most(ly)
1.mostly只用作“大部分地”(for the most part)解,不可用作“最”(most)解,如可以说They are mostly natives,不可说What mostly pleased me was the music,该把第二句里的mostly改作most。Your answers are most correct是“你的回答最对”。Your answers are mostly correct是“你的回答大部分是对的”。
2.what most pleased me和what pleased me most都可以说。
3.a most...里的most作“很”(very)解,如He is a most learned man和This is a most interesting story。这种用法里的most并不含比较(比较级)的意思。注意a most happy life不可改作a happiest life,a most kind offer不可改作a kindest offer。
most也用在谓语里作“很”解。例如:
- He is most learned.
- You will find the story most interesting.
- I am most grateful.
- Everybody has been most kind.
- He behaved most rudely.
注意下面三种表达方式意思不同:
- most learned men in China (1.中国大多数有学问的人2.中国很有学问的人)
- the most learned men in China(中国最有学问的人)
- some most learned men in China(中国若干很有学问的人)
第一种表达方式的第一种译法里的most是形容词,第一种表达方式第二种译法里的most是副词,第二种表达方式里的most是副词,作“最”解,第三种表达方式里的most是副词,作“很”解。
4.most用作“很”解,表示“(因实验而被知道是)很…”,所以不可用在否定句、疑问句或表示条件的从句,如不可说:
- He is not a most learned man.
- Is he a most learned man?
- If he is a most learned man, I should like to know him.
也不可说:
- Can you recommend me a most interesting story?
- I want to read some most interesting stories.
5.most men是“大多数的人们”,most of the men是“这些人们的大多数”。不可说most of men,most of books,most of pictures等。
6.most of the men,most of my time等表达方式里,在most前面在英格兰没有the,在美国和苏格兰有时有the。
7.at most跟at the most意思相同。例如:I can pay only ¥ 50 at (the) most.
8.most用作almost解(如most everyone和most all books)是美国口语用法。
9.注意D is the most more interesting than A (of the three, B, C, and D)等句子里用most more,A is the most less interesting than D(of the three, A, B, and C)等句子里用most less。参见more 7和least 5
10.假定共有l00人,40人学习英语,30人学习俄语,20人学习法语,10人学习德语,学习英语的人最多,但未过半数,所以最好不说Most(或The most)of them study English,而说There are more of them who study English than those who study any other language。下面第一句可能有两个意思,第二句和第三句都可能有三个意思:
Most(或The most)mistakes are found in Henry's composition.(1.[大家作文里的错误的]半数以上的错误是在亨利的作文里。2.亨利作文里的错误比任何其他学生作文里的错误多。)
Most serious mistakes are found in Henry's composition.(1.[大家作文里的严重错误的]半数以上的严重错误是在亨利的作文里。2.亨利作文里的严重错误比任何其他学生作文里的严重错误多。3.亨利的作文里有很严重的错误。)
The most serious mistakes are found in Henry's composition.(1.和2.跟第二句相同。3.那些最严重的错误是在亨利的作文里。)