一、时态、语态
时态、语态需要掌握的要点：
1.以下几类动词一般不能用于进行时，同样不用于完成进行时：
(1)表示感知的动词：hear, feel, notice, recognize, see, taste, smell；
(2)表示意愿、情感的动词：desire, dislike, forgive, hate, like, love, prefer, refuse, want, wish, fear, love, hate；
(3)表示思考、看法的动词：believe, doubt, expect, forget, hope, feel, mean, know, agree, realize, mind, recall, recollect, remember, trust, suppose；
(4)表示所有、占有的动词：belong to, owe, own, possess, hold(容纳)；
(5)其他动词：cost, appear, concern, contain, consist, deserve, matter, seem。
如：
I’d say whenever you are going after something that is belonging to you, anyone who is depriving you of the right to have it is criminal.
(1997年考研题， belong表示归属，不用于进行式)
He was seeing somebody creeping into the house through the open window last night.
(1990年考研题，see表示结果，不用于进行式)
2. 不用will/shall表达将来时的形式：
(1)be going to表示现在的打算和意图；
(2)arrive, come, drive, go, leave, retire, return, set off, start, take off等表示移位的动词的进行体表示按计划肯定要发生的将来动作；
(3)be to (do)表示安排、计划、决定、命令或注定要发生的事，如：
Greater efforts to increase agricultural production must be made if food shortage is to be avoided.
(4)be about to (do)表示将要(做)，如：
Marlin is a young man of independent thinking who is not about to pay compliments to his political leaders.
(5)be on the point /verge of (doing)表示“马上就要”，一般不与表示将来的时间状语连用；
(6)be, begin, come, depart, get off, go, leave, return, start的一般现在时表示按日历或时刻表要发生的将来动作或事件，如：
If you want your film to be properly processed, you’ll have to wait and pick it up on Friday, which is the day after tomorrow.
(画线部分一般不用will be)
(7)在时间、条件、让步从句中，一般现在时代替将来时，但要注意区别从句的类型，如：
I don’t know where he will go tomorrow. 我不知道他明天去哪儿。(宾语从句)
I’ll tell him when you will ring again. 我告诉他你什么时候再来电话。(宾语从句)
比较：I’ll tell him when you ring again.你再打电话时我告诉他。(状语从句)
(8)在make sure, make certain, see (to it) 后的that从句中，谓语动词用一般现在时代替将来时，如：
See to it that you include in the paper whatever questions they didn’t know the answer to last time.
(include 不能用will include或其他形式)
3.完成时是时态测试的重点，注意与完成时连用的句型和时间状语：
(1)by/between/up to/till +过去时间、since、by the time/when +表示过去发生情况的从句，主句用过去完成时。如：
We had just had our breakfast when an old man came to the door.
Between 1897 and 1919 at least 29 motion pictures in which artificial beings were portrayed had been produced.
(表示1919年时已发生的情况)
(2)by +将来时间、by the time/ when +谓语动词是一般现在时的从句，主句用将来完成时。如：
By the time you arrive in London, we will have stayed in Europe for two weeks.
I hope her health will have improved greatly by the time we come back next year.
(3)by now、since +过去时间、in/during/for/over/the past/last few(或具体数字)years/days/months，主句用现在完成时, 但在it is +具体时间since/before这一句型中，主句更多的时候不用完成时。如：
The changes that howe taken place place in air travel during the last sixty years would have seemed completely impossible to even the most brilliant scientists at the turn of the 19th century.
It is four years since John left school.
(4)在It is the +序数词/形容词最高级+that的定语从句中，谓语动词常用现在完成时。如：
It isn’t the first time that I have found myself in an embarrassing situation.
(5)在no sooner…than…, hardly/scarcely…when/before…句型中，主句常用过去完成时。
(6)其他与完成时连用的时间状语：all this while, all this year, for some time, so far, already, before, just, long, yet等。
4.完成进行时指动作在完成时的基础上还要继续下去。如：
The company has been promising a rise in salary for ages, but nothing has happened.
The school board listened quietly as John read the demand that his followers had been demonstrating for.
时态、语态答题思路：
(1)先根据选项的区别点确定考题要点为时态，然后回到题句中寻找给出的或暗示的时间状语，缩小选择范围，进而选出正确答案；
(2)根据谓语动词与句子主语或非谓语动词与其逻辑主语的关系，确定句子是主动语态还是被动语态。
二、不定式
1.不定式做主语
(1)做形式主语的代词：
不定式做主语, 通常用it充当形式主语, 把做主语的不定式短语后置。 如：
It took me only five minutes to finish the job.
To be frank, it is a great relief to have the task fulfilled in so short a time.
(2)引导逻辑主语的介词：
不定式的逻辑主语一般由介词for引导,但下列表示人的性格行为特征的形容词做表语时, 不定式的逻辑主语则由of引导：
absurd, bold, brave, courageous, careful, careless, clever, wise, foolish, silly, stupid, good, nice, kind, thoughtful, considerate, greedy, generous, honest, modest, polite, rude, cruel, selfish, lazy, wicked, wrong。如：
Experts say walking is one of the best ways for a person to stay healthy.
It’s clever of you to have invented such a device.
(3)不定式做主语补足语：
掌握常用不定式做主语补足语的句型。注意不定式表示的动作发生的时间，并采用相应形式。如：
said
reported
thought
be to do sth.
believed
known
supposed
Byron is said to have lived on vinegar and potatoes.
The bank is reported in the local newspaper to have been robbed in broad daylight yesterday.
2.不定式做宾语
(1)必须接不定式做宾语的动词：
掌握要求接不定式做宾语的动词：
agree, afford, aim, arrange, appear, ask, attempt, choose, claim, decide, desire, determine, expect, fail, guarantee, hope, endeavor, intend, long, mean, manage, offer, ought, plan, pledge, pretend, prepare, promise, proceed, prove, resolve, refuse, request, swear, tend, try, venture, wait, wish。如：
Even though the children pretended to be asleep, the nurses were not deceived when they came into the room.
注意:
1)有的动词要求特殊疑问词+不定式做宾语, 这类动词有：
consider, discover, explain, forget, guess, know, learn, observe, remember, see, tell, understand, wonder，如：
While still a young boy, Bizet knew how to play the piano well and as he grew older, he wrote operas, the most famous of which is Carmen.
2)如果该特殊疑问词在不定式中做介词宾语, 介词往往置于该特殊疑问词的前面。如:
The professor can hardly find sufficient grounds on which to base his argument in favor of the new theory.
Without facts, we cannot form worthwhile opinion for we need to have factual knowledge upon which to base our thinking.
(2)可以用不定式做宾语补足语(复合宾语)的动词：
下列动词可以用不定式做宾语补足语(复合宾语)：
advise, allow, ask, beg, cause, command, compel, enable, determine, encourage, expect, feel, find, force, hate, have, hear, help, inform, invite, let, like, make, mean, need, notice, notify, oblige, order, permit, persuade, remind, request, require, see, send, teach, tell, tempt, trouble, urge, want, warn, watch, wish。
注意：画线动词后面的不定式不带to。
如：
Because of the recent accidents, our parents forbid my brother and me to swim in the river unless someone agrees to watch over us.
3.不定式做定语
(1)被修饰的名词前有序数词、形容词最高级或next, last, only, not a, the, very等限定词时，该名词用不定式做定语。如：
the first woman to set foot on the moon 第一个登上月球的女性
(2)如果其动词要求不定式做宾语，相应的名词一般用不定式做定语。如：
tendency to do→tend to do, decision to do→decide to do This book is an attempt to help you use English and recognize how it is used.
(3)如果其形容词形式要求接不定式做补语，相应的名词一般用不定式做定语。如：
ambition to do “干……的雄心”→be ambitious to do“有雄心干……”
curiosity to do “对……的好奇心”→be curious to do“对……好奇”
ability to do“做……的能力”→able to do“有能力做……”
According to Darwin, random changes that enhance a species’ ability to survive are naturally selected and passed on to succeeding generation.
(4)表示方式、原因、时间、机会、权利等名词用不定式做定语，这些名词包括：
way, method, reason, time, place, chance, occasion, opportunity, evidence, power, right, movement, drive (运动)，effort等。如：
I worked so late in the office last night that I hardly had time to catch the last bus.
We appreciate your efforts to bring about a comprehensive solution to the existing problem.
(5)不定代词something, nothing, little, much, a lot习惯上用不定式做定语。如：
Though we have made great progress, there is still much to be improved.
4.不定式做状语
不定式做状语主要表示目的、程度、结果、方式。
(1)in order to(do), so as to(do)结构引导目的状语，so as to不能置于句首。如：
To succeed in a scientific research project, one needs to be persistent .
I advise them to withdraw so as not to get involved.
(2)so…as to, such…as to, enough…to, too…to结构做程度状语。如：
The solution works only for couples who are self-employed, don’t have small children and get along well enough to spend most of their time together.
The vocabulary and grammatical differences between British and American English are so trivial and few as hardly to be noticed.
(3)不定式做结果状语只能出现在句子的末尾，表示不愉快的结果，有时用only加强语气。
常见的不定式动词有find, hear, see, be told, form, give, make, produce等。如：
Greatly agitated, I rushed to the apartment and tried the door, only to find it locked.
(4)not/never too… to, too… not to, but/only too…to, too ready/eager/apt/inclined to 表示肯定意义。如：
I am only too pleased to hear from you further. 能再听到你的消息，我太高兴了。
三、动名词
1.必须接动名词做宾语的动词
牢记下列要求接动名词做宾语的动词：
acknowledge, advocate, anticipate, appreciate, advise, avoid, admit, confess, consider, defend, delay, deny, dislike, enjoy, escape, excuse, fancy, favor, finish, forgive, imagine, include, involve, justify, keep mind, miss, mention, pardon, practice, postpone, permit, report, resent, resume, recall，recollect，risk, resist, suggest, tolerate。如：
Although a teenager, Fred could resist being told what to do and what not to do.
I appreciate having been given the opportunity to study abroad two years ago.
2.动名词做介词短语
考生尤其要识别下列短语中的to是介词，不是不定式符号：
object to, resort to, react to, contribute to, look forward to, be accustomed to, be committed to, be exposed to, be subjected to, be devoted to, be dedicated to, be opposed to, be reconciled to, be contrary to, be (get) used to, come close to, get down to, give oneself up to, prefer…to, see to, set to, take to, in addition to, with regard to, with a view to, on the way to。如：
There was no sign that Mr. Jospin , who keeps a firm control on the party despite having resigned from leadership of it, would intervene personally.
Our modern civilization must not be thought of as having been created in a short period of time.
Nowhere in nature is aluminum found free, owing to its always being combined with other elements, most commonly with oxygen.
As the children become financially independent of the family, the emphasis on family financial security will shift from protection to saving for the retirement years.
Everyone with half an eye on the unemployment figures knew that the assertion about economic recovery being just around the corner was untrue.
四、分词
分词起形容词和副词的作用，在句中做定语或状语。在概念上考生应清楚：
● 现在分词表示主动，表示动作在进行。
● 过去分词表示被动，表示动作结束了的状态或结果。
1.分词做定语，弄清现在分词与过去分词的区别
分词短语做定语相当于省略了的定语从句，考生应掌握：
(1)现在分词与被修饰词之间具有主动意义。如：
It’s easy to blame the decline of conversation on the pace of modern life and on the vague changes taking place in our ever-increasing world.(相当于the changes which take place...)
There was a very interesting remark in a book by an Englishman that I read recently giving what he thought was a reason for this American characteristic.(相当于which gave...)
How many of us attending, say, a meeting that is irrelevant to us would be interested in the discussion?(相当于How many of us who will attend...)
(2)过去分词与被修饰词之间具有被动意义。如：
Good news was sometimes released prematurely, with the British recapture of the port announced half a day before the defenders actually surrendered.
(相当于…recapture of the port which had been announced…)
Just as the value of a telephone network increases with each new phone added to the system, so does the value of a computer system increase with each program that turns out.
(相当于…each new phone which is added to…)
The author gave a detailed description based on his personal observation of nature.
(相当于…description which was based on…)
(3)下列不及物动词也以过去分词形式做定语或表语，但不具有被动意义：
deceased, departed, elapsed, faded, fallen, gone, grown-up, retired, returned, risen, set, vanished, much-travelled, newly arrived, recently come。如：
an escaped prisoner一个逃犯
a retired worker一位退休工人
a faded curtain一个褪了色的窗帘
a newly arrived student一个新来的学生
2.分词做状语，注意区分分词的一般式与完成式
(1)表示时间，多置于句首，注意如果分词表示的动作的时间先于谓语动词，要用完成式。如：
Having completed one task, we started on another one.
(complete先于start之前发生)
(2)表示原因，置于句首句尾均可，根据情况有时要用完成式，有时用一般式。如：
He wasn’t asked to take on the chairmanship of the society, being considered insufficiently popular with all members.
There seemed little hope that the explorer, having been deserted in the tropical forest, would find his way through it.
(3)表示伴随、方式，置于句尾，用分词的一般式。如：
Helen borrowed my dictionary the other day saying that she would return it soon.
Anna was reading a piece of science fiction, completely lost to the outside world.
(4)表示结果，置于句尾，用分词的一般式。如：
The city found itself in a crisis situation last summer when the air conditioning on dozens of the new buses broke down, them unusable.
(5)表示补充说明(同位)，置于句尾，用分词的一般式。如：
The article opens and closes with descriptions of two news reports, each making one major point in contrast with the other.
Ford tried dividing the labor, each worker assigned a separate task.
3.分词的独立主格结构
分词的逻辑主语一般为句子的主语，否则分词短语要有自己的逻辑主语，称为分词独立主格结构。分词独立主格结构只是句子的一个部分，但在翻译时经常译成独立的句子，考生要注意英汉两种语言在结构上的区别。如：
All flights having been canceled because of the snowstorm, we decided to take the train.
Darkness setting in, the young couple lingered on merrymaking.
4.分词做表语和补语，尤应注意由使役动词变来的分词的形式
(1)现在分词表示主语或宾语的特征，多以事物做(逻辑)主语。如：
His victory in the final was no more convincing than I had expected.
(2)过去分词表示主语或宾语所处的状态或对某事的心理反应和感受，多以人做(逻辑)主语。如：
These students are quick at learning. We’ll have them trained in new methods.
People cannot but feel puzzled. For they simply cannot understand how he could have made such a stupid mistake.
五、非谓语动词的其他考点
1.接不定式或动名词做宾语都可以，但在意思上有区别的动词的用法
mean to do想要(做某事) propose to do 打算(做某事)
mean doing意味(做某事) propose doing建议(做某事)
forget to do忘记(要做的事) remember to do记得(要做某事)
forget doing忘记(已做的事) remember doing记得(已做过的事)
go on to do继而(做另一件事) stop to do停下来去做另一件事
go on doing继续(做原来的事) stop doing停止正在做的事
regret to do(对将要做的事)遗憾 regret doing(对已做过的事)后悔
如：
Mr. Jankin regretted having blamed his secretary for the mistake, for he later discovered it was his own fault.
The boy is constantly being told not to scratch the paint off the wall, but he goes on doing it all the same.
2.不定式的习惯用法
句型：cannot help but do cannot but do
cannot choose but do can do nothing but do
have no choice/alternative but to do
上述句型的意思接近，即“不得不做”、“不禁做”、“不由自主地做”、“不能不做”、“只能做”。其共同的特点是都有一个否定词和but。如：
Nobody can help but be fascinated by the world into which he is taken by the science fiction.When I consider how talented he is as a painter, I cannot help but believe that the public will appreciate his gift.
3.动名词的习惯用法
句型：be busy/active doing sth. have difficulty/trouble/problem doing sth.
It’s no good/use/picnic doing sth. have a good/great/wonderful time doing sth.
spend/waste time doing sth. There is no point/sense/harm/ use doing sth.
cannot help doing sth. There is no doing sth.
I know it isn’t important but I can’t help thinking about it.
Alice was having trouble controlling the children because there were so many of them.
There is no use crying over spilt milk.
4.there be 非谓语动词的用法
(1)做宾语时取决于谓语动词的持续要求。如：
The students expected there to be more reviewing classes before the final exams.
(expect要求接不定式做宾语)
(2)做目的状语或程度状语时用for there to be，做其他状语用there being。如：
For there to be successful communication, there must be attentiveness and involvement in the discussion itself by all present.
(for there to be…在句中做目的状语)
It isn’t cold enough for there to be a frost tonight, so I can leave Jim’s car out quite safely.
(for there to be…在句中做程度状语)
There being no further questions, we’ll stop here today.
(there being…做原因状语)
(3)引导主语用for there to be。如：
It is unusual for there to be no late comers today.
(4)做除for外的介词宾语，用there being。如：
He would always ignore the fact of there being such a contradiction in his inner thought.
六、虚拟语气
1.主从句谓语动词的时态
(1)掌握主从句谓语动词的规范搭配:
主句从句
与现在事实相反would/情态动词过去式+dowere (不分人称)/did
与过去事实相反would/情态动词过去式+have donehad done
与将来事实相反would/情态动词过去式+doshould do
如：
If the doctor had been available, the child could not have died.
There is a real possibility that these animals could be frightened, should there be a sudden loud noise.
(2)区分主从句表示的不同时间概念：
主从句谓语动词所指时间不同，这叫做错综时间条件句，动词形式应根据实际情况来调整。如：
Had it not been for the timely investment from the general public, our company would not be so thriving as it is.
(主句与现在事实相反，从句与过去事实相反)
Had Paul received six more votes in the last election, he would be our chairman now.
(主句与现在事实相反，从句与过去事实相反)
(3)识别事实和假设混合句：
Your math instructor would have been happy to give you a make-up examination had you gone and explained that your parents were ill at the time.
(句子前半部分为假设情况，而“父母病了”是事实)
I would have gone to visit him in the hospital had it been at all possible, but I was fully occupied the whole of last week.
(前半部分为假设，后半部分是事实)
2.名词性从句的虚拟形式
名词性从句是指宾语从句、主语从句、表语从句和同位语从句。从句的谓语动词需用(should+)动词原形表示虚拟。考生应熟悉：
(1)下列动词做谓语时，that宾语从句中的动词用虚拟形式：
desire, advise, recommend, command, direct, order, ask, demand, request, require, insist, maintain, move, propose, prefer, urge, vote。如：
In the past men generally preferred that their wives work in the home.
I move that he be discharged for his serious mistake.
(2)下列形容词和分词做表语或补语时，that主语从句中动词用虚拟形式：
advisable, desirable, insistent, preferable, urgent, appropriate, compulsory, crucial, essential, imperative, important, necessary, obligatory, possible, probable, proper, vital, advised, arranged, commanded, demanded, desired, ordered, proposed, recommended, requested, required, suggested。如：
The board deem it urgent that these files should be printed right away.
It is essential that all these figures be checked twice.
(3)下列名词接同位语从句或表语从句时，从句中动词用虚拟形式：
insistence, preference, recommendation, suggestion, proposal, motion, desire, re-quirement, request, order, necessity, importance, regulation, rule, resolution, understanding。如：
John Wagner’s most enduring contribution to the study of Afro-American poetry is his insistence that it be analyzed in a religious, as well as worldly, frame of reference.
They keep telling us it is of utmost importance that our representative be sent to the conference on schedule.
3.含蓄虚拟条件句的谓语动词形式
含蓄虚拟语气是指假设条件不通过if从句表达，而是暗含在其他结构中。考生应熟悉：
(1)连词but, but that, or, or else；副词otherwise, unfortunately等表示转折假设。如：
A safety analysis would have identified the target as a potential danger. Unfortunately, it was never done.
Victor obviously doesn’t know what’s happened; otherwise he wouldn’t have made such a stupid remark.
(2)介词短语暗含假设条件，常用的有：without, but for, under more favorable conditions等。如：
But for the English examination I would have gone to the concert last Sunday.
(3)intended/meant/hoped/wished/planned或was/were +不定式完成式或had intended/meant/planned/hoped/wished
+不定式一般式暗示虚拟语气。如：
I intended to have called on you, but I was busy at that time.
(4)情态动词完成式暗示虚拟语气。如：
I should have called to make an airline reservation, but I didn’t.
4.常用虚拟形式的句型
(1)从句中动词用过去式或过去完成式表示虚拟的句型：
would rather would as soon as though suppose…
had rather would sooner as if supposing…
If only… It is (high) time that…(从句中动词只用过去式)
如：
His wife would rather they didn’t talk about the matter any more.
I’d rather you went by train, because I can’t bear the idea of your being in an airplane in such bad weather.
If I were in a movie, then it would be about time that I buried my head in my hands for a cry.
My father always talks as though he were addressing a public meeting.
(2)If it were not for… (与现在事实相反)
If it had not been for… (与过去事实相反) 相当于but for。如：
If it had not been for his help (= but for his help), we would not have succeeded.
(3)If only…谓语动词视情况选用适当的形式。如：
If only the committee would approve the regulations and put them into effect as soon as possible.
(4)lest/for fear that/in case 从句谓语用(should+)动词原形。如：
The mad man was put in the soft-padded cell lest he injure himself.
(5)whether…or…有时谓语用be的原形，引导让步虚拟从句，这种用法经常采用倒装结构。如：
Church as we use the word refers to all religious institutions, be they Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Jewish, and so on.
The business of each day, be it selling goods or shipping them, went quite smoothly.
七、情态动词
注意情态动词完成式的用法有两方面的含义：
1.表示已经发生的情况
(1)must have +过去分词，表示对已发生情况的肯定推测，译为“(昨天)一定……”。如：
My pain must have been apparent the moment I walked into the room, for the first man I met asked sympathetically: “Are you feeling all right?”
(2)cant/couldn’t have +过去分词，表示对已发生情况的否定推测，译为“(昨天)一定没……”。 如：
Mary couldn’t have received my letter; otherwise she would have replied before now.
(3)may/might have +过去分词，表示对已发生的事情做不肯定、可能性很小的推测，或事实上根本没发生，译为“也许……”。如：
At Florida Power’s Crystal River plant, a potentially serious leakage of radioactive water may have been unknowingly caused by an electrician.
2.表示虚拟语气
(1)needn’t have+过去分词，表示做了不必做的事，译为“其实没必要……”。如：
As it turned out to be a small house party, we needn’t have dressed up so formally.
(2)should /should not have +过去分词，表示应该做某事但实际上未做，或本不应该做但实际上做了, 译为“本(不)应该……”。如：
I regret having left the work unfinished; I should have planned everything ahead carefully.
(3)ought to have+过去分词，表示动作按理该发生了，但实际上未发生，译为“该……”，与should的完成式含义类似。如：
The porter ought to have called the fire-brigade as soon as he saw the fire in the stock, which went up in smoke.
(4)could have+过去分词，表示过去本来可以做但却未做，译为“完全可以……”。如：
What you said is right, but you could have phrased it more tactfully.
(5)may/might have + 过去分词，表示过去可以做但实际未做，译为“(那样)也许会……”。如：
It might have been better to include more punchy statistics and photos of equipment in the introduction to further assist first-time office automation managers.
3.几个情态动词常考的句型
(1)may/might (just) as well“不妨，最好”，与had better相近。如：
Since the flight was cancelled, you might as well go by train.
(2)cannot/can’t…too… “越……越好，怎么也不过分”。注意这个句型的变体cannot…over…。如：
You cannot be too careful when you drive a car.
The final chapter covers organizational change and development. This subject cannot be overemphasized.
(3)usedn’t或didn’t use to为used to (do)的否定式。
(4)should 除了“应该”一层意思外，考研大纲还规定要掌握其“竟然”的意思。如：
I didn’t expect that he should have behaved like that.
八、形容词、副词及其比较级
1.形容词的句法功能
形容词在句中做定语、表语和主语。考生应注意：
(1)以 “a” 开头的形容词如alone, alike, asleep, awake等不能做前置定语，可做表语或后置定语。
(2)某些以副词词缀 “-ly” 结尾的词是形容词，如friendly, leisurely, lovely等。
(3)下列动词既是实义动词又是系动词，注意用做系动词时，要求形容词做表语：remain, keep, become, get, grow, go, come, turn, stay, stand, run, prove, seem, appear, look。如：
All those left undone may sound great in theory, but even the truest believer has great difficulty when it comes to specifics.
2.副词主要测试其修饰作用
考生应了解：副词可修饰谓语动词、非谓语动词、形容词、副词、介词短语、整个句子。如：
This pair of shoes isn’t good, but that pair is hardly better.
(与前半句的否定意义吻合)
It’s essential that people be psychologically able to resist the impact brought about by the transition from planned economy to market economy.
Andrew, my father’s younger brother, will not be at the picnic, much to the family’s disappointment.
Most of us are of the opinion that this set of training program is among the most wisely devised ones we have seen so far.
3.考比较级时，考生应把握
(1)形容词和副词比较级的形式是否和比较连词对应出现，即是否符合原级比较及比较级的结构。如：
Do you enjoy listening to records? I find records are often as good as, or better than an actual performance.
On the whole, ambitious students are more likely to succeed in their studies than are those with little ambition.
(2)比较的成分是否属于同类事物或同类概念。如：
The number of registered participants in this year’s marathon was half that of last year’s.
Young readers, more often than not, find the novels of Dickens far more exciting than Thackeray’s.
(3)比较级的修饰语如 a little, a lot, the, any, even, far, hardly, lots, much, rather，还有表示倍数比较的词等，他们的位置是：修饰语+as…as…, 或修饰语+more…than…。如：
Smoking is so harmful to personal health that it kills seven times more people each year than automobile accidents.
“Do you regret paying five hundred dollars for the painting?” “No, I would gladly have paid twice as much for it.”
(4)下列词和短语不用比较级形式却表示比较概念：
inferior，minor，senior，prior，prefer to，superior，major，junior，preferable，differ from，compared with，in comparison with，different from，rather than。如：
Their watch is superior to all the other watches on the market.
4.最高级形式应注意的问题
(1)最高级比较范围用介词in, over, of, among。
in, (all)over用于在某一范围内的比较，如：in China, all over the world； of, among 用于在同一群体内同类事物的比较，如：among the teachers, of the four dresses。
注意：among…相当于one of…，不说among all…。这一点考生应与汉语表达区别开来。如：
Of all visible lights, red light has the longest and violet the shortest wavelength.
(2)比较级形式表示最高级意义时，比较对象的范围应用：
any other +单数名词
the other +复数名词
the others
anyone/anything else
上述词是用来将比较级结构转变成最高级意义的关键词语，切不可遗漏，否则会造成逻辑混乱的错误。如不能说：John runs faster than anyone.注意与汉语表达的不同。
5.有关比较级的特殊句型
(1)not so much…as…与其说……不如说……
The chief reason for the population growth isn’t so much a rise in birth rates as a fall in death rates as a result of improvements in medical care.
(2)no/not any more…than…两者一样都不……The heart is no more intelligent than the stomach, for they are both controlled by the brain.
There is no reason they should limit how much vitamin you take, any more than they can limit how much water you drink.
(3)no /not any less…than…两者一样都……She is no less beautiful than her sister.
(4)just as…so….正如……，……也……(用倒装结构)Just as the soil is a part of the earth, so is the atmosphere.
