比較級與最高級
Comparatives and superlatives
原級比較、比較級、最高級、不規則變化、修飾比較級的字、the more... the more 結構以及 one of the + 最高級。
練習 60 題比較級與最高級的構成
- 有些雙音節形容詞兩種方式都可以:
quiet, simple, narrow, clever(simpler / more simple)。 - -ly 結尾的副詞用
more/most:more quickly;與形容詞同形的副詞用-er:harder, faster, earlier, later。 - 劣等比較:
less + 形容詞/副詞(less expensive)、the least;fewer + 複數名詞,less + 不可數名詞。 further還有進一步、更多的意思:for further information。
| 形容詞/副詞類型 | 比較級 | 最高級 |
|---|---|---|
| 單音節 | cheap → cheaper, large → larger | the cheapest, the largest |
| 單音節,子音-母音-子音 | big → bigger, hot → hotter | the biggest |
| 雙音節且以 -y 結尾 | busy → busier, early → earlier | the busiest, the earliest |
| 雙音節以上 | more efficient, more carefully | the most efficient |
| 不規則 | good/well → better; bad/badly → worse; far → farther/further; little → less; many/much → more | best; worst; farthest/furthest; least; most |
原級比較(同等比較)
as + 形容詞/副詞 + asnot as/so + 形容詞/副詞 + asas + many/much + 名詞 + asthe same (+ 名詞) + astwice / three times / half + as ... asas soon as possible、as early as、as much as是非常常見的片語。the same as(相同)、similar to、different from不用than。
- The new model is twice as fast as the previous one.新型號的速度是前一代的兩倍。
- Please reply as soon as possible.請盡快回覆。
- This quarter we did not sell as many units as we expected.本季我們的銷量不如預期。
比較級與修飾語
S + V + 形容詞-er / more + 形容詞 + than + N/代名詞/子句much / far / a lot / even / still / considerably / significantly / slightly / a little + 比較級than之後可以接受格代名詞(than him)或子句(than he did)。比較兩個事物的屬性時,用that of / those of。the + 比較級 + of the two:Ms. Ruiz is the more experienced of the two candidates.- 某些拉丁字源的形容詞用 to 取代 than:
superior to, inferior to, senior to, junior to, prior to, prefer A to B。
- Shipping costs are considerably higher this year than last year.今年的運費比去年高出許多。
- The online version is even more popular than the printed one.線上版甚至比紙本版更受歡迎。
最高級
the + 形容詞-est / the most + 形容詞 + (名詞) + in + 地點/組織the ... + of + 群體/期間the ... + (that) + S + have/has ever + V3one of the + 最高級 + 複數名詞- 地點或組織用 in(
in the city, in the company),群體或時間用 of(of all the candidates, of the year)。 - 可以用所有格取代 the:
our biggest client。 - 加強最高級:
by far the best、the very best;表示名次:the second largest。 One of the + 複數 N當主詞時 → 單數動詞:One of the largest firms is based here.
- This is the most comprehensive report we have ever received.這是我們收過最完整的一份報告。
- Mr. Okafor is one of the most respected engineers in the industry.歐卡佛先生是業界最受敬重的工程師之一。
the more... the more 與遞增比較
The + 比較級 + S + V, the + 比較級 + S + V比較級 + and + 比較級(越來越)- 可以省略:
The sooner, the better. - 較長的形容詞:
more and more expensive(不說more expensive and more expensive)。更正式的說法:increasingly expensive。
- The earlier you book, the lower the fare will be.越早訂票,票價越低。
- Online shopping is becoming more and more popular.線上購物越來越普及。
與數字有關的比較:幾倍、增加多少
Part 7 的銷售報告、圖表,以及 Part 5 的數據題,大量使用帶數字的比較結構。必須掌握倍數的位置和搭配的介系詞。
twice表示兩倍;三倍以上用three times, four times。正式文體不用two times as ... as。by表示差額,to表示最後達到的數值:Prices rose by $5(上漲了 5 美元)不同於Prices rose to $5(漲到 5 美元)。
| 結構 | 例句 |
|---|---|
| twice / three times / half + as + 形容詞 + as | The new warehouse is twice as large as the old one. |
| 倍數 + 比較級 + than | The new processor is three times faster than the previous model. |
| 倍數 + the + size/number/amount + of | The new office is twice the size of the old one. |
| increase/decrease/rise/fall + by + 差額 | Sales increased by 15% compared with last year. |
| 數字 / % + 比較級 + than | Costs were 10% higher than expected. |
| compared with/to, in comparison with | Compared with last year, profits have doubled. |
- Online sales were twice as high as in-store sales last month.上個月的線上銷售額是門市銷售額的兩倍。
- The number of visitors increased by 20 percent after the redesign.改版之後,訪客人數增加了 20%。
省略式比較:than expected、than usual、than ever
在商務文件中,比較句的後半部常被省略到只剩一兩個字。Part 5 常把這些片語前面的比較級挖空。
- 在句尾看到這些片語時,前面的空格幾乎一定是比較級:
The results were ------- than expected→ better,不是 good 或 best。 - 後半部也可以省略成
than + 主詞 + 助動詞:The new model sells better than the old one did.
| 片語 | 意思 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| than expected, than anticipated | 比預期 | The project took longer than expected. |
| than usual | 比平常 | Traffic is heavier than usual today. |
| than ever (before) | 比以往任何時候都 | Our products are more popular than ever. |
| than planned, than scheduled | 比原定計畫 | The store opened earlier than planned. |
| than previously thought | 比先前所想的 | The repairs will cost more than previously thought. |
| than necessary | 超過必要的程度 | Please do not print more copies than necessary. |
| than last year, than in the past | 和去年相比、和以前相比 | Fewer people attended than last year. |
- Ticket sales for the conference were higher than anticipated.研討會的門票銷售量比預期更高。
- Customers care more about fast delivery than ever before.顧客比以往任何時候都更重視快速到貨。
多益常見的比較固定片語
有些片語雖然有比較的形式,但已經成為具有特定意思的固定片語。它們大量出現在公告、電子郵件和合約中。
rather than連接形式相同的兩個成分:repair rather than replace、by email rather than by phone。- 表達截止期限時,
no later than相當於by:no later than 5 p.m. on Friday=by 5 p.m. on Friday。
| 片語 | 意思 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| no later than | 最晚在、不晚於 | Please submit the form no later than May 5. |
| at the latest, at the earliest | 最晚、最早 | The parts will arrive by Friday at the latest. |
| rather than | 而不是 | We decided to repair the machine rather than replace it. |
| other than | 除了 | No one other than the manager has the key. |
| would rather + V + than + V | 寧願……也不願…… | Many staff would rather work from home than commute. |
| prefer A to B | 喜歡 A 勝過 B | Most clients prefer email to phone calls. |
| no less than | 不少於(強調數字很大) | The CEO met no less than ten investors this week. |
| more or less | 大約、差不多 | The project is more or less finished. |
- All entries must be received no later than June 30.所有參賽作品最晚須於 6 月 30 日前送達。
- Many employees would rather work from home than commute every day.許多員工寧願在家工作,也不想每天通勤。
多益解題技巧
- 後面看到 than → 選比較級(
-er/more);前面有 the、後面有in/of/ever/that...have ever→ 選最高級;看到 as ... as → 選形容詞/副詞的原級。 - 修飾比較級的題目:選
much, far, even, still, a lot, considerably, significantly, slightly;刪掉very, more, so(very cheaper是錯的)。 - 在
as ___ as中仍要判斷形容詞還是副詞:as quickly as possible(修飾動詞)和as efficient as(be 動詞之後)。 One of the + 最高級 + 複數名詞,動詞依 one(單數)決定,是 Part 5 的常見陷阱。
常見錯誤
錯誤: This laptop is very lighter than the old one.
正確: This laptop is much lighter than the old one.
Very 不能修飾比較級;要用 much/far/even。
錯誤: Our new office is more larger than the old one.
正確: Our new office is larger than the old one.
More 和字尾 -er 不能同時使用。
錯誤: She is one of the best manager in the company.
正確: She is one of the best managers in the company.
One of the + 最高級之後接複數名詞。
錯誤: The project was completed as quick as possible.
正確: The project was completed as quickly as possible.
修飾動詞 completed 要用副詞。
錯誤: This product is superior than its competitors.
正確: This product is superior to its competitors.
Superior 搭配 to,不用 than。
練習題(附解答)
1.The new office is ------- spacious as the old one, but the rent is cheaper.
- (A) so
- (B) as
- (C) more
- (D) most
查看解答與解析
答案: (B) as
同級比較 as + 形容詞 + as:
as spacious as。so ... as只用於否定句;more需要 than。2.The compact model weighs only half ------- much as our standard vacuum cleaner.
- (A) as
- (B) so
- (C) than
- (D) more
查看解答與解析
答案: (A) as
分數/倍數的比較:half + as + much + as:
half as much as。so ... as只用於否定句;than、more結構錯誤。3.This year's sales conference was ------- than last year's event.
- (A) large
- (B) larger
- (C) largest
- (D) more large
查看解答與解析
答案: (B) larger
有 than 所以用比較級;large 是短形容詞,加
-r:larger。more large錯誤,因為短形容詞不用 more。4.The second quarter was ------- more profitable than the first.
- (A) very
- (B) so
- (C) much
- (D) most
查看解答與解析
答案: (C) much
強調比較級時在 more 前面用
much(或far, considerably)。very、so不能放在比較級前面。5.Bluewater Airlines offers the ------- fares on flights between Lisbon and Madrid.
- (A) lower
- (B) low
- (C) lowest
- (D) most low
查看解答與解析
答案: (C) lowest
空格前面有 the 且沒有 than,因此用最高級
lowest。most low錯誤,因為 low 是短形容詞。6.Dr. Varga is one of the most respected ------- in the field of renewable energy.
- (A) researcher
- (B) research
- (C) researching
- (D) researchers
查看解答與解析
答案: (D) researchers
one of the + 最高級 + 複數名詞:
one of the most respected researchers。researcher是單數;research不指人;researching是 V-ing。7.The ------- we receive the documents, the sooner we can process your loan.
- (A) earliest
- (B) earlier
- (C) early
- (D) more early
查看解答與解析
答案: (B) earlier
越……越…… 的結構:
The + 比較級 ..., the + 比較級 ...;後半句有 the sooner,所以前半句是the earlier。more early形式錯誤。8.Reviewers agree that the new camera's image quality is superior ------- that of any other model in its price range.
- (A) than
- (B) from
- (C) as
- (D) to
查看解答與解析
答案: (D) to
superior 搭配 to,不用 than:
superior to that of。than、from、as不與 superior 搭配。9.Traffic on the expressway was ------- than usual this morning because of the road repairs.
- (A) badder
- (B) worst
- (C) more bad
- (D) worse
查看解答與解析
答案: (D) worse
bad 的比較級是不規則變化:
worse than usual。badder、more bad構成方式錯誤;worst是最高級。10.Thanks to the extra crew, the kitchen remodel was completed more quickly than the client -------.
- (A) had expected
- (B) expectation
- (C) expecting
- (D) to expect
查看解答與解析
答案: (A) had expected
than 之後可以接含有變化動詞的子句:
than the client had expected(在完工之前的預期)。expectation是名詞;expecting、to expect不能當主要動詞。
練習題
60 題 Part 5 題型,一次一題,每題作答後立即附上解析。
常見問題
英文有哪些比較的類型?
主要有三種:同等比較 as + 形容詞 + as(as fast as)、比較級 形容詞-er/more + 形容詞 + than(cheaper than, more efficient than)和最高級 the + 形容詞-est/the most + 形容詞(the cheapest, the most efficient)。此外還有劣等比較(less ... than, the least)、漸進比較(more and more)和越……越……的結構(the sooner, the better)。
什麼時候加 -er/-est,什麼時候用 more/most?
單音節形容詞加 -er/-est(cheap → cheaper → the cheapest)。字尾是 -y 的雙音節形容詞把 y 改成 i 再加 -er/-est(busy → busier)。其餘雙音節以上的形容詞和字尾 -ly 的副詞用 more/most(more reliable, more quickly)。有些不規則變化必須背起來:good/well → better → best、bad → worse → worst、far → further → furthest。
為什麼不能說 very cheaper?
very 只修飾原級形容詞(very cheap)。要強調比較級,用 much, far, even, still, a lot, considerably, significantly(差距大)或 slightly, a little, a bit(差距小):much cheaper, slightly higher。這是 Part 5 非常常見的題型:選項中的 very、so、more 通常都是陷阱。
最高級要用 in 還是 of?
地點或組織用 in:the largest firm in the region、the best employee in the company。一個群體或一段時間用 of:the best of all the candidates、the busiest month of the year。此外,最高級也常接 that + S + have ever + V3 子句:the best offer we have ever received。
「越……越……」的結構怎麼寫?
公式是 The + 比較級 + S + V, the + 比較級 + S + V:The earlier you book, the lower the fare will be。前後兩部分都以 the 開頭,而且都是比較級。短句可以省略:The sooner, the better。要表達「越來越……」則用 比較級 + and + 比較級:more and more popular, cheaper and cheaper。
one of the + 最高級之後的動詞怎麼變化?
one of the + 最高級 後面接複數名詞,但整個片語當主詞時,動詞依 one 用單數:One of the largest suppliers is based in Osaka。Part 5 通常在其中一處設陷阱:在 one of the 後選單數名詞,或因為看到旁邊的複數名詞而選複數動詞。