六、比较结构
(一)同级比较
形式为:...as+(形容词或副词)原级+(名词)+as...
例句: Critics also argue that commercial genetic testing is only as good as the reference collections to which a sample is compared. (选自2009年Text 2)
分析: 该句是复合句,that commercial genetic testing...作argue的宾语,to which a sample is compared是一个修饰the reference collections的定语从句。
译文: 批评家们还指出,商业基因检测的好坏取决于用于样本对比的参考样本的好坏。
例句: Scientists generally agree that the Earths climate will warm up over the next 50 to 100 years as much as it has warmed in the 2,000 years since the Ice Age.
分析: 该句是复合句,that the Earths...Ice Age 作 agree的宾语从句。
译文: 科学家们普遍认为,地球气候未来50年到100年的时间里会变暖,变暖的程度与自冰河世纪以来的2 000年的时间里变暖的程度一样。
(二)优劣比较
1.优等比较。
形式为:...比较级+than...
例句: Its a message even more bitter than a clove cigarette, yet, somehow, a breath of fresh air. (选自2006年Text 4)
分析: 该句是简单句,even more bitter than...修饰a message。
译文: 读这一消息的滋味甚至比抽丁香烟还要苦,但却不知怎么地带来了一股清新的气息。
例句: These recordings are cheap, available everywhere, and very often much higher in artistic quality than todays live performances; moreover, they can be “consumed” at a time and place of the listeners choosing. (选自2011年Text 1)
分析:该句是由分号连接的并列句。前一个分句中含有形容词的比较级;后一个分句中副词moreover表示递进关系。
译文:这些录制音乐价格低廉,到处可以买到,而且其艺术品质往往比当今的现场演奏要高出许多。它们可以在听众所选择的任何时间和地点被“享用”。
2.劣等比较。
形式为:...not so (as)+原级+as...=less+原级+ than
例句: According to several studies concluding that parents are less happy than childless couples, single parents are the least happy of all. (选自2011年Text 4)
分析: 该句是简单句,其中,分词短语concluding that parents are less happy than childless couples作后置定语,修饰studies,从句that parents are less happy than childless couples又充当concluding的宾语。
译文: 结论为 “为人父母者不如无子女者幸福”的多项研究表明,单亲父母最不幸福。
例句: Their lives are no less empty than those of their subordinates.
分析: 该句是简单句,其中those代表lives。
译文: 他们的生活同其下属一样空虚。
(三)最高级表示
1. 优等比较。
形式为: the+最高级+单数名词或one +of (in短语)/that从句(仅限于形容词)。
例句: It soon becomes clear that the interior designers most important basic concern is the function of the particular space.
分析: 该句是复合句,其中it为形式主语,真正的主语为that the interior designers most important...。
译文: 室内设计者最基本的关注点就是某一特定空间的功能,这一点很快就清楚了。
例句: I believe that the most important forces behind the massive M&A wave are the same that underlie the globalization process: falling transportation and communication costs, lower trade and investment barriers and enlarged markets that require enlarged operations capable of meeting customers demands. (选自2001年Text 4)
分析: 该句是复合句,主干部分为I believe that..., that require enlarged...demands是修饰falling transportation...and enlarged markets的定语从句,形容词短语capable of meeting customers demands修饰operations,其中be the same that...意为“……与……是相同的”。
译文: 我认为引起这场大规模合并浪潮的最重要的力量与导致全球化的力量是相同的: 运输与通信费用下降,贸易与投资障碍减少,市场扩大。这一切都需要扩大业务往来以满足消费者的需求。
2. 劣等比较。
形式为: the+least+原级+(单数名词或one)+of(in短语)/that从句(仅限于形容词)。
例句: In class, she is the least talented girl in mastering foreign language that I have ever taught.
分析: 该句是复合句,that I have ever taught是修饰girl的定语从句。
译文: 她是我在班里教过的在外语学习方面最缺乏天分的女孩。
3. 比较级表示最高级含义。
形式为: 比较级+ than any other+单数名词。
例句: The campus of this university is much more beautiful than any other campus.
译文: 这所大学的校园是最漂亮的。
4. 最高级形容词前加定冠词the,但作表语不和他人或物作比较时,可省去the。
例句: I have been busiest these days for writing papers.
译文: 写论文的这些天是我最忙的时间。
(四)同类比较
同类事物才能放在一起作比较,不同类的不能放在一起进行比较,例如:
Are your jobs more important than Jack?
(说法错误。你的工作不能和Jack比较;应该是和Jack的工作相比较,因此该句正确的说法为: Are your jobs more important than Jacks?)
The climate of Shanxi Province is much better than Henan Province.
(说法错误。山西的气候不能和河南省比较;应该是和河南省的气候相比较,因此该句正确的说法为: The climate of Shanxi Province is much better than that of Henan Province. )