问英语｜英语常见问题解答

the...the¹

问

The higher the standard of living and the greater the national wealth, the ____. A. greater is the amount of paper is used B. greater amount of paper is used C. amount of paper is used is greater D. greater the amount of paper used(TOEFL)

试题要求选 D,但我认为,如果选 D,则全句不是一个完整的句子,因为它缺谓语(used 是及物动词的过去分词,在这里不能看作是谓语)。

答

在 the...the 结构中,如果谓语动词是连系动词 be,可以省略。如果把后面分句(即主句)的谓语动词补上去,则为:“the greater the amount of paper used is”。下面是与试题相类似的实例:

The stronger ____ magnet, the greater the number of lines of magnetic force.

the...the $^{2}$ 1510 A. of B. the C. is the D. is of the(TOEFL)

The coarser the sediment, ____.
A. where the beach is steeper and narrower
B. and the steeper and narrower the beach
C. the beach is steeper and narrower
D. the steeper and narrower the beach (TOEFL)

the...the²

the farther... the less/less... the farther

问

A body weights ____ from the surface of the Earth. A. less the farther it gets B. the farther it gets, the less C. less than it gets farther D. less than it, the farther it gets(TOEFL) 我知道英语里有这样的结构: The harder he worked, the happier he felt. 但是上面的任何一个答案都不符合这个结构, 这到底是怎么回事呢?

答

见 the harder ... the。

the...the³

问

The younger (is) the child, the more is the child's need of sleep.

Generally the higher (is) the fever, the quicker (is) the pulse.

如果谓语动词为 be，是不是像上面的例句所表达的那样，前后两个分句都必须主谓倒装？

答

要想把这个问题搞清楚,必须把位于前面的从句(第一个 the...)和位于后面的主句(第二个 the...)分开讨论。

从句(第一个 the...)中的谓语动词,不管是 be,还是其他动词,都不用倒装(连系动词 be 常常省略)。因此,上面两个例句中(is)的位置是不正确的。下面的托福题可以证明这一点:

The stronger ____ magnet, the greater the number of lines of magnetic force. A. of B. the C. is the D. is of the(TOEFL)

答案为 B(the)，而把 C(is the) 判为错误。

再请考察下面的实例：

The bigger they are[CSV], the harder they fall. (RCD)
The later you arrive[ASV], the better the food is. (CGEL)
The less wit a man has[OSV], the less he knows that he wants it. (Prov)

而在主句(第二个 the...)中,主语和谓语既可以采用正装语序,也可以采用倒装语序。这里没有语法规则上的强制要求,作者可根据结构特点和信息焦点的分布来安排语序:

The later you arrive, the better the food is. [CSV] (CGEL)
The more I think about it, the less I like it. [ASV] (Cronin)
The more socialism spreads, the stronger become the forces of peace. [CVS]
The nearer their doom draws, the more desperately will the enemy put up struggle. [AVS]
“It’s not easy to mow this lawn.” “But the more difficult a job is, ____.” A. it is rewarding more B. it is more rewarding C. the more rewarding it is D. the more rewarding it is being(TOEFL)
The noisier they were, the better was their mother pleased. (EEG)

练习

As far as I am concerned, education is about learning and the more you learn, ____.
1. A
  the more for life are you equipped
2. B
  the more equipped for life you are
3. C
  the more life you are equipped for
4. D
  you are equipped the more for life(上海高考,02-26)

the...the⁴

问

In recent years travel companies have succeeded in selling us the idea that the further we go, ____. A. our holiday will be better B. our holiday will be the better C. the better our holiday will be D. the better will our holiday be(上海高考,01-26) 答案为 C。为什么不可以选 D 呢?

答

选项 C 是正确的, 自不待言。但是, 选项 D 也是正确的, 见 the ... the $^{3}$ 中的例句 (3,4,6)。

the...the⁵

问

Vibrations become weaker the farther they go.

上面的句子似乎不符合由 the...the...引导的比例句的构造规则。

答

一般的比例句,是从句在前,主句在后,这是跟汉语的语序相一致的。但是,英语的比例句有时是主句在前,从句在后。这跟汉语的语序恰好相反。

I play the better, the more I practice. 我越练，就弹得越好。
They liked the book better the more it made them cry. (EEG) 这本书越使他们落泪,他们就越喜欢它。

请注意,当主句在前时,形容词或副词比较级前的副词 the 常常省略,如你所提问的句子以及例(2)。(参见 the harder...the...)

the...the⁶

问

The harder you'll practise, the greater progress you will make. (上海高考)

我看不出上面的辨错题有什么错误。

答

在 the... the... 句型中, 第一个 the... 分句是从句(比例从句)。如同在时间、条件等从句中一样, 也应当用一般现在时表示将来, 见 simple present tense $^{3-5}$ , before (conj.) $^{1}$ , when $^{7}$ , if $^{5}$ 。因此, 上题中的 B 项 you'll practise 应改为 you practise。