在句3）中，鉴于句1）的错误原因，只要使形容词的比较级the more exact和the easier能够在后面的分句中充当成分就对了，所以把后面的分句进行了改写，分别为your words are和it is for people to understand you。这样一来，形容词的比较级the more exact就在其后的分句your words are中作表语，相当于说your words are more exact；形容词的比较级the easier就在分句it is for people to understand you中作表语，相当于说it is easier for people to understand you，即比较级部分充当了后面分句的某一成分，这里是作表语，因此句3）的译文非常正确。



在句4）中，比较级部分the more exact words作后面分句的谓语use的宾语，相当于说you use more exact words；比较级部分the more easily作后面分句的谓语understand的方式状语，相当于说people will more easily understand you，即比较级部分充当了后面分句的某一成分，因此句4）的译文非常正确。

综上所述，我们总结出这个句型的三个用法要点：

1．正确使用该句型的核心：比较级部分都须在各自引导的分句中充当一定的成分。

2．从结构上来看，这个句型的前半部分是从句，后半部分是主句，即“the＋比较级（从句），the＋比较级（主句）”，这就是为什么前半句常用一般现在时态，而后半句常用一般将来时态，类似于其他状语从句的“主句用将来时，从句用一般现在时”的规则一样。

3．翻译成汉语时，一般是按前后正常的语序，先译从句，后译主句。



我们再来看其他更多的例句。下面这个例句告诉我们，为什么说考古学家能够成为一个女人的最好丈夫：

2　An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have: the older she is, the more interested he is in her.

妙语点睛

我们看到，这里的比较级the older在分句she is中作表语，the more interested在分句he is in her中作表语。

精品译文

考古学家可谓是一个女人最好的丈夫人选：因为她越老，他对她就会越感兴趣。

在下面这个例句中，一位美国老年朋友把人类的衰老过程比作像在爬山，说得很有道理，他告诉我们，要以一种平和而积极的心态来面对自己已逝去的青春：

3　Aging is a part of life, and it can be an exciting and rewarding part. It has been said that aging is like climbing a mountain: the higher you get, the more tired and breathless you become, but the view becomes much more extensive.

妙语点睛

我们看到，这里的比较级the higher在分句you get中作表语，the more tired and breathless在分句you become中作表语。

精品译文

衰老是生命的一个组成部分，而且可以说，它是生命中最激动人心和有意义的一部分。人们常说衰老就如同爬山，爬得越高，就会觉得越累和气喘吁吁，但是你看到的人生景致会更为丰富。

下面这个例句说明了“帮助别人就是在帮助自己”这样的道理：

4　The more we help others, the more we receive in return. We advance ourselves as we help others. 帮助别人越多，我们获得的回报也越多。帮助了别人，提升了自己。

朋友是什么？下面这个例句作出了回答：

5　Friends are lights in winter: the older the friend, the brighter the light.

妙语点睛

这个句子的比较部分是省略结构，完整的表达应该是the older the friend is, the brighter the light is，即这里省去了系动词is。所以，比较级都是在各自引导的分句中作表语。注意，在这个句型中，系动词常常会被省去。

精品译文

朋友犹如冬日里的暖阳，越是老朋友，就越让你感觉温暖。

下面这个例句讲了该如何学习英语，说的就是要多花时间和老外“泡”在一起，和他们“泡”的时间越多，你的英文就会越地道，有条件的读者不妨效仿：

6　For a Chinese person to write in English, he or she must first be able to think in English. This can only be done after a long time of reading foreign books and magazines and interacting with other foreigners. The more time you spend with native speakers, the more you will understand how they think and the better you will be able to write in a way that is similar to theirs.

妙语点睛

我们看到，这里的比较级the more time在分句you spend with native speakers中作spend的宾语，the more在分句you will understand how they think中作状语，修饰understand, the better在分句you will be able to write in a way that is similar to theirs中作状语，修饰able，因为我们要说you will be better able to...。由此可见，所有的比较级都充当了各自分句的某一成分。

精品译文

中国人要想具有良好的英语写作能力，他们首先必须能够用英语进行思考。而要想达到这个目的，就必须长期进行大量的阅读，比如阅读原版的书刊杂志，还要多和老外交流。你越是多花时间和老外“泡”在一起，你就越能够理解他们的思维方式，因而也就越能够以类似于他们的思维方式来进行英文写作。

上面讲到了学习的例子，下面这个例子讲了学习有什么用。为什么这么说呢？我们来看它的“魔鬼逻辑”：

7　Why study?

The more we study, the more we know.

The more we know, the more we forget.

The more we forget, the less we know.

So, why study?

精品译文

为什么要学习呢？

学的越多，知道的就越多。

知道的越多，忘记的就越多。

忘记的越多，知道的就越少。

那么，为什么要学习呢？

面对2007年火爆的股票市场，很多人摩拳擦掌，按捺不住想进入：

8　John: The stock market is really hot now. I'm thinking of getting into it.

Casey: Well, I suggest you be careful. It's easy to get your fingers burnt.

John: My uncle works for a securities company. He will help me to make an investment portfolio.

Casey: But I think the hotter the market is, the more risk there is.

John: Yes, you are right. But the more risk there is, the more profit there might be.

精品译文

约翰：现在股市可真火啊！我也想投身其中。

凯西：我建议你小心。如果判断失误，那你会损失惨重的。

约翰：我叔叔在一家证券公司工作，他会帮我掌握好投资组合的。

凯西：但我觉得市场越火，风险就越大。

约翰：是，你说得没错。但风险越大，收益也会越大。



思维总结

比较状语从句应该是九大状语从句中内容最多的，涉及各类句型结构。读者应该重点掌握有关as和than的用法。此外，要熟练掌握表示倍数比较的三种句型。



思维训练

Exercise 4.8

请选择最佳答案填空

1．An adult human must take eight steps to go_______as a giraffe does in one stride.

A．as far

B．the farther

C．how far

D．farther

2．The harder you work,________you have of passing your exam.

A．more chance

B．more chances

C．the more chance

D．the chances

3．The knee is________most other joints in the body because it cannot twist without injury.

A．more likely to be damaged than

B．much likely to be damaged than

C．likely to be more damaged than

D．more than likely to be damaged

4．I would have paid________— for my car if the salesman had insisted, because I really wanted it.

A．as much twice

B．much twice

C．twice as much

D．two times

5．Any preexisting illness, even_________the common cold, increases the chances of contracting another disease.

A．as mild one as

B．as one mild as

C．as a mild one as

D．as mild a one as

6．After retirement my father earns only________as he used to. However, he lives happily enjoying his leisure time.

A．a half as much

B．a half as many

C．half as many

D．half as much

7．In China the South generally receives much less snow than_________the North.

A．does

B．it does

C．does in

D．it does in

8．The number of registered participants in this year's marathon was half________.

A．of last year's

B．those of last year's

C．of those of last year

D．that of last year's

9．The air inside a house or office building often has higher concentrations of contaminants________heavily polluted outside air.

A．than does

B．more

C．as some that are

D．like of

10．The atmosphere is as much a part of the earth as________its soils and the water of its lakes, rivers and oceans.

A．are

B．do

C．is

D．has

11．Do you enjoy listening to records? I find records are often________, if not better than, an actual performance.

A．as good as

B．as good

C．good

D．good as

辨别改错：

12．(A) In the long run, however, this (B) hurry to shed full-time staff (C) may be more harmful to industry (D) as it is to the workforce.





4.9　方式状语从句

方式状语从句表示动作的方式，引导词有：as, like, as if, as though和the way等。请看例句：

1　When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

妙语点睛

这是一个英语谚语，意思是说When traveling, follow the customs of the local people. 相当于汉语中的“入乡随俗”。

精品译文

入乡随俗。

我们来看上面这个例句在口语中的应用：

2　Hazel: Yak burgers? What's a yak?

Nina: It's a kind of long haired ox. Tibetans put yak butter in their tea as well as eating yak.

Hazel: Yak! Yuk! I wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole!

Nina: Come on! Be adventurous! When in Rome do as the Romans do!

Hazel: I'm not in Rome. I'm in Beijing. And when we get to Lhasa you can try it first!

精品译文

黑兹尔：牦牛汉堡？牦牛是什么？

尼娜：是一种长毛的牛。藏民在茶里添加牦牛油，也吃牦牛肉。

黑兹尔：牦牛！哈哈！我才不碰那东西呢！

尼娜：别啊！有点冒险精神好不好？入乡随俗嘛！

黑兹尔：我没在“乡下”，我是在北京，所以不用随俗。咱们到了拉萨你可以先试试！

请再看其他例句：

3　Do it the way you were taught. 按照教给你的那样做。

4　He looks as though/as if he is an actor. 他看上去像个演员。

我们来看一个like作连词引导方式状语从句的例句。笔者很喜欢这段话，它表达了一种人生态度：

5　Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody's watching.

Sing like nobody's listening.

Live like it's heaven on earth.

精品译文

去工作吧，犹如你不需要金钱。

去爱吧，犹如你从未曾被伤害过。

去舞蹈吧，犹如无人在一旁观看。

去歌唱吧，犹如无人在一边谛听。

热爱生活吧，犹如这里是人间乐土。



写给读者的话



* * *



一、三大从句的比较

到本章为止，我们已详细讨论了英语中的三大从句：名词从句、定语从句和状语从句。因此，有必要对它们进行一个比较，以便于读者更好地认识这三大从句的特点。具体如下：

最简单的是名词从句。这一点毫无疑问。

最难的是定语从句，但相比较而言也是最重要的。真正要全面掌握并运用好定语从句，着实有点不容易。

最繁杂的是状语从句。九大类就够我们费费脑筋的了，何况还有各个不同的连词的用法以及句型结构，所以的确是够多、够杂的。不过，状语从句在结构上理解起来并没有定语从句那么难，正如笔者一再强调的，读者只要掌握连接词即可翻译句子。

二、本章学习思路

从本质上来讲，状语从句就是用不同的连词将几个分句连接起来，以表达分句之间特定的逻辑语义关系。因此，掌握引导九类状语从句的有关连接词的用法特点和意义是学习状语从句的关键。只要记住连接词就能够识别是何种状语从句，从而正确分析句子的结构并理解句子的意思。在具体的学习过程中，要掌握不同状语从句的各个常用的连词和句型结构，一方面便于自己在阅读中遇到时能够正确地理解和翻译，另一方面便于自己在写作等英语应用过程中使用。

三、本章重点及难点

本章重点内容包括：

1．when的用法特点，以及其各种时态搭配关系，比如其中的“过去进行时＋一般过去时”这样的时态搭配用法；

2．until的用法特点；

3．常见的表示原因的连词和介词，注意连词后面不能用名词短语，而介词后面不能接从句；

4．结果状语从句so...that与such...that在用法上的区别；

5．结果状语从句的倒装结构；

6．常见的表示让步的连词和介词，注意连词后面不能用名词短语，而介词后面不能接从句；

7．引导比较从句的as和than的用法特点，包括他们的倒装结构，以及表示倍数比较的三种句型。

本章内容理解起来并不难，但由于内容多而杂，所以建议读者在学习这一章时要有耐心和细心，不要混淆了各个状语从句连词的含义。

四、本章学习时间安排

读者可以花七天左右的时间认真研读本章所讲解的内容。在学完第一遍之后，建议读者再反复研读几次，这样在自己造句写作时，方能做到信手拈来、运用自如。



* * *



综合练习

请选择最佳答案填空。

1．Poor_______he is, he is honest and kind.

A．that

B．however

C．because

D．although

2．________apparently rigid, bones exhibit a degree of elasticity that enables the skeleton to withstand considerable impact.

A．In spite of

B．As

C．Although

D．Despite

3．________native to Europe, the daisy（雏菊）has now spread throughout most of North America.

A．Although

B．In spite of

C．If it were

D．That it is

4．Not until I shouted at the top of my voice_________his head.

A．that he turned

B．did he turn

C．he didn't turn

D．he had turned

5．Dew is formed________the grass is thick.

A．while

B．where

C．when

D．until

6．You can find him________he works.

A．when

B．where

C．which

D．as

7．_________some flowers contain more nectar than others, how does a honeybee worker, faced with a patch of flowers containing variable amounts of nectar, decide when to stop collecting.

A．Given that

B．Giving that

C．To give

D．Being given

8．He wrote down the address________he should forget it.

A．in case not

B．lest

C．in order that

D．of fear that

9．Let's take the front seats________we may have a better view.

A．so as to

B．in order to

C．in order

D．that

10．________many children have bought balloons________the store is now out of stock.

A．So—that

B．Such—that

C．Such a—that

D．So—as to

11．Let's finish our work________we can be free this evening.

A．now that

B．than

C．because

D．so that

12．Batteries must be kept in dry places________electricity should leak away.

A．where

B．lest

C．that

D．unless

13．The motorist looked over the engine carefully________on the way.

A．so that it should go wrong

B．lest it should go wrong

C．in order that should not go wrong

D．for fear that it should not go wrong

14．This approach is superior to that one_______it provides explicit accounts.

A．in which

B．in this way

C．in that

D．in order that

15．________, he remains stupid.

A．Though his learning

B．Through all his learning

C．For all his learning

D．However his learning

16．________, electrons are still smaller.

A．As small atoms are

B．Small as atoms are

C．As atoms are small

D．Are small atoms

17．It was not until the eleventh century that_________

A．the detective found out the truth

B．did the detective find out the truth

C．had the detective find out the truth

D．had the detective found out the truth

18．________, he failed to pass the test.

A．Hard although he tried

B．He tried hard, though

C．Hard as he tried

D．Though hard as he tried

19．_______, the fire men were unable to quench the fire.

A．Try they would

B．As they tried

C．What they tried

D．Try as they would

20．Angiosperms inhabit relatively diverse environments and may be found________higher plants can survive.

A．there

B．where

C．somewhere

D．then

21．________, he still retained the use of all his faculties.

A．Because he was old and weak

B．As he was old and weak

C．Unless he was old and weak

D．Old and weak as he was

22．The agency agreed to do the job________that the fee was high enough.

A．so long

B．only

C．such

D．provided

23．No sooner had we started the experiment________we stopped it because of the cut-off of water.

A．than

B．when

C．then

D．as

24．It was not until she had arrived home________remembered her appointment with the doctor.

A．when she

B．that she

C．and she

D．she

25．The lower________in a room, the more slowly our eyes focus.

A．the level of lighting

B．light level

C．leveling of light

D．lighting is level

26．________no conclusive evidence exists, many experts believe that the wheel was invented only once and then diffused to the rest of the world.

A．Even

B．But

C．Although

D．So

27．Gorillas are quiet animals,________they are capable of making about 20 different sounds.

A．whether

B．which

C．even though

D．as well as

辨别改错：

28．Since rats are (A) destructive and (B) may carry disease, (C) therefore many cities try to (D) exterminate them.

29．The southwestern (A) portion of the United States is a land of (B) little rain, and parts of it are (C) too dry that (D) they are called deserts.

30．The black leopard is (A) very dark that (B) its spots (C) are difficult to (D) see.

31．The speaker claimed that (A) no other modern nation devotes (B) so small a portion of its wealth to public assistance and health (C) than the United States (D) does.

32．Saturn is the (A) second largest planet (B) after Jupiter, (C) with a diameter nearly ten times (D) those of Earth.