比较级前面的冠词使用问题
在通常情况下,英语的比较级前不用冠词。如:
A dog is usually bigger than a cat. 狗一般比猫要大。
Any changes would be very difficult to make so it’s better to leave well alone. 做任何改动都很困难,还是见好就收吧。
但是,在某些特殊情况下,有时也用冠词,具体说来,要注意以下几点:
1. 当比较级后接名词时,比较级前可能用冠词,此时的冠词不是修饰比较级,而是修饰其后的名词。如:
He emigrated to Brazil in search of a better life. 他为寻求更好的生活,移民到巴西。
They stood on tiptoe to get a better look at the parade. 他们踮起脚以便把游行场面看得更清楚些。
He is changing his job because he wants a bigger income. 他在调换工作因为他想增加收入。
I couldn’t have got to the meeting on time—unless I had caught an earlier train. 我不可能及时赶到会场,除非我赶上了较早一班火车。
但是,若受比较级修饰的名词为表泛指的复数名词或不可数名词,则仍不用冠词。如:
Please devote more time to your work. 请在工作上多花点时间。
In the past, people had fewer expectations. 过去,人们的希求要少一些。
The manager listened to the worker’s demand for more money. 经理听取了工人们关于提高工钱的要求。
2. 当要特指两者中“较(更)……”时,比较级前通常要带定冠词,此时可视为比较级后省略了有关的名词或代词one,即定冠词实为修饰被省略的名词或代词one。如:
the elder of the two brothers 两兄弟中年纪大的一个
Which of the two methods is the better? 这两种方法哪一种更好?
Of the two coats, the black one is the better. 在这两件外套中,这件黑色的更好些。
3. 在比较级前用the表示程度(通常有表示原因、理由或条件的短语或从句)。如:
If that is the case, all the better. 如果事实是那样,那就更好了。
I feel all the better for that swim. 游泳之后,我感觉更舒服了。
4. 用于“the+比较级,the+比较级”,表示“越……越……”。如:
The more you eat, the fatter you get. 吃得越多,身体越胖。
The more I see of him, the less I like him. 我越是见他,越是不喜欢他。
The more expensive petrol becomes, the less people drive. 汽油越贵,开车的人就越少。
The more you know, the more you’ll realize how little you know. 你知道得越多,你就越会体会到你知道得那么有限。
5. 当by far用于修饰比较级且置于其前时,比较级前要用the。如:
It’s quicker by far to go by train. 坐火车去要快得多。
This applicant is by far the better than that one. 这个申请者远比那一个好。
注:与比较级连用,通常要放在比较级之后,若放在比较级前,则比较级通常应带有冠词。如:
He is cleverer by far than her.
It’s by far the quicker to go by train.