形容詞的比較

形容詞和副詞同樣是修飾語，而用以表示所修飾程度與等級的不同，謂之「比較」。

比較(Comparison)可以分成三種程級：原級(positive)、比較級(comparative)、最高級(superlative)。兩者之間的比較用比較級；三者或三者以上的比較用最高級。

• 在班上 Michael 比其他任何人都親切。
• Michael is kindest than anyone else in the class.
• Michael is kinder than anyone else in the class.

規則與不規則變化

比較級與最高級的形成有規則變化與不規則變化。有規則變化的比較級通常在原級字尾加 -er 或字前加 more；最高級則加 -est 或 most。

沒有比較級和最高級的形容詞

有些形容詞因其特質本身已經達到極限，故沒有比較級和最高級，例如 absolute, excellent, dead, round, square, empty, fatal, final, superior, inferior, entire, immortal, perfect, unique。

• 她以為她終於找到了最完美的男人。
• She thought at last she'd found the most perfect man.
• She thought at last she'd found the perfect man.

Miss Lee, with her nearly perfect figure, won the title of Miss Taiwan.

李小姐以近乎完美的身材贏得台灣小姐的頭銜。

當我們品頭論足某人或某事物時，可以用 is perfect 或 isn't perfect 來表達，卻不能用 more perfect 或 less perfect 來形容。然而 perfect 前面可以加 nearly 表示趨近於完美。

• 他到醫院時差點死了。 現在他的情況似乎穩定了。
• He arrived at the hospital most dead. His condition now seems stabilized.
• He arrived at the hospital almost dead. His condition now seems stabilized.

• 這個村莊以其出色的風景吸引很多遊客。
• This village draws many tourists with its most excellent scenery.
• This village draws many tourists with its excellent scenery.

• 妮可在廚房裡度過了一整天。
• Nicole spent the most entire day in the kitchen.
• Nicole spent the entire day in the kitchen.

• 我對她有絕對的信心。
• I have most absolute confidence in her.
• I have absolute confidence in her.

• 對她的判斷，我有絕對的信心。
• I have the most absolute faith in her judgment.
• I have absolute faith in her judgment.

英國著名作家 George Orwell(喬治•奧威爾)在1945年寫了一部反烏托邦寓言小說 Animal Farm《動物莊園》，裡面有這麼一句名言：

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

所有動物生來平等，但有些動物比其牠動物更平等。

這裡的 "equal"(平等) 用了比較級“more equal”(更平等)。平等就是平等，怎麼可能更平等呢？當然是一種諷刺的話。

"只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈" 就是不平等，對於一些濫權的高官，可以借用動物莊園裡的句子來形容。

Some animals are more equal than others.

(法律之前，不是人人平等嗎？但...）某些畜生要來得比我們更平等。

"Some animals" - 有些畜生； "others" - the rest of us。老美經常用 animal (畜生) 這個字眼來罵人。

我們通常用 less, least 表示較少的(相對於 more, most) 。

These jackets are expensive. They are $1000.

這些夾克好貴。它們賣1000元。

原級： expensive

The blue ones are less expensive. They are $800.

藍色的比較便宜。它們賣800元。

比較級： less expensive

These here are the least expensive. They are $400.

這些是最便宜的。它們賣400元。

最高級： the least expensive

Younger Taiwanese voters are less enthusiastic about voting in this year's presidential election than those who are older.

年輕的台灣選民比那些年長者較不太熱衷於在今年的總統選舉。

This company has the least green data centers.

這個公司的數據中心最不環保。

Everyone has a least favorite vegetable.

每個人都有最不喜歡的蔬菜。

形容詞 few 和 little 都有“少”的意思。few 後面接複數名詞；little 後面接不可數名詞。

Few thunderstorms occur in the desert.

在沙漠中很少有大雷雨發生。

thunderstorms 是複數名詞。

Little rain falls in the desert.

在沙漠中很少降雨。

rain 是不可數名詞。

形容詞 fewer 是 few 的比較級，less 是 little 的比較級。fewer 後面接複數名詞；less 後面接不可數名詞。

Fewer people than we expected attended the party.

出席宴會的人比我們預期的少。

people 是複數名詞。

Should you wash your dishes by hand, or does the dishwasher use less water?

你應該用手洗碗盤，還是用洗碗機會使用較少的水？

water 是不可數名詞。

• 我吃的炸薯條比你少。
• I ate less french fries than you did.
• I ate fewer french fries than you did.

• 他吃的馬鈴薯泥比她少。
• He ate fewer mashed potatoes than she did.
• He ate less mashed potatoes than she did.

• 我們的新鄰居比我們舊鄰居有較少孩子。
• Our new neighbors had less children than our old one had.
• Our new neighbors had fewer children than our old one had.

兩者的比較若是指行為或動作時，需確定兩邊都有動詞以及作為主詞的適當的代名詞。

• 鮑勃比我更努力工作。
• Bob works harder than me.
• Bob works harder than I.

兩者的比較若是物件時確定兩邊都用對等的名詞(不要一邊用『人』一邊用『物』)

• Lisa的衣服比Lora的更漂亮。
• Lisa's clothes are more beautiful than Lora.
• Lisa's clothes are more beautiful than Lora's.

形容詞比較級出現在 The… the… 的句型

句型 "The ..., the ..." 是用在比較和對比的句子。這種句子的結構說明前後兩者的比較成比例的增強或減弱。

• 我年紀越大，越有自主的感覺。
• The oldest I get, the more empowered I feel.
• The older I get, the more empowered I feel.