请教刘老师:
He has much of control 他有非常强的控制力。much of control在语法结构上,much为不定代词,介词短语of control为后置定语。但在乎义上,much of修饰control:不少的控制力。Much of/more of 可以看作前置形容词。是不是理解正确?
Much/something/nothing/more kind/ sort/ of a 结构
It is much of an honor. 这这个句子中 much of a 表示程度,语义上 much of a 修饰honor, 能否看作前置定语呢?
这个使用方法还要从头说起。看例句:John is much of a musician. 约翰非常有音乐家的范儿。
问题:“much of a + 单数名词”,是一种什么结构,表达哪种意思?
“much of a + 单数名词”,是英语中比较特殊的一种表达方法,在阅读中会时容易见到到。much 在这里实质是不定代词,表示“程度”,表示“在非常大程度上;占了非常大的比率”。说明:“该名词在非常大程度上如何”。名词前加了much of之后,事实上削弱了后面那个名词的完整,减少了它的程度、性质、品质或身份等。比如第1句:
John is much of a musician. 约翰非常有音乐家的范儿。
说明他并非真的的音乐家,只不过有不少音乐家的成分。所以“范儿”二字画龙点睛。
假如句中没much of,那样,John is a musician. 约翰就是一个实实在在的音乐家了。
【现象透视】这种结构,much 事实上表示它在一个名词中占的比率。假如后面的名词是百分之百的话,那样就无需用much of 这个词汇了,直接说John is a musician. (约翰是一位音乐家。)在某种意义上说,much表示出后面那个名词有非常大的“程度”,事实上弱化了后面的名词。
【注意】在现代英语中,为了简练,在 much of a musician 中,of 常常省略。因此:John is much of a musician. = John is much a musician.
much 表示程度的上述使用方法,常常跟否定连用、跟too连用、跟very 连用、跟比较从句连用,而且of 均可省略。
例句:
John is very much a musician.
John is not very much a musician.
John is too much a musician.
John is not too much a musician.
John is not as much a musician as a singer.
John is more a musician than a singer.
▲ 由于much 常常用于比较级more,比较两个事物之间的程度大小,所以,“much of a + 单数名词”这个结构,也常用于比较。它的比较结构有两种:
(1)“more of a + 单数名词 + than”:说明前者比后者“程度大”或 “程度增加”。
(2)“less of a + 单数名词 + than ”: 说明前者比后者“程度小”或 “程度减弱”。
【说明】than后面的成分,在肯定的上下文中可以省略不说。
★ 上述两种比较结构,事实上表达了一种“取舍关系”,两个句式的意思正好相反。
比如:
(1)This is much of a sitting room.
这非常像个起居室的样子。
(2)This is more of a sitting room than a kitchen.
这更像个起居室,而不是厨房。
= 与其说这是一个厨房,还不如说是个起居室。
(3)This is less of a sitting room than a kitchen.
这不像个起居室,而更是个厨房。
= 与其说这是一个起居室,还不如说是个厨房。
更多例句:(有时,比较的成分不需说出,如第2句)
She was more of a hindrance than a help. 她非但没帮上忙,反而碍事。
John is more of a student than a teacher. 约翰更像个学生,不是老师。
Parking is less of a problem with a small car. 对于小汽车来讲,停车点地不会有问题。
He is less of a fool than he looks. 他不象看起来那样笨。
【常识延伸】
1. “much of a +名词”:
much of a表示“在非常大程度上”。
She is not much of a journalist.她并非一个好记者。
It’s not much of a day for a walk.今天的天气不适于散步。
His brother is not much of a companion for him.他兄弟与他情趣不甚相投。
Breaking the law is too much of a risk. 违反法律太危险了。
He was too much of a gentleman to ask them for any money. 他太绅士气了,不好意思向他们要钱。
He was too much of a coward to tell the truth even to his closest friend. 他太胆怯,甚至对最亲密的朋友也不敢说出真相。
I find this town too much of a backwater.我感觉这个城镇太闭塞。
2. “more of a +名词:
这个比较级形式是“much of a +名词”的变式。
This is more of a sitting room than a kitchen.与其说这是一个厨房,还不如说这是一个起居室。
She was more of a hindrance than a help. 她非但没帮上忙,反而碍事。
3. “less of a +名词”:
Parking is less of a problem with a small car. 对于小汽车来讲,停车点地不会有问题。
He is less of a fool than he looks. 他不象看起来那样笨。
4.“nothing of a +名词”:
nothing of意为“根本不”。
Mr. Smith is nothing of a musician. 史密斯先生全无音乐家的风味。
She is nothing of a good keeper. 她根本不是个好主妇。
She thinks nothing of a difficulty like that. 这点困难她根本不放在眼里。
She can ride a motorcycle, to say nothing of a bicycle. 她摩托车都会骑, 自行车更不在话下了。
5.“somewhat of a +名词”:
somewhat of意为“有点儿,有的”。
The cake we made was somewhat of a failure. 大家做的蛋糕不大成功。
It was somewhat of a surprise to us. 大家对此感到有点惊奇。
I found it somewhat of a difficulty. 我感觉这事有的困难。
What happened to them remains somewhat of a mystery. 他们到底发生了什么事,到目前仍可以说是个谜。
6. “kind of a +名词”:
kind of意为“有点儿,有的”。
Joanies my best friend, but she can be kind of a pain sometimes. 乔安妮是我最好的朋友,但她有时可能有点儿招人烦。
What you did is kind of a stupid thing. 你所做的是一件多少有点愚蠢的事。
7.“sort of a +名词”:
sort of意为“有点儿,有的”。
Its not a sharp pain; just sort of a dull ache. 这不是剧痛;只不过有的隐痛。
The moon was sort of a gray color. 月亮带点灰色。
I wont tell you; it is sort of a secret. 我不对你说,这事可以说是个秘密。