張前銀
more than可以看作一個(gè)固定詞組,后面可跟數(shù)詞,形容詞,名詞(或動(dòng)名詞)、動(dòng)詞和從句等不同形式。由于后面所接形式不同,more than的用法和譯法也不相同。
[more than+數(shù)詞]
more than+數(shù)詞表示“超過”,“多于”(=over)。如:
His report lasted more than three hours.
I have known him for more than twenty years.
例1 Americans eat ______ vegetables per person today as they did in 1910.
A. more than twice
B. as twice as many
C. twice as many as
D. more than twice as many
解析 D。句意為:美國人均蔬菜的攝入量是他們1910年人均蔬菜攝入量的兩倍多。從題干中as可以看出為同級(jí)比較,采用排除法,首先排除A項(xiàng),如果選擇B或C項(xiàng),代入題干后句中將出現(xiàn)3個(gè)as, 而且語法不同。
[more than+名詞(動(dòng)名詞)或動(dòng)詞]
“more than+名詞(動(dòng)名詞)或動(dòng)詞”表示“不僅僅是,不只是”。如:
He more than smiled, but laughed.
My trip to Beijing is more than sightseeing.
例2 Our English teacher is kind, warm-hearted and wise, we all consider her _____ a teacher but a good friend.
A. less than B. more than
C. much more D. other than
解析 B。句意為:我們的英語老師和藹,仁慈而且很有智慧,我們不只是把她當(dāng)作我們的老師,而且把她看成我們的朋友。A項(xiàng)less than意思為“少于,不超過”,C項(xiàng)much more用來修飾比較級(jí),意思為“比……得多”,D項(xiàng)。other than意思為“而不是”,均不符合題意,只有B項(xiàng)more than意思為“遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不止是,勝過”,符合題意。
[more than+形容詞/副詞/分詞]
“more than+形容詞/副詞/分詞”表示“及其,非常,很”(=very, extremely)。如:
He is more than pleased with the result.
I am more than happy to accept your invitation.
例3 — Why did you ask Jack for help?
— He is _______ capable and helpful, I think.
A. no more B. less than
C. more than D. much more
解析 C。A項(xiàng)no more意思為“不再”,表示程度,B項(xiàng)less than意思是“少于”,D項(xiàng)much more修飾多音節(jié)形容詞比較級(jí),均不符合題意。
[more than ... can(從句)]
“more than ... can (從句)”意思是“難以,完全不能”, 表示超出某人力量、知識(shí)等范圍。如:
That is more than I can tell.
We admire him more than we can say.
例4 The beauty of our city is _____ I can describe.
A. much more B. many more
C. more than D. less than
解析 C。 句題為:我難以用語言來描述我們這座城市的美麗。A項(xiàng)much more修飾不可數(shù)名詞,B項(xiàng)many more用來修飾可數(shù)名詞,more than與后面含有can的從句連用,表示“難以,完全不能”,符合題意。D項(xiàng)less than表示“少于”。
[more than構(gòu)成主語]
more than在構(gòu)成主語時(shí)對(duì)謂語的要求:
(1)當(dāng)用來連接兩個(gè)主語時(shí),謂語動(dòng)詞的數(shù)通常與第一個(gè)主語的數(shù)保持一致。如:
The teacher more than the students is interested in the film.
The tourists more than the guide are well familiar with the history of our city.
(2)“more than one+單數(shù)名詞”用作主語,其謂語動(dòng)詞通常用單數(shù)(盡管從含義上看是復(fù)數(shù))。如:
More than one worker has been fired.
More than one country is against this draft resolution made by the USA.
(3)“more+復(fù)數(shù)名詞+than one”用作主語,其謂語要用復(fù)數(shù)。
More workers than one have been fired.
More countries than one are against this draft resolution made by the USA.
例5 More than one of them _____ heard the news that more soldiers than one _____ killed in the war.
A. have; was B. have; were
C. has; was D. has; were
解析 D。包含同位語從句的主從復(fù)合句,主句的主語more than one of them要求謂語動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)形式,排除A,B項(xiàng);同位語從句的主語more soldiers than one要求謂語動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù),排除C項(xiàng)。
[no more than+名詞或基數(shù)詞]
“no more than+名詞或基數(shù)詞”意思是“不過、僅僅、只有”(=only)。而“not more than+基數(shù)詞”,意思是“至多,不超過(也許還不到)”(=at most),只是一般地指出數(shù)量或程度,沒有多或少的感情色彩。如:
I read not more than twenty pages every day.
Not more than twelve students have seen the film.
例6 I dont think he can do the work well because he is _______ 13 years old, I mean, he is still a child now.
A. more than B. much than
C. no more than D. not less than
解析 C。句意為:我認(rèn)為他干不好這份工作,因?yàn)樗?3歲,也就是說,他現(xiàn)在還是個(gè)孩子。從題干說話人的語氣看,他認(rèn)為這份工作需要成人來干才能干好,如選A項(xiàng)前后語義矛盾,而D項(xiàng)與A項(xiàng)一樣,也不能選,C選項(xiàng)結(jié)構(gòu)錯(cuò)誤,只有C項(xiàng)最合語義。
[more ... than結(jié)構(gòu)]
“more ... than”結(jié)構(gòu)是對(duì)于不同的人或物的同一性質(zhì)或方面的比較。
(1)“比……更(形容詞和副詞的比較級(jí))”。如:
He works more and better than he used to.
It is more expensive to go by plane than by boat.
(2)“與其說……不如說……”。如:
He was more diligent than clever.
I was more sorry than angry at what happened.
例7 — I think he is very wise.
— No, he is ________ than wise.
A. kinder B. more kindly
C. rather kinder D. more kind
解析 D。is為系動(dòng)詞,故排除B項(xiàng),而表語kind與wise為同一個(gè)概念,放在一起進(jìn)行程度比較,選擇D項(xiàng),其意思為“與其說他聰明倒不如說他勤奮”,符合語境。
[no more ... than結(jié)構(gòu)]
“no more ... than”意思為“同……一樣不”,兩件事物比較時(shí),否定兩方面。而“not more ... than”的意思是“比不上……,不及……”,在兩件事物比較時(shí),二者都有某種特性,但程度不同,其中一件比不上另一件,但兩者都是肯定的。如:
Jack is no more diligent than John.
=Neither Jack or John is diligent.
Jack is not more diligent than John.
=Jack is less diligent than John.
例8 — I did not do well in the exam. How about you?
— I did _______ you. Maybe even worse.
A.not better than B. no better than
C. as well as D. not worse than
解析 B。關(guān)鍵信息是Maybe even worse。從語境來看,答話人和問話人一樣考得不好,兩件事物比較時(shí),否定了兩個(gè)方面,no better than意為“同……一樣不”。