Lecture 25 比较等级和比较结构

Lecture25ComparisonandComparativeConstructions25.1ComparisonofAdjectivesandAdverbsMostadjectivesandadverbsaregradable,sotheycanbeusedincomparativeclauses.Incomparativeconstructions,adjectivesandadverbstakespecialformscalled“formsofcomparison”.ThreedegreesPositive/absolutedegreeComparativedegreeSuperlativedegreeRegularorirregularRegularcomparisonofadjectivesSyntheticform:expressedbytheinflectedformsin–eror–estAnalyticform:expressedbytheequivalentswithmoreormostTheformationofcomparativeandsuperlativedegreeMono-syllabicadjectivesDisyllabicadjectivessyntheticformsyntheticanalyticExceptionsofdisyllabicadjectivesEndingwith–yand–ow:mostlysyntheticformEg.Happy-happier-happiestNarrow-narrower-narrowestAdjectivesofmorethantwosyllablesComparativeandsuperlativedegree:analyticformRegularcomparisonofadverbsMono-syllabicadverbsSyntheticformAdverbsofmorethanonesyllableAnalyticformAdverbsendingwith-lyAnalyticformEg.Clearly-moreclearly-mostclearlyIrregularcomparisonofadjectivesandadverbsMostlyanalyticEg.Bad-worse-worstOld-older/elder-oldest/eldest25.2ComparativeconstructionsAs…asconstructionMore…thanconstruction(The)+superlativeadjective/adverb+scopeofcomparisonThebasicpatternofas…asconstructionAs+adjective/adverb(positive/absolutedegree)+asEg.JohnisasbrightasBob.Negated:notas/so…asLess…than(notsocommonastheabove)exampleIdenticalityofsubjectsofthecomparativeandthemainclauseJohnisasbrightasBob.Thegirlwasasbrilliantasshewasbeautiful.Note:Comparativeelementsarerespectivelythesameintheformer,butdifferentinthelatter.DifferentsubjectsandcomparativeelementsTheswimmingpoolisn’ttwiceaswideasthatoneislong.Hisunclewasasbaseandunworthyashisfatherhadbeenuprightandhonourable.Note:Payattentiontothetranslation.SentenceconstructionofcomparativeclauseDifferentsubjectsanddifferentcomparativeelementsMinorsentenceIdenticalsubjectsbutdifferentcomparativeelements,ordifferentinbothFullsentenceAnotherpatternofas…asconstructionAsmuch/many+noun+as–clauseNegated:notso/as+much/many+nounas-clauseAvariantformofas…asconstructionAs+adjective+nounphrase+as–clauseNote:theembeddednounphraseisusually“a/an+singularcountnoun”or“zero+non-countnoun”ratherthan“zero+pluralcountnoun”.Thevariantformisinterchangeablewiththeconstruction“nounphraseas…as”exceptforthenucleus.(seeP286)“Morethan”constructionComparativedegree+than–clauseNegated:lessprimitive/absolutedegree+than-clausenotso/asprimitive/absolutedegreeas(preferredinthecaseofanestablishedpairofantonymousadj.oradverbs)Note:comparativedegreeoftheantonym+than-clausevsnotso/as…as(seeP287)Anotherpatternof“morethan”constructionDeterminer(more,less,fewer)+noun+than-clauseThefirstVariantformof“morethan”constructiona/an/zeroarticle+Comparativeadjective+noun+than-clauseThepatterncanberephrasedasnounphrase+more…thanMoreadjectivenounphrasethan(lessfrequentlyused,seeP288)ThesecondVariantformof“morethan”constructionThecomparativeadjective/adverb+of-phraseEg.Johnisthebrighterofthetwoboys.ThethirdVariantformof“morethan”constructionMore/lessofanoun+than-clauseNote:moreandlesshereserveasindefinitepronouns.Andthenounisusuallygradable(seeP288forsportsman).(The)+superlativeadjective/adverb+scopeofcomparisonThreeormorethanthreearecompared.Thescopecanbeexpressedbyaprepositionalphrase,arelativeclauseoranon-finiteclause.Insomesituationsandexpressions,ascopeofcomparisonisunnecessary.Eg.Iwilldoitwiththegreatestpleasure.NegatedformTheleast…ThesuperlativedegreeofantonymousadjectivesoradverbsThesuperlativedegreecanbeexpressedbythepositiveorcomparativedegreeGeorgedidmoreworkthananyoneelse.NothinginmylifeshookmesodeeplyasmyfirstvisittoChina.Ilikenothingbetter.25.3Contrastbetweencomparativeconstructions“More…than”vsquasi-coordinativetype“notso…as”vs“notsomuch…as”“Notmore/-er…than”vs“nomore/-er…than”“themore…themore”vs“moreandmore”“More…than”vsquasi-coordinativetypeMore…than:comparisonofthesameelementbetweendifferentsubjectseg.Theconcertwasmoreenjoyablethanthelecture.Quasi-coordinative:comparisonofthedifferentelementsofthesamesubjectEg.Johnismoredaringthanquick-witted.Less…thanHewaslesshurtthanfrightened.=Hewasfrightenedratherthanhurt.“notso…as”vs“notsomuch…as”Itwasn’tsomuchhisappearancellikedashispersonality.Aquasi-coordinativetype,Similartoless…than“Notmore/-er…than”vs“nomore/-er…thanJohnisnotbetterthanTom.JohnisnobetterthanTom.(asbadas)Nomorethan=onlyNomore…than=not…anymorethanSee292forexamplesMorethanhavenegativeimplicationMytriptoBeijingismorethansightseeing.=MytriptoBeijingisnotmerelyforsightseeing.“themore…themore”vs“moreandmore”Themore….themoreTodenotetwoparallelprocessesonaproportionalincrease.Thefirst“themore”isasubordinateclause,whereasthesecondthemainclause,sometimeswithellipsis.“moreandmore”usedaspremodifierinadjective/adverbphrases.Todenoteoneprocessthatisonacontinualincrease.