(a)The scenery here is the most picturesque in this neighborhood.(這兒的風景是附近一帶最美的。)
(b)The view from the mountain top was most picturesque.(從山頂望去風景極美。)
(c)It was a most picturesque scenery.(那是一片非常美的風景。)此外most一字作“大多數(shù)的”,“大抵的”解時,也不加the,例如most students of this school are dayscholars.Some come to school by train or by bus,and others by bicycle,but most of them on foot.
當我們用相對最上級時,如果要把語氣再加強或稍減弱的話,又要怎樣來說呢?比方中國話的“他算是我們班上最優(yōu)秀的學生”,沒有肯定說他確是,而只說他算是,英文就可以譯作:He is about the brightest boy in our class.若果想要再說得漂亮一點,等于舞弄文字的話,就不妨用practically一字。這字比about好,在字面上看去是似褒實貶的一個實用的字,因它除“實際上”一解之外,還有“差不多”(almost)的意思,例如He is practically dead.=He is as good as dead.(他簡直像死了一樣。)There is practically nothing left.(差不多沒有剩下什么。)She is practically the most beautiful girl in our town.(她大概是我們城里最美的姑娘了。)反之,我們如果要在最上級時再加強語氣的話,就可用much或by far的字眼,如He is much the brightest boy in our class.(他確是我們班上最最優(yōu)秀的學生。)
英文表示最上級有happiest,the happiest,most happy,most happily種種說法,用時必須仔細加以分別。 31.副詞最上級前加冠詞的用法
英文副詞正常的比較,為soon,sooner,soonest;及wisely,more wisely,most wisely兩種形式,但在書上又發(fā)現(xiàn)最上級的副詞前面,居然也附加定冠詞the,請說明這種用法。
【解答】副詞的最上級普通誠然是不加冠詞的,不過確是常見有人加用,照美國文法家Curme說,這種用法在口語中極為普遍,筆下也時常見到,副詞最上級前加the,是作為賓格意味的副詞而用的。例如: Of all my books I like this the best.——Dickens
(在我寫的所有的書當中,我最喜歡這本。)
It is impossible to say whose eyes would be the widest opened.——Henry Arthur Jones
(要說出誰的眼睛睜得最大是不可能的。)
Frits works the hardest of all.
(在所有的人中胡理之最用功。)
John played badly,Tom played worse,and Harry played the worst.
(約翰玩得壞,托孟更壞,哈利最壞。)這種用法,現(xiàn)在甚至擴大到了比較級,不限于最上級了,例如:
他跑得更快。
He runs the faster.
魯斯說不出來她更喜歡哪一個。
Ruth could not tell which she liked the better. Ⅳ冠詞
54.選舉的總統(tǒng)名詞前不用冠詞,議員前須加冠詞
“他被選為議員。”譯成英文為:He was elected councilman.據(jù)說是錯誤的,為何“他被選為市長。”譯作He was elected mayor.又對了呢?
【解答】“他被選為議員。”應譯作He was elected a councilman.才對,譯文中的不定冠詞是不可少的。舉凡市議會(city council),立法議會(legislative council),乃至美國的國會即眾議院(Congress),英國的議會(Parliament)等處的議員在英譯時都要加不定冠詞,說成a councilman,a congressman,an M.P.(即a member of Parliament)。而翻譯某人被選為總統(tǒng)、市長、主席等時,就不要加上冠詞,例如: Washington was elected president of the United States of America.(華盛頓被選為美國的總統(tǒng)。)
He was elected chairman.(他被選為主席。)
He is appointed Deputy Postal Commissioner.(他被任為副郵務長。)