比較の表現
1. 比較級を強める語句
・much [a lot/a great deal], far, (by far)＝はるかに～ (差の大きさを表す)
Bob is much [far] taller than Dick. ×very taller(誤)
・still, yet, even＝まだ［なお，さらに］～ (差の大きさは問わない)
Tom is taller than Dick, and Bob is still [even] taller (than Tom).
2. 最上級を強める語句
・much the～, by far the～＝ずばぬけて一番～ ※theの位置に注意
Bob is much [by far] the tallest of all the boys in his class.
・the very～＝まさしく一番～
Bob is the very tallest of all the boys in his class.
3. 倍数比較の表し方
・twice [three times] as large as ～＝～の２倍［３倍］の大きさ
・half [one-third/two-thirds/three-fourths] as long as ～＝～の半分［３分の１/３分の２/４分の３］の長さ (倍数詞＋原級比較の語順)
America is twenty-five times as large as Japan.
＝America is twenty-five times the size of Japan.
cf. That country is as large as Japan.＝That country is the size of Japan.
※America is twenty-five times larger than Japan. のように比較級を用いることもあるが, これは本来は「差」が25倍のときに用いる表現
This river is twice as long [wide] as that river.
＝This river is twice the length [width] of that river.
4. 他者との比較でなく, 同一人[物]の２つの性質の比較は more＋原級 で表す
He is more frank than honest.「正直というよりは(むしろ)率直]
＝He is frank rather than honest.
5. 二者間の比較には最上級を用いず, the 比較級 of the[these/those]two/them で表す
Mary is the more computerate of the two students.
※ただし，なかには最上級を用いる人もいる
6. 他者との比較でない最上級には the をつけない
This lake is deepest here. (here＝at this point)「ここが一番深い」
cf. This lake is the deepest (lake) here. [here＝in this district]
She is happiest wnen she is reading her favorite poems.
※theは本来, 最上級の形容詞に修飾された名詞に付いている｡
7. the＋比較級..., the＋比較級～＝...すればするほど，それだけ（いっそう）～する
※この２つの the は比較級の形容詞［副詞］にかかる副詞で，前の the が接続詞の働きを兼ねている
The higher we climbed, the cooler it became.
＝It became (the) cooler, the higher we climbed.
※この前後の節の入れ換えも, ある時期までは基本だったが, いまでは応用レベル
＝As we climbed higher, it became cooler.
※as...＝...するにつれて[比例して]
8. all the 比較級と none the 比較級
I like him all the better for his faults [because he has faults].
(直訳＝彼の欠点のゆえに，それだけ［その分］いっそう彼が好きだ)
「その分」＝for[because of]～ / because ... の分
※all＝強調の副詞 the＝better にかかる副詞「それだけ，その分」
A woman is none the happier for her beauty [because she is beautiful].
(直訳＝美しさのゆえに女性はそれだけいっそう幸せということは少しもない)
※none＝否定の副詞（≒never)
9. not more than と no more than
not more than 1,000 yen（≦1,000 yen）
＝at most 1,000 yen「多くても，せいぜい1,000円」
not less than 1,000 yen（≧1,000 yen）
＝at least 1,000 yen「少なくとも1,000円」
no less than 1,000 yen（＝1,000 yen）
＝as much as 1,000 yen「＝1,000円も」
・少なくはない（＝多い）という気持ちを表している
no more than 1,000 yen（＝1,000 yen）
(＝as little as 1,000 yen）
＝only 1,000 yen「たった1,000円」
・多くはない（＝少ない）という気持ちを表している
※no＋比較級＝反意語の同等比較
※no more [less] than 1,000 の no は，more や less の程度（つまり差）がゼロであることを表しているので，数はあくまでも1,000である
※no more than と not more than を区別しない or 区別できない native speakers も少なくない。
10. no more ... than ～ (9.の応用)
A bat is no more a bird than a dog is (a bird).
＝A bat is not a bird any more than a dog is (a bird).
[≒A bat is as little a bird as a dog is (a bird)]. ※実際はこうは言わない
(直訳＝コウモリが鳥である程度は，犬が鳥である程度と同じくらいに少ない)
「コウモリが鳥でないのは犬が鳥でないのと同様である＝犬と同様, コウモリは鳥ではない」
※no＝moreを否定する副詞 more＝程度の副詞
※not＝anyを否定する副詞 any＝moreにかかる副詞
この表現ではthan以下の内容は事実に反している(事実である程度はゼロである)ことが前提になっている。
the dog is a bird に「犬が鳥でない」という日本語訳を当てることに違和感を覚える人がいるようだが，次の例を参考にしてほしい。
He bought more ice cream than he could eat by himself.
(直訳＝一人で食べられるより多くのアイスクリームを買った)
「一人では食べ切れないほどのアイスクリームを買った」
※単語レベルの変換だけでは日本語に移し変えられない英語表現はいくらでもある。
She is no more kind than her mother (is) (kind).
＝She is not kind any more than her mother (is) (kind).
[≒She is as little kind as her mother (is) (kind)]. ※実際はこうは言わない
「彼女が親切でないのは母親が親切でないのと同様である＝母親と同様，彼女は親切ではない」
11. no less ... than ～ (9.の応用)
A whale is no less a mammal than a horse is (a mammal).
[≒A whale is as much a mammal as a horse is (a mammal)]. ※実際はこうは言わない
(直訳＝鯨が哺乳動物である程度は，馬が哺乳動物である程度と同じくらいに高い)
「鯨が哺乳動物であるのは馬が哺乳動物であるのと同様である＝馬と同様, 鯨は哺乳動物である」
この表現ではthan以下の内容は事実であることが前提になっている。
She is no less kind than her mother (is) (kind).
[≒She is as much kind as her mother (is) (kind).] ※実際はこうは言わない
(直訳＝彼女が親切である程度は，彼女の母親が親切である程度と同じくらいに高い)
「彼女が親切なのは彼女の母親が親切なのと同様である＝母親と同様，彼女は親切である」」
※no more ... than ～ の定番として，ネットをにぎわしている鯨の構文の「正体」を理解できただろうか。
12. junior to ～, senior to ～
I am three years junior to John. (three years＝副詞のはたらき）
＝I am junior to John by three years.（by＝差を表す）
＝I am three years younger than John.
＝I am younger than John by three years.
＝I am three years John's junior. (junior＝名詞）
＝I am John's junior by three years.
＝John is three years senior to me.
＝John is senior to me by three years.
＝John is three years older than I.
＝John is older than I by three years.
＝John is three years my senior. (senior＝名詞)
＝John is my senior by three years.
cf. superior to ～(≒better than ～) ←→ infeior to ～
John is suprior to me in English writing ability.
＝I am inferor to John in English writing ability.
13. prefer Ａ to Ｂ
I prefer tea to coffee.
＝I like tea better than coffee.
prefer ─ing to ～ing＝prefer to Ｖ rather than (to) Ｖ
I prefer staying home to going out.
＝I prefer to stay home rather than (to) go out.
14. 比較の慣用表現
・not so much A as B「Ｂであるほど(大いに)Ａではない」＝B rather than A
He is not so much an artist as a critic.
＝He is a critic rather than an artist.
・not so much as Ｖ＝─さえしない / cannot so much as Ｖ＝─さえできない
He cannot so much as write his own name.
＝He cannot even write his own name.
He went away without so much as saying good-by.
＝He went away without even saying good-by.
・肯定文, much [still] more ～＝まして～は...
She can speak French, much [still] more English.
・否定文, much [still] less ～＝まして～は...ない
She cannot speak English, much [still] less French
＝She cannot speak English, let alone French.
cf. not to mention [speak of] ～, to say nothing of ～ は前が肯定文でも否定 文でも用いる
・make the most of ～＝～を最大限に活かす
・make the best of ～＝～を最大限に活かす (状況や条件が不利・不十分な場合に用 いる)
・the last but one [two]＝最後から二[三]番目
Open your books to [at] the last page but [except] one.
・He is [would be] the last man to betray you.
※to不定詞の形容詞用法を参照
・Tom is as good as his word.
＝Tom always keeps his promise.(good＝信頼できる)
・He made five mistakes in as many lines.
＝He made five mistakes in five lines.
「彼は,５行で５つの間違いをおかした」
・The boys were swimming in the pond like so many frogs.
「少年たちは(まるで同数の)カエルのように池で泳いでいた」
・no sooner...than～～
They had no sooner met than they began to quarrel.
＝No sooner had they met than they began to quarrel.
＝They had hardly [scarcely] met when [before] they began to quarrel.
＝Hardly [Scarcely] had they met when [before] they began to quarrel.
※否定語(否定の副詞)＋疑問文の語順
＝As soon as they met, they began to quarrel.
＝The moment [instant/minute] they met, they began to quarrel.
＝Immediately [Directly] they met, they began to quarrel.
・as [so] long as ...「...する限り」(時間の同等比較 → 条件の限定)
＝while ... / if only ...「...しさすれば」
As [So] long as you keep quiet, you may stay here.
＝If only [While] you keep quiet, you may stay here.
※ as long as には時間のニュアンスが強く残っている
・as [so] far as ...「...する限り」(距離の同等比較 → 範囲の限定)
as [so] far as I know＝to (the best of) my knowledge
as [so] far as English is concerned「英語に関する限り」
※ as far as には決まった表現が多い｡ insofar [in so far] as も同義｡
as far as the eye can reach [see]
＝as far as one can see「見渡す限り」
※この表現には距離のニュアンスが残っている (距離 → 面積)
cf. He went as far as the door.「彼はドア(のところ)まで行った」
※2006年のセンター試験に出たこの表現は距離の表現だが, この far には「遠い」というニュアンスはない｡
cf. He went as far as the isolated village.