much/many little few 三、比较结构
1. as＋形容词或副词＋as
more less fewer/less most least fewest/least Jack is as tall as Jill. 否定用not as … as ( not so … as )
London is not so(as) modern as New York. 2. 形容词或副词的比较级＋than
In all cultures, some people are more free with their hands than others. 否定用less … than也可以，但不及用not as(so) … as的场合多。
Mary is less careful than Jane. / Mary is not as(so) careful as Jane. Bill speaks French less well than he writes it. / Bill speaks French worse than he writes it. 3. (the)＋形容词或副词的最高级＋比较范围 It?s the most interesting book I?ve ever read. Who is the most senior officer present? He works hardest of all. 否定可以用the least …：
但是这种用法几乎常被反义词的最高级形式所替代，试比较：
This is the least difficult book I?ve ever read. / This is the most uninteresting book I?ve ever read. 4. more and more结构
这是一种形容词或副词的比较级+and+形容词或副词的比较级构成的结构，或者是more and more+形容词或副词的原级，含义是“越来越”。 He felt he began to see things more and more clearly. The town is getting bigger and bigger. 5. the more … the more … 结构
这个结构的构成是the+形容词或副词的比较级… the+形容词或副词的比较级，通常前者相当于一个程度状语分句，后者为主句，含义是“越……就越…….”。这种结构的特点是前后都可以有所省略，也能采用倒装语序。
The quicker you get ready, the sooner we?ll be able to leave. The less she worried, the better she worked.
The more grain we produce, the greater will be our achievement.
The more air there is inside the tyre, the harder it is pressed together, and so the harder it pushes on the inside of the tyre.
四、比较结构中的省略问题
比较结构通常总有些成分被省略，或是在分句中省略某些与主句相同的部分，或是省略在特定上下文或情景中某些不言而喻的部分。 1. 最高级比较结构中的省略
在最高级比较结构中，有两种省略：一是在一定上下文中省略比较范围，这比较常见，如： Which do you think is the prettiest? Who lives nearest to school? 2. 省略形容词最高级后面的名词中心词，如：
These are our juiciest (oranges) today. I?m sorry, they?re the sweetest (oranges) we?ve got, we don?t have any more.
3. 有一种表示“极，最”意义的最高级结构，并不和其他事物相比，因而也就不存在省略问题，如： I have not the slightest idea that he will come. Please accept my deepest gratitude.
I shall do it with the greatest pleasure.
4. as …as和more than比较结构中的省略 1) 在分句中省略了谓语的全部： He is bigger than the boy we saw yesterday. Cast iron is as useful as steel. It?s prettier than mine. 2) 在分句中省略了谓语的一部分：
The end of the movie wasn?t as good as the beginning was. Mars is farther from the earth than the moon is. Mary has known Peter better than she has (known) John. Wasn?t anybody later than we were? 3) 有时在分句中以替代词do的某个形式代替主句的谓语部分： George writes as neatly as John does. They bought fewer books than the others did.
分句中的主语和替代词do也可采用倒装的形式:
Some people have no doubt that their cat understands as many words as does a dog. Nobody did more for education in this country than did the late Mr. Green. 4) 在分句中省略了主语和谓语的大部分，只剩下一个修饰成分： The roads are much quieter here than in London. Things are no better than before. It?s raining harder than ever. It?s a pity the weather isn?t as good as last time. He is better than (he was) when I last visited him.
注意：如果比较结构表示的是比较少见的不同物质之间的比较，分句通常就不可以采取省略的形式： He is not so wise as he is witty.
The girl was as brilliant as she was beautiful. This bookcase is wider than it is tall. 五、有关比较结构的几点补充说明
1. 前面讲的三种比较结构都具有相对性，可以交替使用。 He is more capable than I. = I am not so capable as he. George did more work than anyone else. = George did the most. I like nothing better. = It?s the best thing I like. It can?t be worse. = It?s the worst thing I ever knew.
Nothing in my life shook me so deeply as this first visit to China. = What shook me most in my life was my first visit to China. 2. 形容词比较结构与名词搭配时的词序问题。
在as…as或more than结构中，如果出现名词，通常将名词置于比较结构中。 I haven?t seen as old a car as this for years. I can?t drink as sweet coffee as this. There are more intelligent men than John. 但有时也将名词置于比较结构之前。 I haven?t seen a car as old as this for years. I can?t drink coffee as sweet as this. There are men more intelligent than John. 3. 比较结构的修饰语 修饰as…as结构的有：nearly, almost, exactly, twice, (three) times, not nearly, not half, nothing like, by no means, nowhere near, quite等词，这些修饰语无一例外地置于 as…as 结构之前。
修饰more than结构的有：far, even, many, much, still, a lot, a (little) bit, rather, slightly, (three) times, not any等词，这些修饰语一般置于more than结构之前。
修饰最高级结构的有：by far, much, easily, nearly, almost, not quite, not really, by no means, nothing like, nowhere near, nest, second, third, yet, ever等，这些修饰语位置各有不同，可前，可中，可后。 ４. 当more than结构表示“与其说不如说”时，它实质上不能算是比较结构。 He is more big than strong. I was more annoyed than worried when they didn?t come home. 这种句子肯定前者，与less than恰好相反。
He was less hurt than frightened. (=He was more frightened than hurt.) 当more than 表示“不止是：时，也不是比较结构。 My trip to Beijing was more than sightseeing. He is more than happy about it.
He more than complained: he threw the whole book of rules at me. 此外，诸如as far as the Great Wall, as far back as the 16th century, as recently as May 14th 等搭配中的as…as 结构也是这种情况。
注意：
１. 注意区分most的用法。当most做”非常的”讲时，前面不用the ，但可用a: She is most beautiful. He is a most learned man. ２. 注意 as much of a…as, more of a…than, less of a…than的用法: It was much of a success as I had hoped. He is more of a sportsman than his brother.
He is less of a fool than I thought he was. ３.有些形容词直接表示了比较的意思，如superior to, inferior to, advantage over 等。
４.有些形容词因为逻辑上的考虑，一般没有比较级或最高级，如：perfect, complete, round, wooden, dead.
II. 历届四级考题中的比较用法：
1. Her fluency in English gives her an advantage _____ other girls for the job. (93/1/47) A) above B)over C)than D)with
2. Nuclear science should be developed to benefit the people _____ harm them. (93/6/53) A)more than B)other than C)rather than D)better than
3.They usually have less money at the end of the month than_____at the beginning. (93/6/54) A)which is B)which was C)they have D)it is
4. In the course of a day students do far more than just _____ classes. (93/6/55) A) attend B)attended C)to attend D)attending
5. Mr. Johnson preferred _____ heavier work to do. (93/6/61) A) to be given B)to be giving C)to have given D)having given
6. She is _____ a musician than her brother. (93/6/65) A)much of B)much as C)more of D)more as
7. Beethoven is my favorite musician. I regard him as _____ other musicians. (994/1/55) A)superior to B)more superior than C)more superior to D)superior than
8.Certain programs work better for some _____ for others. (95/1/50) A)and B)than C)as D)but
9.It is not unusual for workers in that region _____. (95/1/55) A)to be paid more than a month later B)to be paid later than more a month C)to pay later than a month more D)to pay late more than a month
10.If you don?t like to swim, you _____ stay at home. (95/1/60) A)should as well B)may as well C)can as well D)would as well
11. Radio, television and press _____ of conveying news and information. (95/6/57)
A)are the most three common means B)are the three most common means
C)are the most common three means D)are three the most common means
12. In Britain, the best season of the year is probably _____ spring. (95/6/65) A)later B)last C)latter D)late
13. Cancer is second only _____ heart disease as a cause of death. (96/1/30) A)of B)to C)with D)from
14. Young adults _____ older people are more likely to prefer pop songs. (96/6/40) A) other than B)more than C)less than D)rather than
15. Melted iron is poured into the mixer much _____ tea is poured into a cup from a teapot. (96/6/48)
A)in the same way like B)in the same way C)in the same way which D)in the same way as 16. Finding a job in such a big company has always been _____ his wildest dreams. (97/1/30)
A)under B)over C)above D)beyond
17. It is reported that _____ adopted children want to know who their natural parents are. (97/1/32)
A)the most B)most of C)most D)the most of
18. The little was ____ one meter fifty high. (97/1/36) A)almost more than B)hardly more than C)nearly more than D)as much as
19. You cannot be _____ careful when you drive a car. (97/6/32) A)very B)so C)too D)enough
20. If tap water was dangerous as some people think, _____would be getting sick. (98/1/41) A)a lot of us more B)more a lot of us C)a lot of us more D)a lot more of us 21. Americans eat ____ as they actually need every day. (98/6/56) A)twice as much protein B)protein as much twice
C)twice protein as much D)protein as twice much
22. There are few electronic applications _____ to raise fears regarding future employment opportunities than
robots. (98/6/59) A)likely B)more likely C)most likely D)much likely
23. The trumpet was certainly loud. But I wasn?t bothered by his loudness _____ by his lack of talent. (99/1/68)
A)than B)more than C)as D)so much as
24. Fifty years ago, wealthy people liked hunting wild animals for fun _____ sightseeing. (01/6/47)
A)than to go B)rather than to go C)more than going D)other than going
25. _____ in the United States, St. Louis has now become the 24th largest city. (01/6/60) A)The fourth biggest city it was B)Once the fourth biggest city
C)Being the fourth biggest city D)It was once the fourth biggest city
III. 答案及详解：
1.B) 题意：她英语流利，因而在竟争职位时比别的女孩有优势。
解析：注意词组搭配，give sb. an advantage over sb. else = be better than：比别人优势，超出别人。其他几个答案没有这种搭配，可以排除掉。
2.C) 题意：核科学应该朝着造福人类的方向发展，而不是给人类带来危害。
解析：词组意义辨析。more than 比……多; other than 不同于, 除了; rather than (更喜欢，更愿意……)而不是……； better than 比……好。
3.C) 题意：通常，他们在月底时比在月初时手头更紧一些。
解析：注意比较结构中一个很重要的问题：你要比较的两部分应该在句子中处于对等的位置，比如都
是主语部分，或都是宾语部分；本题要比较的是状语部分------at the end of the month和 at the beginning (of the month)，本句的后半部分省略了很多重复的东西，因此在找出要比较的两部分之后，是很容易把句子补充上的。
4. A) 题意：在一天的学习过程中，学生要做的事不仅仅是到教室听课。
解析：在比较结构far more than中， far只起强调语气的作用，far强调的意思是“比……多得多”。参照第3题的注释，作题时要弄清楚本句要比较的两部分是谓语，即 do和 attend这两个行为；那么，就应该让两个动词采取同等的形式，即都是动词原形。其他形式很容易被排除掉。
5. A) 题意：约翰迅先生偏爱承担重任。
解析：此题考的是动词词组结构：prefer to do sth.， 。 记住这个结构中要求的，在prefer之后要跟
动词的话，只有不定式的搭配，其他都不对。在此，总结一下prefer的用法。Prefer的主要意思是“宁可，更喜爱，认为……更可取”；在prefer之后可以有三种搭配：1）.后跟名词结构，比如 Do you prefer tea or coffee? I prefer watching Rugby to playing it. I prefer dogs to cats. I prefer singing to acting. 在后三句例子中，还有一个小地方要注意，在结构perfer A to B 中，意思是在两者中作出选择， 即相对于 B来讲，更喜欢A。2).后跟动词结构，只能是不定式，比如 I prefer you not to smoke. Most people prefer to remember what happened that day. 3). 后跟从句，比如 I prefer that the concert was cancelled if it were possible. 这样的用法比较正式，书面化。
6. C) 题意：相对于她兄弟而言，她更称得上是一位音乐家。
解析：本题有一个关键词：than ，所以我们用more of 后跟than 连接的比较状语，表示“更……,” 。much as表示”尽管,虽然” Much as I would like to help you, I am afraid I am very busy at the moment. much of 中的much 表示”很好的东西”, 常用在表达否定义的结构中, 比如: I don?t think much of that idea. He is very good at tennis, but he is not much of a swimmer. She is not much to look at, but she is very nice. more as 是故意混淆视听的。
7. A) 题意：贝多芬是我最喜爱的音乐家。我认为他比别人都优秀。 解析：记住superior to 和 inferior to 这两个形容词词组，superior to 表示“比……优秀，更好”; inferior to 表示”比……低劣，不如……好”。在这两个词组中没有出现than之类的比较结构词，形容词本身也没有词型变化而保持原形，却表达了比较的意义，所以考官们很喜欢出这种题目。其他搭配都不对。 8. B) 题意：某些项目对一部分人有用，而对其他人则无用。
解析：参照第3题的注释，作题时要弄清楚本句要比较的两部分是状语；另外，从关键词better 可以锁定答案B，这是一道较简单的比较题目。
9. A) 题意：那个地区会拖欠工人的工资长达一个多月，这种现象毫不稀奇。
解析：more than 在本句只起限定名词a month的作用，表示“一个多月”，而不是引导比较结构。另外，副词later表示“较晚的，后来”，修饰动词pay，它是一个独立的副词，不是late的比较级，所以不应该有答案B和C中later than的搭配； 也不应该是pay late。 10. B) 题意：假如你不想去游泳的话，你还是呆在家里的好。
解析：may (just) as well和 might (just) as well表示 “倒不如，还是……的好”, 后跟动词原形。 11. B) 题意：收音机，电视和报刊是传播新闻和信息的三个最普通的手段。
解析：在the three most common means这一串限定词加中心词 （means）的结构中，前后顺序主要决定于形容词与中心词之间的限定关系是强是弱，强的与中心词近一些。the 和three分别是定冠词和数词，位置应是第一和第二； most common 是形容词最高级，与means的限定关系更强，所以离它最近。英语中，形容词的排列顺序是有严格要求的，而中文在这一点上比较宽松，因此不要受母语影响，而要培养英语语感，作对题目。
12. D) 题意：在英国，一年中最好的季节大概是晚春。
解析：late 季节的早晚一般用early和 late来表示。late的意思是“晚期的，后期的”，比如：late afternoon
傍晚，late September九月底，the late eighteenth century十八世纪末叶。 later表示“较晚的，后来”，比如：At first he denied all guilt, but he later made a partial confession.他起初否认一切罪行，但后来做了部分交代， I?ll see you later.改天再见。 latter 1）表示（刚提到的两者之间）后者的 If offered red or white, I?d choose the latter (wine).如果有人问我要红酒还是白酒，我选择后者。 此义与former（前者的）正相反。