more than的用法總結(jié)
more than 是典型的“比較結(jié)構(gòu)”。因?yàn)檫@個(gè)結(jié)構(gòu)被賦予了太多的含義和用法,以至于讓人眼花繚亂,結(jié)果沒(méi)有人去關(guān)心它是怎么變來(lái)的。
其實(shí),任何事物都有其自身規(guī)律。表“程度”的more than結(jié)構(gòu),more 應(yīng)該是程度副詞much 的比較級(jí)。如果more表示數(shù)量,那么它就是限定詞much或many的比較級(jí),這要視情況而定。
下面,我們具體剖析more than的本義,以及由此衍生的各種用法。因?yàn)樘?,不宜在此羅列,那樣反而影響閱讀和理解。
一、more than 的基本含義:
1. 表示“數(shù)量”概念:“多于,超過(guò)”
The job needs more than three people. 這項(xiàng)工作需要三人以上去做。
There are more than fifty workers in this workshop. 這個(gè)車間里有五十多個(gè)工人。
I have seen this happen more than twice. 發(fā)生這種事我屢見不鮮。
This city has a population of more than 1,000,000. 這個(gè)城市人口超過(guò)一百萬(wàn)。
表示“數(shù)量”概念是more than 最基本的用法,可以說(shuō)一目了然,無(wú)須解釋。
2. 表示“程度”概念:“超過(guò),勝過(guò),不止,不僅,更加,非常”
He is more than a father. 他不僅僅是一位父親。
(意味著他還起到了父親以外的作用。)
Her room functions as more than a bedroom. 她的房間的作用超過(guò)了臥室。
I like this book more than you do. 我比你更喜歡這本書。
I'm afraid I've eaten more than enough. 恐怕我是吃得過(guò)多了。
It was more than flesh and blood could bear. 這是血肉之軀無(wú)法忍受的。
True friendship is worth more than money. 真正的友誼比金錢更有價(jià)值。
She was more than surprised when she saw the scene. 當(dāng)她看到這一幕時(shí),她感到非常驚訝(超出了驚訝)。
二、more和than的分離:
more than如果分開,than前后是兩個(gè)并列平行的成分,那么該結(jié)構(gòu)表示一種“取舍關(guān)系”,than前面的成分就是“取”,后面的成分就是“舍”??勺g為“是A不是B”,或者“與其說(shuō)是B,不如說(shuō)是A”。例如:
In some ways she is more like her father than her mother. 在某些方面,她更像她父親而不像母親。
He is more a writer than a scholar. 與其說(shuō)他是學(xué)者,不如說(shuō)是作家。
She thinks more of others than of herself. 她為別人而不為自己著想。
Tom is more foolish than stupid. 與其說(shuō)湯姆笨,倒不如說(shuō)他傻。
三、more than 的延伸:
1. more than 被程度副詞所修飾:
這些程度副詞一般是much, far, a little, little, a bit, twice等。
Eighty is much more than eight . 80比8大得多。
Teachers do much more than impart knowledge. 教師們所付出的遠(yuǎn)比傳授知識(shí)要多。
My car has been using a lot of petrol lately, far more than usually. 近來(lái)我的車耗油量很大,遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過(guò)了平時(shí)的水平。
In fact good artists do not only copy life. They do far more than that. 事實(shí)上,優(yōu)秀的藝術(shù)家搞創(chuàng)作遠(yuǎn)不只單純地臨摹生活。
He spent a little more than 20 yuan yesterday. 昨天他花了20塊多一點(diǎn)兒。
That's a little more than I want to pay. 價(jià)格有點(diǎn)貴。
The play lasts a bit more than two hours. 戲演了兩個(gè)小時(shí)多一點(diǎn)兒。
As a matter of fact, it weights a bit more than it should. 實(shí)際上,份量比應(yīng)該給的還多了點(diǎn)。
The Boulevard at that time was little more than a country road. 那條林蔭大道當(dāng)時(shí)和一條鄉(xiāng)村大路差不多。
I accomplished the journey in little more than two hours. 我近用兩個(gè)鐘頭就行完了旅程。
【說(shuō)明】跟a little一樣,little也是一個(gè)程度副詞,只不過(guò)表“否定”含義罷了,little more than 跟no more than 意思十分接近。
2. no more than 和nothing more than:
no more than 和nothing more than,就是字面意思:“不多于,僅僅,只不過(guò)”。
It's no more than a misunderstanding. 這只是個(gè)誤會(huì)。
It will take no more than five days to read the book. 只需五天,我就會(huì)把這本書讀完。
His whole school education added up to no more than one year. 他所受的全部學(xué)校教育加起來(lái)不過(guò)一年。
It is nothing more than a made-up story. 它只不過(guò)是杜撰的故事而已。
Racing is nothing more than a hobby. 賽車只是一種愛好。
She wishes to be treated as nothing more than a common girl. 她希望被對(duì)待得只不過(guò)像一般的女孩子。
3. no more ... than +從句
“no more+形容詞/副詞+ than”也是一種比較結(jié)構(gòu)。這種結(jié)構(gòu)是對(duì)than前后兩個(gè)并列成分的全部否定,意為“兩者都不”。
He is no more hard working than she is.他跟她一樣都不用功。
Tom was no more surprised than (he was) disappointed at this news. 湯姆聽見那消息既不驚訝也不失望。
He is no more considerate of others than his brother is. 他不體諒別人,就跟他弟弟一樣。
4. not ... any more than +從句
“not ... any more than”也是一種比較結(jié)構(gòu),意味著主句和比較從句全都否定。翻譯時(shí)可靈活掌握。例如:
They cannot do the impossible any more than we can. 他們和我們同樣不能做不可能的事情。(the impossible 指“不可能的事情”,相當(dāng)于 the impossible things)
He does not like classical music any more than I do. 他和我一樣都不喜歡古典音樂(lè)。
He can not speak French any more than I can. 他不會(huì)說(shuō)法語(yǔ),我也不會(huì)。
This is not my job any more than it is yours. 這不是你的工作,同樣也不是我的工作。
He is not a poet any more than I am a scholar. 我不是一個(gè)學(xué)者,他也不是一個(gè)詩(shī)人。
Man cannot live without food any more than plants can grow without sunshine. 人沒(méi)有食物不能生存,植物沒(méi)有陽(yáng)光也不能生長(zhǎng)。
四、不用比較級(jí)原來(lái)是什么呢?—— 如果一定要變成原級(jí),那就是表程度的very much:
He was very much a child when his father died.
Today, under Flanagan's tutelage, she is very much a winner. 今天,在弗拉納根的指導(dǎo)下,她是個(gè)十足的成功者。
Climate change is still very much a subject for debate. 氣候變化很大程度上仍是一個(gè)爭(zhēng)論的話題。
He is very much a private man and confides in no one. 他是個(gè)很隱秘的人,從不向人吐露他的秘密。