语法点：比较级与最高级 (Comparatives & Superlatives)
比较两个人或事物时用比较级（-er 或 more …），后面常接 than；在三个或以上中比较时用最高级（the -est 或 the most …），常与 in / of 短语连用。表示"和……一样"用 as … as，否定用 not so/as … as。少数形容词有不规则形式：good–better–best, bad–worse–worst, many/much–more–most, little–less–least, few–fewer–fewest。本课句 1、2、4、6 集中出现了这几种形式，是复习比较级和最高级的好材料。
结构
| 类型 | 比较级 | 最高级 |
|---|---|---|
| 单音节词 | great → greater than | the greatest |
| 以 -y 结尾 | easy → easier than | the easiest |
| 多音节词 | expensive → more expensive than | the most expensive |
| 不规则 | good → better, many → more, few → fewer | the best, the most, the fewest |
| 同级比较 | as honest as / not so (as) honest as | — |
| 副词 | quickly → more quickly | as quickly as possible |
课文中的例句
- [句 1] People are not so honest as they once were. — not so … as 表示"不如从前那么诚实"，是同级比较的否定形式。
- [句 2] The temptation to steal is greater than ever before. — greater than 单音节形容词的比较级；ever before 意为"以往任何时候"。
- [句 4] One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her. — fewer 是 few 的比较级修饰可数名词；easier 是 easy 变 y 为 i 加 -er。
- [句 6] ...she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop... — one of the + 最高级 + 复数名词，"最贵的裙子之一"。
- [句 6] ...who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible. — as + 副词 + as possible，"尽可能快地"。
补充例句
- This dress is more expensive than that one. 这条裙子比那条贵。
- She is the most honest assistant in the shop. 她是店里最诚实的售货员。
- There were fewer customers on Monday than on Saturday. 星期一的顾客比星期六少。
易错点
- ❌ The temptation is more greater than before. → ✅ The temptation is greater than before. — 已经加了 -er 就不能再加 more。
- ❌ There were less people in the shop than usual. → ✅ There were fewer people in the shop than usual. — people 是可数名词，用 fewer；less 用于不可数名词。
- ❌ She chose one of the most expensive dress in the shop. → ✅ She chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop. — one of the + 最高级后面要接复数名词。
- ❌ People are not so honest than they once were. → ✅ People are not so honest as they once were. — not so … 后面接 as，不是 than。