer clearest Old older oldest Cold colder coldest Long longer longest 三音节或多于三音节的形容词,其比较级和最高级通常采用分析形式,即在原级之前加more和most的形式。例如: Instructive more instructive most instructive Beautiful more beautiful most beautiful Difficult more difficult most difficult Complicated more complicated most complicated Contemptible more contemptible most contemptible 双音节形容词的比较级和最高级通常既可采用综合形式,也可采用分析形式。例如: Tender tenderer/more tender tenderest/most tender Clever cleverer/more clever cleverest/most clever 双音节形容词的比较级和最高级通常既可采用两种形式,但以-y 结尾和以-ow结尾的双音节形容词多半采取综合形式。例如: Happy happier happiest Pretty prettier prettiest Narrow narrower narrowest Shallow shallower shallowest 2)副词比较级和最高级的规则形式 副词比较级和最高级规则形式的构成与形容词比较级和最高级基本相似。单音节副词通常采用综合形式。例如: Fast faster fastest Hard harder hardest Soon sooner soonest Late later latest 而以-ly结尾的副词以及某些频度副词则多半采用分析形式。例如: Clearly more clearly most clearly Wisely more wisely most wisely Frugally more frugally most frugally Often more often most often 3)形容词、副词比较级和最高级的不规则形式 有少数几个形容词和副词的比较级和最高级是不规则的,它们是: Bad worse worst Good/well better best Old older/elder oldest/eldest Far further/farther furthest/farthest Much more most Badly worse worst W ell better best 下面一则练习要求采用形容词或副词的比较等级形式填空: EXERCISE 25 A Fill in a suitable adjective or adverb in its appropriate form in each blank: 1、A 100-watt lamp shines brightly;a 150-watt lamp——。 2、The stone house is cool,but its basement is——。 3、Rainy days are cold,but we have the——weather of all on clear,windy days in winter。 4、There are ten rather deep lakes near here;Green Lake is the ——。 5、The Rocky Mountains are high,the Andes are——yet,and the Himalayas are the——in the world。 6、He always talks seriously,but his wife often talks even——。 7、The Indian Ocean is big,but the Atlantic is——。The Pacific is the ——of all。 8.Cotton pillows are soft,feather pillows are——,and down pillows are the——of all。 9.I did not work hard last year,but I am now working much ——。 10.Coal is hard,granite is——,and diamonds are the——mineral known。 11.He arrived late yesterday,but today he arrived a little——。 12.When it is hot in the morning,you can expect it to be——at soon,and the——of all in the early afternoon。 13.It started to grow light about 6 o’clock this morning,and from then on it got——。 14.The child was very young,but she was not the——in the family。Her sister was——。 15.Peter is a very swift runner,but Gerald is the——racer on the team。 16.Is Nanjing far from Shanghai?no,it is no。Wuxi is a little ——,and Suzhou is the ——of all。 17.The countryside here is lovely,but I think the region where I grew up is——。Sometimes I think it is——place in the world。 18.Although all the stores are convenient,the corner store is the——。 19.All this fuss about those musicians is perfectly silly。It is ——thing I have ever heard。 20.Most of the public schools are too crowded;ours is——of all。 25.2 比较结构 形容词和副词比较等级用于句子当中便形成比较结构(Comparative Construction)。英语比较结构最主要的有三种:as````as结构,more```than结构和the most结构。在讲比较结构的时候,还要把由某些限定词和代词的比较等级构成 的比较结构包括进去。英语中有几个不定限定词和不定代词也有原级、比较级和最高级。它们是many/much,more most; few,fewer,fewest;little,less,least。它们在句中也能形成比较结构。 1)As````as结构 这种结构的基本模式是:as+形容词或副词原级+as-分句。例如: John is as bright as Bob。 John behaves as politely as Bob(does)。 This parcel is as heavy as that one。 This car runs as fast as that one。 这种比较结构的否定形式是: John is not as/so bright as Bob。 John does not behave as。So politely as Bob。 以上否定意义还可以用less```than 结构来表示: John is less bright than Bob。 John behaves less politely than Bob。 但是,less```than结构在实际使用上不如not so/as```as结构普通。 由以上诸例可以看出,在带有as```as结构的句子中,通常是主句主语和as-分句的主语不同,而比较项目相同,比如是John 和Bob就两人的举止是否有礼貌进行比较。这是 as```as结构最基本的用法。此外,带有as```as结构的句子也可能主语相同,而比较项目不同。例如: The girl was as brilliant as she was beautiful。 (这姑娘既漂亮又聪明) This swimming pool is as wide as it is long。 (这个游泳池宽度和长度相等) He is not wise as he is witty。 (他为人风趣,但有欠明智) She is not so witty as she is pretty。 (她相貌美丽,但不太风趣) 也可能两个主语和两个比较项目都不同,即两个不同的人或物就不同的方面进行比较。例如: This swimming pool is not twice as wide as that one is long。(这个游泳池的宽度并没有那个游泳池长度的两倍) His uncle was as base and unworthy as his father had been upright and honourable。 (他的叔叔卑鄙龌龊,不象他父亲那样正直可敬) 由上述诸例可以看出,当主句主语和as-分句主语不同而比较项目相同时,as-分句总是有所省略,即通常用不完全句。但若两个主语相同而比较项目不同或者两个主语和两个比较项目都不相同,(除个别外)as-分句便不能用省略句,而必须用完全句。More````than结构也有类似的情况。 as```as结构的另一种模式是:as much/many+名词+as-分句,这时much/many是限定词。例如: he took as much butter as he needed。 She has written as many essays as her brother(has)。 这种结构的否定形式是: He did not take so/as much butter as he needed。 She has not written so/as many essays as her brother(has)。as```as结构还有一个变体形式,这就是as+形容词原级+名词词组+as-分句。例如: George is as efficient a worker as Jack。 I do not want as expensive a car as this。 Hardly ever have I heard as impressive music as this。 I can not drink as sweet coffee as this。 这类结构显然是由as```as结构的基本模式转换而来: George is as efficient a worker as Jack。 =George is a worker(who is)as efficient as Jack。 I do not want a car as expensive as this。 Hardly ever have I heard music as impressive as this。 I can not drink coffee as sweet as this。 以上所讲的基本模式和变体形式含义基本相同,但是读起来调核(Nucleus)位置不同。用变体形式,调核落在名词上,从而名词的意义受到强调;用基本形式,调核落在形容词上,从而形容 词的意义受到强调。试比较: I have not seen as old a car as this for years。 I have not seen a car as old as this for years。 因此,as```as结构的基本模式和变体形式尽管可以相互转换,但在语义上却有些差别。 另一个值得注意之点是,在上述变体形式中,那嵌入在as```as结构的名词词组通常是“不定冠词 +单数可数名词”或者“零冠词+不可数名词”。至于“零冠词+复数可数名词”作如此用法则比较罕见。例如: I do not smoke cigarettes as expensive as these。 I do not smoke as expensive cigarettes as these。(罕见) 2)more````than结构 这种结构的基本模式是:形容词或副词比较级+than-分句。例如: John is brighter than Bob。 John behaves more politely than Bob。 This parcel is heavier than that one。 This car runs faster than that one。 这种比较结构的否定形式是用less```than表示: This parcel is less heavy than that one。 This car runs less fast than that one。 也可用not so/as```as表示: This parcel is not so/as heavy as that one。 This car does not run so/as fast as that one。 如前所述,less```than结构的使用没有not so/as```as结构那样频繁。有时,less```than结构听起来不够自然,在这种情况下,也可用原句中形容词或副词的反义词的比较级+that-分句来表示,但含义略有区别。例如: This street is less wide than that one。 This street is narrower than that one。 Bill speaks French less well than he writes it。 Bill speaks French worse than he writes it。 上述第二组第一句的含义是,Bill的法文写的好,说的没有写的好;而第二句的含义则是,Bill的法文写的不好,说的更不好。 more````than结构的另一种模式是:限定词more/less/fewer+名词+than-分句。例如: she has written more essays than he。 I have done more work this morning than he。 I spent less money on clothing than my sister。 There is less alcohol in this bottle than in that one。 Y ou have made fewer mistakes in your homework than I have。 There are fewer visitors today than yesterday。 more````than结构也有其变体形式,其中之一是:形容词比较级+名词+than-分句。例如: my brother has a larger house than mine。 John is a more efficient worker than Jack。 The slaves were given worse food than that for their master’s dogs。 以上诸例都可转换为名词词组+more````than结构做后置修饰语。例如: There are men more intelligent than John。 John is a worker more efficient than Jack。 至于以下词序虽偶尔可见,却很不普通: John is more efficient a worker than Jack。 more````than结构的另一种变体形式是“定冠词+形容词或副词比较级+of-词组”。例如: John is the brighter of the two boys。 Of the two boys John behaves(the)more politely。 由上述两例可以看出,用这种变体形式进行比较都只用于两者之间的比较;在第一例中比较级前的定冠词不可省,而在第二例中比较级前的定冠词可省。这两句分别相当于: John is brighter than the other boy。 John behaves more politely than the other boy。 More/less还可用作代词,与某些可等级名词(Gradable Noun)搭配构成比较结构: He is more/less of a sportsman than his brother。 =he is more/less sportsmanlike than his brother。 3)“(the)+形容词副词最高级+比较范围”结构 如果是三个或三个以上的人或物进行比较,就要使用形容词和副词的最高级。例如: The Sahara is the biggest desert in the world。 John is the brightest of the here boys。 Of the three boys John behaves(the)most politely。 He works(the)hardest of all。 This is the most interesting book I have ever read。Shakespeare was the greatest English dramatist ever known。 由上述诸例可以看出,表示“最高级”的意义,通常都要有一个“比较范围”,表示比较范围可以用介词词组,如in the world, of the three boys,也可以用关系分句或非限定分句,如I have ever read,ever known。比较范围在一定上下文中可以不表示出来。例如: A:Six juicy oranges,please。 B:These are our juiciest。 有些最高级结构并不是和其他事物相比,因而也不须把比较范围表示出来: Please accept my deepest gratitude。 I shall do it with the greatest pleasure。 A:Do you mind if I open the window? B:Not in the slightest。 表示最高级的相反意义可用the least```结构。例如: This is the least difficult book I have ever read。 He behaved the least politely of the three。 the least```结构在实际使用上常为原句中形容词或副词的反义词的最高级所取代: this is the easiest book I have ever read。 He behaved the most rudely of the three。 在一定上下文中,最高级含义也有用其他结构来表示,比如用more```than结构表示: George did more work this morning than anyone else。 (=George did the most work。) This car runs faster than any other car in the garage。 (=This car runs the fastest of all the cars in the garage。)也可用as``as结构来表示: Nothing in my life shook me so deeply as my first visit to China。 (=My first visit to China shook me the most deeply。) 还可用“否定词+比较级”来表示: I like nothing better。 (=it is the best thing I like。) It can not be worse。 (=it is the worse thing I have ever known。) 下面四则练习均是操练本节所介绍的几种比较结构。EXERCISE 25B Fill in an appropriate comparative construction: 1.He looked——a brick wall。(nervous) 2.drive——you can。(fast) 3.his new book’s much——his last。(interesting) 4.the car’s running les——it used to。(smoothly) 5.you are——person I have met。(annoying) 6.we will probably drive a bit——you do,so we will get there first。(fast) 7.Mary’s——of the four girls in the family。(nice) 8.Mont Blanc is——all other Alpine peaks。(high) 9.I like Betty and Maud,but I think Betty’s——of the two。(nice) 10.Y ou are far——I am。(tolerant) 11.Is your mother any——?(relaxed) 12.She is ——of the Smith girls。(sensible) 13.Could you come——you usually do?(early) 14.Honey is just about——sugar。(sweet) 15.Does not Alex look a little bit——he did last week?(unhappy) 16.Salt water is a great deal——fresh water。(dense) 17.W e bought——boards we could find 。(thick) 18.Is this type of pencil very much——the other type?(dark) 19.What is——joke you have ever heard?(funny) 20.Which job is——,a policeman’s or a fireman’s?(dangerous) EXERCISE 25C Provide the correct words to make comparisons: A:Hi,W alt。W elcome home!Did you have a nice vacation? B:Y es,it was just(1。Nice)last year’s。The weather was a lot (2。Cool)it was last August,though。 A:Did you go to the same place? B:No。W e decided that a mountain trip would be much(3。 Exciting)a fish trip。Besides,my wife and children are not quite (4。Interested in fishing)I am。 A:W as ot the trip up there a bit(5。Long)the trip to the lake? B:It was just about(6。Far to the mountain camp)it is to the lake camp。The roads aew a lot(7。Rough)(,though。I had to be a great deal(8。Careful)with my driving。 A:W e have though about a mountain trip。But is not it a little(9。 Expensive)going to the lake? B:As a matter of fact,it is just about(10。Cheap)the lake,maybe even a little(11。Cheap)the lake。The cabins in the mountain camp are a little bit(12。Modern)those at the lake,but they are just (13。Comfortable)the others。 A:Y ou will have to come over and tell my wife about it。She is a lot (14。Concerned about saving money)I am! B:ok。I will be glad to。How about tomorrow night? A:W ell,tonight would be much(15。Good)tomorrow night,if you can make it。 B:Right!I will see you tonight,then。 EXERCISE 25 D Provide the correct words to make comparison: Dear Jim, W e have moved into the old house at last!the repairs took longer and were more expensive(1)we had expected,but living in the old house is just(2)much fun(3)we had hoped it would be! The cleaning was not quite(4)bah(5)we were anticipating, but of course,(6)more we cleaned,(7)less we enjoyed it!but we knew that the sooner we started,(8)we had have it all finished。 The actual removal went quite smoothly。Fortunately,the removal men were not(9)careless(10)we had feared,so we had fewer breakages(11)expected。The grandfather clock stoop up to it all very well! How are things with you and the family?is life in New Y ork still(12)hectic(13)ever? Sorry I have not written earlier,but as we say,“Better late(14) never!” EXERCISE 25 E Reword the following sentences in the two ways suggested below: The idea“He is less stupid than I thought he was”is better expressed by Either“He is not so stupid as I thought he was。” Or“He is cleverer than I thought he was。” 1.Y our house is less near than I thought。 2. A donkey is less beautiful than a horse。 3.She is less ugly than you said she was。 4.I am less light than you。 5. A cigarette is less strong than a cigar。 6.Apples are less cheap than oranges。 7.The grass is less short here than in our garden。 8.Our house is less low than yours。 9.This street is less wide than the next one。 10.My bag is less heavy than my friend’s。 11.The sea was less smooth than I had hoped。 12.Mary is much less young than she looks。 13.She is less proud than her sister。 14.The film was less interesting than the play。 15.He is less obstinate than his brothers。 16.She is less sophisticated than she makes herself out to be。 17.Y ou had be less well off if you were married。 18.The river was less shallow than he expected。 19.John is much less intelligent than his sister。 20.My wife is much less economical than yours。 25.2关于比较结构用法的补充说明 下面进一步阐述某些比较结构的不同用法和意义。 1)more```than结构的其他用法 more```than结构除在两个人或物之间作同一方面的比较而外,还可在同一个人或物的本身作不同方面的比较。试观察: 1.The concert was more enjoyable than the lecture。 2.The living-room is larger than the dining-room。 3.John is more daring than quick-witted。 (与其说约翰脑子灵活,不如说他胆子大) 4.George is more intelligent than aggressive。 (与其说乔治言行放肆,不如说他聪颖过人) 上述12两句是more```than结构的一般用法,即在两个不同事物之间就某一方面作比较,而34两句则是就同一个人的两个不同方面作比较。值得注意的是,more```than结构在12两句中其比较级既可用more```形式,也可以用-er形式;more```than结构用于赏识34两句的意义时,比较级只能用more```形式,不能用-er 形式。more```than结构用于上述34两句意义时,还可以连接两 个名词词组。例如: 5 。the present crisis is much more a political than an economic crisis。(当前的危机与其说是经济危机,不如说是政治危机) more```than结构在上述345诸句中的用法也适用于less````than 结构,得出相反的含义。例如: John is less daring than quick-witted。 (与其说约翰胆大,不如说他脑子灵活) George was less indigent than aggressive。 (与其说乔治聪颖过人,不如说他言行放肆) The present crisis is much less a political than an economic crisis。(当前的危机与其说是政治危机,不如说是经济危机) 又例如: He was less hurt than frightened。 (与其说他受伤害,不如说他受惊吓) 2)not so```as与not so much```as 试观察以下两句: London is not as large as Tokyo。(伦敦没有东京大) It was not as much his appearance I liked as his personality。 (与其说我喜欢他的外表,不如说我喜欢他的为人) 前一例是一般的比较结构,后一例相当于上述less```than的含义又例如: It was not so much that I disliked her as that I just was not interested。(与其说我不喜欢她,不如说我对她不感兴趣) 3)not more/-er than与no more/-er than 试比较以下两句: John is not better than Tom。 John is no better than Tom。 前一例表示“约翰不比汤姆好”,属于普通比较结构;后一例用了no情况就不同了,no better than相当于as bad as,含义是两人一样坏。这里,“no+形容词或副词比较级+than”所表示的可以说是该形容词或副词的反义。又例如: No richer than=as poor as No bigger than=as small as No later than=as early as 同样地: I have not taken more than six courses this semester。 I have taken no more than six courses this semester。 前一句的含义是本学期选的课不多于六门;后一句的含义是只选了六门,表示少的意思。上述结构与no more``than(=not```any more than)又有所不同。例如: A whale is no more a fish than a horse is。 这句的含义是鲸和马同样不是鱼,即鲸不是鱼,如同马不是鱼一样。在某些结构中,单独使用more than也能表示否定概念。例如:that is more than I can tell。 含义是“简直不`````”。又例如: My trip to Beijing is more than sightseeing。 含义是“不仅仅游览观光而已”。诸如此类的结构有的是普通的比较,有的是形式上像是比较,实质上并非真正的比较,应予注意。 4)the more```the more与more and more the more```the more```这一结构相当于汉语中的“越```越```”,表示两个过程按比例同时递增。这种句型的前一个the more```结构为从属分句,后一个the more```结构为主句;通常是从句在前,主句在后。例如: The older I get ,the happier I am。 The sooner you start,the more quickly you will finish。 The more you argue with him,the less notice he takes。 这种结构往往有省略。例如: The sooner this is done,the better。 The lighter the temperature,the faster the liquid evaporates。The thinner the layer of solder,the higher (must be)the soldering temperature。 The more the merrier。 More and more常用来表示“越来越```”的含义。例如: The car was running faster and faster。 John speaks French more and more fluently。 Jane became more and more beautiful。 The prices are getting higher and higher。 His health is getting better and better。 由上述诸例可以看出,the more```the more表示两个过程同时递增,而more and more只表示一个过程的不断增长。就语法构造来说,the more```the more是个主从句结构,而more and more则构成并列副词词组和并列形容词词组,或者仅在副词/形容词词组中充当前置修饰语。 下面做一则英译汉练习,注意各种比较结构的意义。EXERCISE 25F Translate the following sentences into Chinese: 1.He is no more a writer than a painter。 2.I have written no less than five papers this semester。 3.Mr Zhang is no wiser than Mr li。 4.I regard him less as my teacher than as my friend。 5.It is more than probable that he will fail。 6.The oceans do not so much divide the world as unite it。 7.It was a curious exchange ,less a debate than a quarrel between two aggressive men。 8.John is more modest than he is prudent。 9.The beauty of the place is more than I can describe。 10.I was more than pleased with her performance。 11.It was as much of a success as I had hoped。 12.This course is as important as it is difficult for the students。 13.Mrs Smith was as patient as reasonable。 14.W e had all heard that it was a great dam,as modern as any of its kind in the world。 15.This room is no darker than that one。 16.I have no fewer friends here than he has。 17.He is no less guilty than his wife。 18.That was more than the workers could stand。 19.He is more of a scholar than his brother。 20.He is less of a fool than I thought he was。 最后一则练习是综合练习。 EXERCISE 25 G Correct errors,if any,in the following sentences: 1.I can tell you a much more funnier story than that。 2.Dick’s behaviour is more courteous than Bob。 3.Jones teaches much more friendly than Johnson。 4.He is as a good worker as John。 5.He is more an efficient worker than John。 6.I think Mary is nicer of the two。 7.George did work more than anyone else。 8.W e can let you have copies as many as you need。 9.He can not carry as heavy parcels as these。 10.It was as much of success as I expected。 11.a whale3 is not any more a fish than a horse is。 12.He is not fond of playing chess more than you are。 13.Paper tiger is not half fierce as it is painted。 14.There are more intelligent monkeys than Herbert。 15.This room is larger than that one three times。