形容词和副词的比较等级分为原级、比较级和最高级。

1.原级的构成和用法

1)构成:形容词、副词的原级形式是形容词、副词的原形。

2)用法:表示双方在程度、性质、特征等某方面相等时,用“as+原级形容词或副词+as”的结构;表示双方不相等时,用“not so(as)+原级形容词或副词+as”的结构。例如:Xiao Wang is as tall as Xiao Liu. This building looks not so(as) high as that one. I’ll try to earn as much as Tom.

2.比较级和最高级的构成和用法

1)比较级和最高级的构成:

①单音节形容词以及少数以er,ow结尾的形容词和副词加“er”,“est”。例如:great,greater,greatest;fast,faster,fastest;clever,cleverer,cleverest;narrow,narrower,narrowest

②以e结尾的单音节形容词和副词,以及少数以ble,ple结尾的双音节形容词和副词后,加“r”,“st”。例如:large,larger,largest;able,abler,ablest;simple,simpler,simplest

③以一个辅音字母结尾的单音节形容词,其前的元音字母发短元音时,该辅音字母要双写,然后加“er”,“est”。例如:hot,hotter,hottest;big,bigger,biggest

④以辅音字母加y结尾的形容词和少数不是形容词加ly构成的副词,要将y改为i,再加“er”,“est”。例如:easy,easier,easiest;early,earlier,earliest

⑤一般双音节词、多音节形容词和副词在原级前加more或most。例如:beautiful,more beautiful,most beautiful;carefully,more carefully,most carefully

⑥少数单音节形容词如real,glad,fond,tired,pleased等也加more和most构成比较级和最高级。例如:tired,more tired;most tired,pleased,more pleased,most pleased。

⑦下列形容词与副词的比较级和最高级有两种构成方法:

     crueler cruelest                oftener oftenest

cruel{                          often{

       more cruel most cruel            more often most often

         stricter strictest                 friendlier  friendliest

strict{                            friendly{

         more strict most strict             more friendly most friendly

⑧下列形容词、副词的比较级和最高级的构成不规则:good(well),better,best;bad(ill,badly),worse,worst;many(much),more,most;little,less,least

        farther farthest

far{

        further furthest

old elder/older eldest/oldest

2)两种比较级(最高级)形式用法上的差别:

        older oldest

old{

        elder eldest

elder和eldest主要用来表示兄弟姐妹之间的长幼关系,elder不与than连用。例如:She is the eldest of the three(sisters).(She is the eldest sister.) My elder brother is two years older than me. I am his eldest daughter(son).

       farther farthest

far {

        further furthest

further和furthest也是far的比较级和最高级,但现在furthest用得较少,而further除了表示距离等“较远”之外,还有“进一步”的意思。例如:No further dis-cussion is necessary.没有必要作进一步的讨论。Don’t make any changes till further notice.在另有通知之前,不要做任何变动。

      later latest

late{

       latter last

later指时间上的“后来;稍后”,而latter指顺序上的“后者”,与the连用。例如:See you later. Betty and Susan are both my girl friends;the former(前者)is slim(瘦)and the latter is plump(胖).

注意:latter常指一段时间的“下一半”。例如:the latter half of the month下半月。latest指时间上的“最迟的、最近的”;last指顺序上“最后的”。例如:one’s latest works某人最近的作品,the last month of the year一年的最后一个月。