less可用作形容词,有更少的,较少的等含义;用作副词时的意思是“较少,更少,少”,可用来修饰动词、形容词或副词。
less的用法总结
一、less可用作形容词
1.less是little的比较级,基本意思是“较少的,更少的”,指物体的体积或分量相对于别的物体少。
2.less多用来修饰不可数名词,但当名词前有数词或a few等修饰时,其后可接可数名词;在把时间、距离、金钱等短语看作是一个整体时。
3.less可用来修饰可数名词;在有些短语中,说话人着眼于有关事物的大约的量,而不去细算精确的数额时, less可用来修饰可数名词;用在感叹句中, less后可接可数名词。
4.由no less than连接的两个成分,其强势总是落在前面一个。
It would be good to have less pollution.
如果污染更少的话就好了。
He spends less time on work than on play.
他在工作上花的时间比在玩上面花的时间更少。
二、less可用作副词
1.less用作副词时的'意思是“较少,更少,少”,可用来修饰动词、形容词或副词。
2.less有时用在某些形容词前并无比较的意思,只是为了避免使用不大文雅的词语而采用的委婉说法,且less一般不可用于形容词的比较级前。
The flaw in this vase makes it less valuable.
这个花瓶因为有点缺陷,不那么值钱了。
Work more and dream less, you will be much happier.
多做事少空想,这样你会愉快得多。
含有less的固定搭配
less and less
与more and more的意思相反,表示“越来越小”“越来越少”。如:
He comes here less and less. 他来这里的次数越来越少了。
I find I’m eating less and less meat. 我发现我肉吃得越来越少了。
He became less and less interested. 他越来越不感兴趣。
Holiday nights are getting less and less expensive. 假日机票越来越便宜了。
less than
与more than意思相反,主要用法有:
1. 用于两者比较,意为“比……少(小)”。如:
I earn less than he does. 我比他钱挣得少。
She eats less than a bird. 她的食量比小鸟还少。
2. 指数量上“少于”“不足”。如:
It costs less than£5. 这值不了5英镑。
I’ll see you in less than three weeks. 要不了3周我就能再见到你了。
2. 表示轻微的否定,意为“不很”“并不是太”(主要见于美国英语中)。如:
The job was less than perfect. 这工作不十分理想。
The boys were less than happy about having a party. 开晚会男孩子并不很高兴。
less...than
1. 表示“不像(如)……”。如:
He is less honest than his brother. 他不如他哥哥聪明。
This film is less interesting than that one. 这部电影不如那部电影有趣。
2. 表示“比……少”“不如……多”。如:
We drink less coffee than tea. 我们喝咖啡不如喝茶多。
We have less rainfall here than in Shanghai. 我们这儿的降雨量比上海少。
3. 表示“与其……不如……”。如:
I regard him less as my teacher than as my friend. 与其说我把他当作老师,不如说我是把他当作朋友。
no less than
1. 表示“多达”“有……之多”,用于强调数量之多。如:
No less than a thousand people came. 来的人竟然有上千人之多。
He won no less than £5000 in the lottery. 他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
2. 表示“简直”“与……没差别”。如:
It is no less than robbery to ask for so much. 要求多么多,简直跟抢劫没两样。
Sports wears, no less than suits, are very much saleable. 运动服和西服套一样,非常畅销。
3. 表示“原来就是”“正是”。如:
He was no less than the mayor. 他原来就是市长。
Good heavens! It’s no less a person than the president! 天哪!原来真是总统啊!一点儿不假。
no less...than
主要用于强调同等性,意为“与……一样”“不比……差”。如:
She is no less wise than you. 他跟你一样聪明(他并不比你笨)。
He is no less determined than you. 他的决心不亚于你。
A dolphin is no less a clever animal than a dog is. 海豚与狗同样都是聪明的动物。
no less than,no less...than,not less than的区别
1. no less than 有两个意思:
(1) 表示多达、有……之多(强调数量之多)。如:
We walked no less than three miles. 我们走了 3 英里之远。
We won no less than £500 in a competition. 我们在一次比赛中就赢了 500 英镑。
(2) 表示简直、与……没差别。如:
It is no less than robbery to ask for so much. 要这么多,简直跟抢劫没两样。
2. no less ... than 意为与……一样、不比……差(强调两者具有同等性)。如:
He is no less wise than you. 他跟你一样聪明(他并不比你笨)。
A dolphin is no less a clever animal than a dog is. 海豚与狗同样都是聪明的动物。
比较:A whale is no more a fish than a horse is. 马不是鱼,鲸也不是鱼(即鲸不是鱼就如同马不是鱼一样)。
3. not less than 意为不下于、至少。比较:
He has no less than seven daughters. 他有七个女儿之多。
He has not less than seven daughters. 他至少有七个女儿。