英語中比較級than的正確用法是什么(2)
使用than的常見語法難點
一、后接人稱代詞用主格還是賓格
由于than既可用作連詞也可用作介詞,所以當后接人稱代詞時,可用主格也可用賓格。通常認為在正式文體中多用主格,在口語或非正式文體中多用賓語。
如:
Everyone here is taller than I [me].
這兒的每一個人都比我高。
Her sister swims faster than she [her].
她姐姐游泳比她快。
但是,若人稱代詞之后跟有動詞,則只能用主格。
如:
Everyone here is taller than I am.
這兒的每一個人都比我高。
Her sister swims faster than she does.
她姐姐游泳比她快。
注意:有時用主格或賓格會導致意思的變化。
比較:
I love you more than he (likes you).
我比他更愛你。
I love you more than (he likes) him.
我愛你勝過愛他。
二、后接動詞用不定式還是動名詞
1. 當連接兩個非謂語動詞時,通常應使用一樣的形式。
如:
It is much easier to get into debt than to get out of it.
借債容易還債難。
He likes playing chess more than watching TV.
與看電視相比,他更喜歡下棋。
比較:
He thinks it is safer to drive himself than (to) let me drive.
=He thinks that driving himself is safer than letting me drive.
他認為他自己開車比讓我開車要更安全些。
2. 若不是連接兩個非謂語動詞,則其后出現(xiàn)的動詞通常用動名詞形式(雖然也可用不定式,但不如用動名詞普通)。
如:
There are worse calamities than failing your driving test.
比起你駕駛考試不合格來說,更大的災難還多著呢。
Nothing gives me more pleasure than listening to Mozart.
再沒有比聽莫扎特的樂曲更讓我高興的事了。
Nothing is more unpleasant than finding [to find] insects in your bath.
最使人不快的是在浴室里發(fā)現(xiàn)有蟲子。
三、引導比較狀語從句的時態(tài)問題
若than引導的比較狀語從句與主句動作不一致,可以根據(jù)情況使用適當?shù)臅r態(tài)形式。
如:
He drives faster than he did a year ago.
他開車比一年以前快了。
The house is rather bigger than we thought.
這所房子比我們想的大得多。
若主句為將來時,than引導的從句可用現(xiàn)在時態(tài)表示將來,也可直接使用將來時態(tài)。
如:
We'll probably drive faster than you do [will].
我們開車可能會比你們快。
四、引導比較狀語從句的倒裝問題
than引導比較狀語從句時,從句語序通常不需倒裝,但在正式文體中,有時也可倒裝。
如:
City dweller have a higher death rate than country people do.
=City dweller have a higher death rate than do country people.
城市居民死亡率比農(nóng)村居民高。
五、引導比較狀語從句且在從句中充當成分
有時可引導一個從句并在從句中充當句子成分(主語、賓語、表語),為便于理解,有時可視為than后省略了what:
We don't want to do more than is necessary.
我們不想做不必要的事情。
The pain was almost more than he could bear.
這樣的痛苦幾乎使他受不了。
She's not a very good manager she always spends more money than she earns.
她不大會理財——總是入不敷出。
Life here is much easier than it used to be.
如今在此地生活比起從前可舒服多了。
比較下面一句,than后的expected為省略結(jié)構(gòu):
He returned three days earlier than (he was) expected.
他回來得比預料的要早三天。
六、后接時間或條件狀語從句
若語義需要,有時其后可接when引導的時間狀語從句以及if 引導的條件狀語從句。
如:
You are a little fatter than when I saw you last.
你比我上次見你時胖點了。
Joe carries only nine pounds more than when he was twenty.
喬比他20歲時只重了九磅。
They work better together than if they are alone.
他們一起干比他們單干效果要好。