96修饰语的最高级(superlative degree)

英语语法进深──博客

96修饰语的最高级(superlative degree):                           　　　　　　　    8/24/2014

在现代的北京话中, “挺” 字已代替了“顶” 字.  “挺好” 和英文的"very good" 意思极其相似 (在说者并没有带什么加强语势的称赞), 但 “顶好” 乃是英文的 "the best" 的意思, 是存心的要加强语势, 一定是指 “这” 最好的人或事物, 比较合乎逻辑.  在这两个修饰语最高级的词中, 似乎并没有带什么来比较的意念.  以编辑者的意见, 修饰语的最高级就是最上的, 最好的, 和极端的, 必须连带他或它自己也包括在内.  再仔细看看这两个中文词汇, 你会发现前面的没有加上定冠词 “the” , 而在第二个词汇中加上了 “the”.  这是修饰语的最高级的语法中要注意的一点.  若是用形容词来表达人或事物, 必须后面接的是名词, 那么所指出的人或事物必定很特出, 非寻常的, 所以要加定冠词 “the” 来约束.  而第一个词汇是以副词来修饰形容词 “good”“很好”, 似乎没有加定冠词来约束的必要. 

最高级是我们日常生活中天天要引用的.  比方说 "He is one of the most learned scholar",  "I read one of the most interesting novel", 或 "He is the funniest man I have ever seen."  尤其, 在寒暄的谈话中往往会说 "With the greatest pleasure" 以答复别人的请求, 或者说 "I shall be most delighted to see you" .  其意义不过是 "with pleasure",  "very delighted." 并未表示最高级的加强语势意图.  英语语法称这种情况为修饰语最高级的弱势变化, 把它要加强的语气变弱了.

两个以上的人或事物比较时, 要用最高级, 常用的规则形式 –est 或 most.  短的字一个音节至两个音节用 -est, 如, busy  -> busiest, long -> longest,  hot -> hottest, easy -> easiest,  hard -> hardest 等.  而 most ... 多用在两个音节或以上的多个音节的字, 如,  most famous, most boring, most difficult

     [例]

             Of all the days in the week Saturday is busiest.

             He is the best person I have ever seen.

             Even the brightest boy in the class could not pass the test. 

             English is the most interesting subject we learn.

                                                 

用最上级时, 那被比较的东西, 不可放在和它比较的东西的范围之外, 因此我们不能说: the tallest of any; 或the finest of all others. 应该说: The tallest of all; the finest of all. 这点和比较级不同, 如在比较级, “He is better than any other boy in the class.” 是对的; 若写为“He is better than any boy in the class.” 就不对了,  因不能把自己放在比较的里面.

     例如 :  

                He is the tallest of any student in his class.  (不合理)

                He is the tallest of the students in his class.  (把自己放在内. 对的)

Shakespeare is the greatest of all other English poets.   (不合理)               

Shakespeare is the greatest of all English poets.   (正确的)

最上级的字, 用作副词时, 其前常不加 the.  (重申要注意这一点)

例如 :

   I like baseball best (我最喜好棒球)

   Whom do you admire most? (你最佩服何人?)

   He went farthest (他走得最远).  

      [注] : 若为形容词的最上级, 其前面须加 the.

                例如 :

These are the best grapes I could buy.
    (这些是我所能买到的最好的葡萄)       

This man has the largest number of coins in his collection.

(这人藏有最多的古钱)

最上级修饰语带有集合的意义时, 可用 one of  把那集合体中的一个抽出讲, 如: one of the best, 不可用a 或 an.

例如:

         He wrote one of the best books of the season.

             That fellow is one of the worst students in the class.

oldest 和 eldest 如在修饰语比较级的使用限制相同.  在家庭人物中用 "eldest ".

    例如 :

   That church is the oldest building in the town. (不可用 'the eldest')

               My eldest son is 13 years old. (‘my eldest’ 用在家庭人物中, 对的 )

               Are you the eldest in your family?

下面是几个介词用在最高级的习惯, 必须记牢.

   1.  最高级涉及地方时, 应用 “ in ”  如, towns, buildings 等地方.

        例如 :

              What is the longest river in the world?             (不用 'of the world')

              We had a lovely room. It was one of the nicest in the hotel. 
                   (不用 'of the hotel')

   2.  最高级用在机构组织及一群人时, 也用 “ in ”  如, a class, team, company 等.

        例如 :

              Who is the best student in the class? (不用 'of the class')

    3.  最高级用在表一段时间, 则必须用 “ of  ”.

         例如:

 What was the happiest day of your life?

              Yesterday was the hottest day of the year.

習題九十五

试完成下列各句, 使用 –est 或 most; 并加 介词 “ in 或 of ” .

  1 It's a very nice room. It is the nicest room in the hotel.           范例

  2. It's a very cheap restaurant. It's ＿＿＿ the town.

  3. It was a very happy day. It was ＿＿＿ my life.

  4. She's a very intelligent student. She ＿＿＿ the class.

  5. It's a very valuable painting. It ＿＿＿ the gallery.

  6. Spring is a very busy time for me. It ＿＿＿ the year.

在下列各句中, 使用 “one of …” 加上最高级, 而后再加上介词 “ in 或 of ”.

  7 It's a very nice room. It is  one of the nicest rooms in  the hotel.    范例

  8. He's a very rich man. He's one ＿＿＿ the world.

  9. It's a very old castle. It ＿＿＿Germany.

  10. She's a very good player. She ＿＿＿the team.

  11. It was a very bad experience. It ＿＿＿ my life.

  12. He's a very dangerous criminal. He ＿＿＿the country. 

使用修饰语最高级时, 英美人士常常用动词的现在完成时制来配合, 常把它放在最高级修饰语后面.  编辑者对此习惯用法有深深的感触, 故以习题来举例说明, 希望年轻喜欢学习英语的朋友留意, 并以悟性来领会它们在时间上的相关.  换句话说, 即在这种情况下你该如何在谈话中来对应.

    例如 :

  What's the best film you've ever seen?

              That was the most delicious meal I've had for a long time.

习题九十六

      在这种情况下,  如何在谈话中使用最高级, 并配合 “... ever ...”来应对.  要使用在

      括弧内的字 (需正确的形式).

  1. You've just been to the movie. The film was extremely boring.
  You tell your friend:(boring,film,see)That's the most boring film I've ever seen.
    范例

  2. Your friend has just told you a joke, which you think is very funny.

      You say:   (funny, joke, hear) That's ＿＿＿.

  3. You're drinking coffee with a friend. It's really good coffee.

      You say: (good, coffee, taste) This ＿＿＿.

  4. You are talking to a friend about Mary. Mary is very patient.

      You tell your friend about her: (patient, person, meet) She ＿＿＿.

  5. You have just run ten kilometers. You've never run further than this.

       You say to your friend: (far, run) That ＿＿＿.

  6. You decided to give up your job. Now you think this was a bad mistake.

       You say to your friend: (bad, mistake, make) It ＿＿＿.

  7. Your friend meets a lot of people, some of them famous.

       You ask your friend: (famous, person, meet?) Who ＿＿＿?

                                    请将习题寄至            swlei2011@gmail.com

95修饰语的比较级(三)

英语语法进深──博客

95修饰语的比较级(三):                                                  　　　　　　　8/18/2014

前面所讲的都是以标准的比较形式来讨论修饰语的比较级, 如用, -er, 或 more.  在英语中还有用另一种方法来形成修饰语的比较功能的, 就是设定一个标准(standard).  如, 保罗, 约翰 和彼德都是有钱人.  但是, 保罗(Paul)有十亿, 约翰(John)有八亿, 彼德(Peter)只有两亿.  现在以保罗所有的金钱为比较的标准. 

例如 :

  John is richer than Peter.

              He isn't as rich as Paul. (同 Paul is richer than he is.没有用 -er, 或 more)

 

not as ... (as) 是副词的结合语, 作连接功能, 被使用于修飾語的比較.  请注意下面列出更多的例句.

    例如 :

              Mr. Wang isn't as old as he looks. (同  he looks older than he is)

              The city center wasn't as crowded this morning as it usually is.

    (同  it is usually more crowded)

              Miss Liu didn't do as well in the exam as she had hoped.

    (同 she had hoped to do better)

  “ The weather is better today, isn't it?” “Yes, it's not as cold.”

   (同 yesterday was colder)

               I don't know as many people as you do. (同  you know more people)

      [注] : 也可以用 “not so ... (as)”

       例如 :  It's not warm but it isn't so cold as yesterday. 
                             (同 ... it isn't as cold as ...)

 

less ... (than) 与 not as ... (as) 有同一样的修飾語的比較功能.

    例如 :

              I spent less money than you. ( 同  I didn't spend as much money ...)

          The city center was less crowded than usual. ( 同  it wasn't as crowded ...)

习题九十三

     试用 as ... as 来完成各句.  并且选用下列所给予的字:

bad,                 comfortable,     　　fast, (使用过)      　long,                often,            

quietly, soon,                　　well,                     　well-qualified.

  1. I'm sorry.  I'm a bit late.  I got here as fast as I could.                       范例

  2. It was a difficult question. I answered it ＿＿＿ I could.

  3. 'How long can I stay with you?' 'You can stay ＿＿＿　you like.'

  4. I need the information quickly, so please let me know ＿＿＿　possible.

  5. I like to keep fit, so I go swimming ＿＿＿ I can.

  6. I didn't want to wake anybody, so I came in ＿＿＿ I could.

  试用  just as ... as  于下列各句.

  7. I'm going to sleep on the floor. It's ＿＿＿ sleeping in that hard bed.

  8. Why did he get the job rather than me? I'm ＿＿＿ him.

  9. At first I thought you were nice, but really you're ＿＿＿everybody else.

as ... as (  'so ... as' ) 在肯定及疑问句中可以用前者, 但不可用后者. 

   例如 :

              I'm sorry I'm late. I got here as fast as I could.

              There's plenty of food. You can have as much as you like.

              Let's walk. It's just as quick as taking the bus.

              Can you send me the money as soon as possible, please?

[注] : 也可以用 “ twice as ... as”, “three times as ... as”等短语.

    例如 :

                  Gas is twice as expensive as it was a few years ago.

                  Their house is about three times as big as ours.

在相比较下, 我们用 “the same as” 而不能用 “the same like” 它们在意念上不完全相同. (以后会详细讨论 “like” 和 “as” 的差别及用法.)

   例如 :

  Mary's salary is the same as mine. 
       或说 “Mary gets the same salary as me”.

              John is the same age as Paul.

              “What would you like to drink?” “I'll have the same as you.”

 

“than me” 和 “than I am” 等类似短语在口语中用得很多, 应了解它们的差异.  前者是省去动词后的习惯的用法; 而后者是加上动词后的正常用法.

        例如 :

You are taller than me.

He is not as clever as her. (不可写如 'as she')

            You are taller than I am. (加上动词 ' am ' 后, 需改为主位‘ I ’.)

They have more money than we have.

   (但是省去动词后应改写为‘They have more money than us.’)

I can't run as fast as he can. 
             ( 省去动词后应改写为‘I can't run as fast as him.’)

习题九十四

     试完成下列各句用 “than...”或 “as...”

  1. I can't reach as high as you. You are taller than me.              范例

  2. He doesn't know much. I know more ＿＿＿.

  3. I don't work particularly hard. Most people work as hard ＿＿＿.

  4. We were very surprised. Nobody was more surprised ＿＿＿.

  5. She's not a very good player. I'm a better player ＿＿＿.

  6. They've been very lucky. I wish we were as lucky ＿＿＿.

　　　　　　　　　　请将习题寄至        swlei2011@gmail.com

94修饰语的比较级(二)

英语语法进深──博客

94修饰语的比较级(二):                                                                               8/12/2014

可在比较级修饰语前加一些副词来增强它的修饰功用, 如, 在肯定句及请求或建议的问句中加上a bit, a little, rather, some 和在否定句或疑问句中加any表示 “稍稍，一点”, 还有用much, far, a great 和 a good deal, a lot, lots, a good bit等表示  “……得多”；及用 still 在肯定句等.

much, a lot, far (同a lot), a bit, a little, slightly (同 a little)可以放在比较级的修饰语前, 增加其修饰的功能.  也就是有中文“更加...”的意念.

    例如 :

           Let's go by car. It's much cheaper. (或写如,  It's a lot cheaper. ‘更加便宜’)

           Don't go by train. It's a lot more expensive. (或写如,‘It's much more ....’)

           Could you speak a bit more slowly? (或写如, ... speak a little more slowly?)

           This bag is slightly heavier than the other one.

           Her illness was far more serious than we thought at first.

       (或写如,   ... much more serious... 或 ... a lot more serious ... )

     [注] : little 和 a little 用法不同, 前者的意义是否定的, 等于 “not much",  表示在其

后的修饰语 “不很, 不甚, 不大”的意思.

       例如 :

                  I am little interested in your proposition.  (我对你的提议 ‘不很’ 感兴趣.)

any 和 no 加在比较级修饰语前, 如, any longer 和 no bigger 等, 更加肯定的表示它比较的功能.

     例如 :

   I've waited long enough. I'm not waiting any longer. 
                 (同 not even a little longer)

               We expected their house to be very big, but it's no bigger than ours.

       (或写作,  it isn't any bigger than ours. ‘并不比我的家大多少’)

               Yesterday you said you felt ill. Do you feel any better today?

                   (昨日你说病了.  今天感觉得好点吗?)

               This hotel is better than the other one and it's no more expensive.

harder and harder, more and more 和 more and more difficult 等比较级修饰短语用在累积的比较情况中, 如中文“越..越...” 在英语口语中用得非常普遍, 请务必熟悉它们的用法.

例如 :

  It's becoming harder and harder to find a job.  (越来越不容易寻找职业.)

              It's becoming more and more difficult to find a job.

              Your English is improving. It's getting better and better.

              These days more and more people are learning English.  

                   (近日来, 越来越多的人学英语.)

the ... the better 若把另一比较级的修饰语填入该短语的空格中,可显示它是在与一件所谈的事物比较, 非常简洁.  使用这种型式的比较级修饰语很寻常, 很好用, 请多多仿效.

    例如 :

              “What time shall we leave?”'  “The sooner the better.”

      (同 as soon as possible ‘越快越好’ 它是与目前所谈的 ‘出发’ 的事来比较)

              “What sort of box do you want? A big one?”  “Yes, the bigger the better.”

                  (同 as big as possible ‘越大越好’ 它是与目前所谈的盒子的事件来比较)

              When you're traveling, the less luggage you have to carry the better.

                  (同 it is best to have as little luggage as possible)

the ... the ... 若把两个比较级修饰语的字填入该短语的两个空格中, 表明其互相的关系, 或它与所依靠的某事物比较.

例如 :

The warmer the weather, the better I feel.

      (同 if the weather is warmer, I feel better.天气温暖点, 我会感觉舒服些)

            The sooner we leave, the sooner we will arrive. 
            (快点出发, 可能我们会快点到.)

            The younger you are, the easier it is to learn.  (愈年轻, 愈容易学.)

            The more expensive the hotel, the better the service. 
            (越服务周到的旅馆, 越贵.) 

习题九十

     试将下列中文翻译成英语.  英语翻成中文.

1.      越急越做不完.

2.      心情越快乐, 身体越健康.

3.      越便宜的旅馆, 越糟.

4.      The more electricity you use, the higher your bill will be.

      5.   The more I thought about the plan, the less I liked it.

习题九十一

     试用 harder and harder, more and more 和 more and more difficult….的短语型式, 填入下列各句以完成之.

  1. It's becoming harder and harder to find a job.   (hard)                      范例

  2. As the conversation went on, he became more and more talkative . 
          (talkative) 范例

  3. My bags seemed to get _____ as I carried them. (heavy)

  4. As I waited for my interview, I became _____. (nervous)

  5. As the day went on, the weather got _____. (bad)

  6. Travelling is becoming _____. (expensive)

  7. Since she has been in China, her Chinese has got _____. (good)

  8. That hole in your pullover is getting_____. (big)

older 和 elder 的用法不一样, 前者可用于任何比较级的修饰语; 而后者只实用于家中的人.  中国学生常常在这地方出错.

   例如 :

  Tom looks older than he really is.

但是涉及到家庭里的人的比较时, 如,  (my) elder brother, sister , son 和 daughter 等, 要用 elder.

    例如 :

   My elder brother is a pilot. (或 My older brother ...)

    [注] :  可是我们说,  “my elder brother” ; 但不能说  “somebody is elder ...”.

               又如,  My brother is older than me. (不能写 'elder than me')

习题九十二

      试选择下列各句的正确的字, 保留没有错误的各句.

  1. My older 或 elder brother is a pilot. (older 和 elder 都正确)          范例

  2. I'm surprised Ruth is only 25. I thought she was older 或 elder.

  3. Sarah's younger sister is still at school. Her older 或 elder sister is a nurse.

  4 Nathan is older 或 elder than his brother

                 请将习题寄至       swlei2011@gmail.com