Сравнение: степени, as … as, than, the more … the more

Сравнительная степень образуется суффиксом -er или словом more, превосходная — -est или most. As … as значит «такой же … как», than — «чем», the more … the more — «чем больше … тем больше».

Примеры

• Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. 1.1Старый Марли был мёртв, как дверной гвоздь.
• No wind that blew was bitterer than he 1.3Ни один ветер, какой только дул, не был злее его
• a year older, but not an hour richer 1.5на год старше, но ни на час богаче
• Be here all the earlier next morning. 1.11Будьте здесь тем раньше на следующее утро.
• The more he thought, the more perplexed he was 2.2Чем больше он думал, тем сильнее недоумевал

В тексте 182

• I.1 Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.
• I.1 I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade.
• I.1 You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail.
• I.2 there would be nothing more remarkable in his taking a stroll at night, in an easterly wind, upon his own ramparts,
• I.2 than there would be in any other middle-aged gentleman rashly turning out after dark in a breezy spot—say Saint Paul’s Churchyard for instance—literally to astonish his son’s weak mind.
• I.2 Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire;Полная форма сравнения — as hard and sharp as flint; первое as в живой речи и у писателей часто опускается. Оба прилагательных двузначны: hard — «твёрдый» и «чёрствый, суровый», sharp — «острый» и «резкий, хитрый в делах». Перед flint нет артикля: это вещество.
• I.2 secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster.
• I.3 No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty.
• I.3 The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect.
• I.3 and then would wag their tails as though they said, “No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!”
• I.4 The fog came pouring in at every chink and keyhole, and was so dense without, that although the court was of the narrowest, the houses opposite were mere phantoms.
• I.4 Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk’s fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal.Сравнительную степень усиливают словом much, а не very: much smaller — «гораздо меньше». Здесь усилено и само much: so very much smaller — «настолько уж меньше».
• I.4 and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part.То же, что as surely as: «так же верно, как», то есть «всякий раз, как только». Клерк с совком — и тут же неизменная угроза.
• I.5 Scrooge having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment, said, “Bah!” again; and followed it up with “Humbug.”
• I.5 a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer;find oneself + прилагательное — «обнаружить, что ты (стал) таким-то». Мера разницы при сравнительной степени стоит без предлога: a year older — «на год старше», not an hour richer — «ни на час не богаче».
• I.7 “Because you fell in love!” growled Scrooge, as if that were the only one thing in the world more ridiculous than a merry Christmas.Определение со сравнением стоит после существительного: the only thing more ridiculous than… — «единственная вещь, более нелепая, чем…». one лишь усиливает only. Для Скруджа нелепее Рождества только женитьба по любви.
• I.7 who, cold as he was, was warmer than Scrooge; for he returned them cordially.
• I.8 “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time.«Более, чем обычно, желательно»: на Рождество — особенно. desirable от desire «желать» с суффиксом -able.
• I.10 Scrooge resumed his labours with an improved opinion of himself, and in a more facetious temper than was usual with him.
• I.11 Foggier yet, and colder.
• I.11 The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs,
• I.11 Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost.
• I.11 Be here all the earlier next morning.”the перед сравнительной степенью значит «тем»: the earlier — «тем раньше», а all усиливает: «тем более рано», «зато пораньше». Раз завтра работы не будет, послезавтра клерк должен прийти раньше обычного.
• I.12 and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindman’s-buff.as … as he could — «так… как только мог», «изо всех сил». pelt — разговорное «мчаться, нестись сломя голову»; обычное выражение — as hard as he could run. hard здесь наречие: «сильно, усердно».
• I.13 also that Scrooge had as little of what is called fancy about him as any man in the city of London, even including—which is a bold word—the corporation, aldermen, and livery.as … as — «так же… как». had as little fancy as any man — буквально «имел так же мало воображения, как любой человек», то есть меньше, чем кто бы то ни было.
• I.13 but its horror seemed to be in spite of the face and beyond its control, rather than a part of its own expression.«А не», «скорее чем»: вводит то, что отвергается. Ужас не был частью выражения лица, он был сам по себе.
• I.16 He was obliged to sit close to it, and brood over it, before he could extract the least sensation of warmth from such a handful of fuel.least — превосходная степень от little: little, less, least. the least — «малейший». sensation — «ощущение», а не «сенсация».
• I.16 and communicated for some purpose now forgotten with a chamber in the highest story of the building.
• I.17 The cellar-door flew open with a booming sound, and then he heard the noise much louder, on the floors below;Перед сравнительной степенью «гораздо» — это much, а не very.
• I.18 “How now!” said Scrooge, caustic and cold as ever. “What do you want with me?”Первое as опущено: (as) caustic and cold as ever — «язвителен и холоден, как всегда». caustic — буквально «едкий», о веществе.
• I.18 He was going to say “to a shade,” but substituted this, as more appropriate.
• I.19 There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!”
• I.20 But how much greater was his horror,
• I.21 Scrooge trembled more and more.Повтор сравнительной степени через and передаёт нарастание: «всё больше и больше», «всё сильнее».
• I.21 It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago.
• I.23 “At this time of the rolling year,” the spectre said, “I suffer most.most без артикля — превосходная степень наречия much: «больше всего».
• I.24 Scrooge’s countenance fell almost as low as the Ghost’s had done.
• I.25 Not so much in obedience, as in surprise and fear:
• II.1 He touched the spring of his repeater, to correct this most preposterous clock.most перед прилагательным без the — не «самый», а «крайне, в высшей степени»: «эти донельзя нелепые часы». preposterous — «нелепый, ни с чем не сообразный».
• II.2 The more he thought, the more perplexed he was;the + сравнительная степень …, the + сравнительная степень — «чем …, тем …». В каждой половине сравнение выходит вперёд, а за ним идёт прямой порядок слов: the more perplexed he was — «тем больше он недоумевал».
• II.2 and the more he endeavoured not to think, the more he thought.
• II.2 and, considering that he could no more go to sleep than go to Heaven, this was perhaps the wisest resolution in his power.no more … than — «не больше, чем», и этим отрицаются обе вещи: заснуть он мог так же мало, как попасть на небо. Это насмешка рассказчика над Скруджем. go to sleep — «заснуть».
• II.3 as close to it as I am now to you, and I am standing in the spirit at your elbow.Сравнение as … as: «так же близко к нему, как я сейчас к вам». После I am не повторено close. it — призрачный гость: о Духе рассказчик говорит то it, то he.
• II.3 yet not so like a child as like an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium,not so … as — «не так …, как», здесь «не столько похожая на ребёнка, сколько на старика». like значит «похожий на».
• II.3 and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it, and the tenderest bloom was on the skin.
• II.3 It wore a tunic of the purest white; and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful.
• II.3 But the strangest thing about it was, that from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by which all this was visible;
• II.3 and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm.
• II.4 Even this, though, when Scrooge looked at it with increasing steadiness, was not its strangest quality.
• II.4 For as its belt sparkled and glittered now in one part and now in another, and what was light one instant, at another time was dark,as открывает оборот as …, so … — «как …, так и …». Здесь только его первая половина; вторая, с so, идёт следом.
• II.4 so the figure itself fluctuated in its distinctness:
• II.5 Scrooge expressed himself much obliged, but could not help thinking that a night of unbroken rest would have been more conducive to that end.
• II.5 The grasp, though gentle as a woman’s hand, was not to be resisted.
• II.7 Nor was it more retentive of its ancient state, within;retentive of — «удерживающий, сохраняющий что-то»; state здесь не «состояние», а «пышность, парадное великолепие», как в to live in state. Смысл: внутри дом сохранил от былой роскоши не больше, чем снаружи.
• II.8 It opened before them, and disclosed a long, bare, melancholy room, made barer still by lines of plain deal forms and desks.Причастный оборот к room: «сделанную ещё более голой». still при сравнительной степени значит «ещё»: barer still = still barer, «ещё голее».
• II.8 but fell upon the heart of Scrooge with a softening influence, and gave a freer passage to his tears.
• II.8 The Spirit touched him on the arm, and pointed to his younger self, intent upon his reading.
• II.9 Scrooge’s former self grew larger at the words, and the room became a little darker and more dirty.a little перед сравнительной степенью — «немного»: «немного темнее». У dirty обычная сравнительная степень dirtier; здесь Диккенс берёт more dirty.
• II.9 but how all this was brought about, Scrooge knew no more than you do.no more than — «не больше, чем», то есть так же мало. do заменяет know, чтобы не повторять глагол. Рассказчик снова обращается к читателю: you — это мы.
• II.10 It opened; and a little girl, much younger than the boy, came darting in,Перед сравнительной степенью «намного» — это much, а не very: much younger — «намного младше».
• II.10 Father is so much kinder than he used to be, that home’s like Heaven!
• II.10 but first, we’re to be together all the Christmas long, and have the merriest time in all the world.”have a merry time — «весело провести время». merriest — превосходная степень от merry: y меняется на i. После превосходной степени место называют с in: in all the world — «на всём свете».
• II.11 who answered that he thanked the gentleman, but if it was the same tap as he had tasted before, he had rather not.
• II.12 that if he had been two inches taller he must have knocked his head against the ceiling,
• II.13 and the warehouse was as snug, and warm, and dry, and bright a ball-room, as you would desire to see upon a winter’s night.Оборот as + прилагательное + a + существительное + as: артикль уходит за прилагательное. as bright a ball-room as you would desire to see — «такой светлый бальный зал, какой только пожелаешь увидеть». Повтор and перед каждым прилагательным замедляет фразу, чтобы читатель оценил каждое.
• II.15 The sort of man who knew his business better than you or I could have told it him!) struck up “Sir Roger de Coverley.”
• II.15 But if they had been twice as many—ah, four times—old Fezziwig would have been a match for them, and so would Mrs. Fezziwig.twice as many — «вдвое больше» (буквально «дважды столько же»); второе as с тем, с чем сравнивают, опущено. four times — «вчетверо». ah показывает, что рассказчик сам себя поправляет и повышает ставку.
• II.15 If that’s not high praise, tell me higher, and I’ll use it.
• II.16 He corroborated everything, remembered everything, enjoyed everything, and underwent the strangest agitation.
• II.17 The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.”
• II.17 He was older now; a man in the prime of life.
• II.17 His face had not the harsh and rigid lines of later years;
• II.18 “There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty;При отрицании сравнение строится с so … as: «ни к чему не суров так, как к бедности».
• II.18 I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master-passion, Gain, engrosses you.
• II.18 “Even if I have grown so much wiser, what then?grow + прилагательное — «становиться»: «стал настолько умнее». Сравнительную степень усиливает much, а не very. Свою страсть к наживе он называет мудростью.
• II.21 The noise in this room was perfectly tumultuous, for there were more children there, than Scrooge in his agitated state of mind could count;
• II.21 and the latter, soon beginning to mingle in the sports, got pillaged by the young brigands most ruthlessly.
• II.22 and was more than suspected of having swallowed a fictitious turkey, glued on a wooden platter!
• II.22 And now Scrooge looked on more attentively than ever, when the master of the house, having his daughter leaning fondly on him, sat down with her and her mother at his own fireside;
• II.22 and when he thought that such another creature, quite as graceful and as full of promise, might have called him father, and been a spring-time in the haggard winter of his life,as … (as she): «столь же изящное и столь же много обещающее (как эта девушка)»; вторая половина сравнения опущена. full of promise — «подающий большие надежды».
• III.1 Without venturing for Scrooge quite as hardily as this, I don’t mind calling on you to believe that he was ready for a good broad field of strange appearances,
• III.2 and which, being only light, was more alarming than a dozen ghosts, as he was powerless to make out what it meant, or would be at;Сравнительная степень длинных прилагательных строится с more. a dozen употребляется как числительное, без of: a dozen ghosts — «дюжина призраков».
• III.3 “Come in! and know me better, man!”
• III.4 and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles.После other стоит than: «никакого другого убора, кроме (чем)…». wore — прошедшее от wear «носить на себе».
• III.4 free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air.Первое as оборота as free as опущено, как часто бывает в живой речи и в поэзии. Слово free Диккенс подхватывает из конца предыдущей фразы и относит ко всему облику Духа.
• III.4 “Have never walked forth with the younger members of my family; meaning (for I am very young) my elder brothers born in these later years?” pursued the Phantom.Особая сравнительная степень от old: о старшинстве в семье говорят elder brother, eldest son, а не older. После elder не ставят than.
• III.4 “More than eighteen hundred,” said the Ghost.
• III.5 The house fronts looked black enough, and the windows blacker, contrasting with the smooth white sheet of snow upon the roofs, and with the dirtier snow upon the ground;
• III.5 The sky was gloomy, and the shortest streets were choked up with a dingy mist, half thawed, half frozen,Превосходная степень здесь значит «даже самые короткие»: туман так густ, что забил и их.
• III.5 whose heavier particles descended in a shower of sooty atoms,
• III.5 and yet was there an air of cheerfulness abroad that the clearest summer air and brightest summer sun might have endeavoured to diffuse in vain.
• III.6 and now and then exchanging a facetious snowball—better-natured missile far than many a wordy jest—laughing heartily if it went right and not less heartily if it went wrong.Обычный порядок был бы a far better-natured missile than…: far перед сравнительной степенью значит «гораздо». better-natured — сравнительная степень от good-natured «добродушный». many a + существительное в единственном числе — книжное «многие, не один».
• III.7 the candied fruits so caked and spotted with molten sugar as to make the coldest lookers-on feel faint and subsequently bilious.
• III.7 and left their purchases upon the counter, and came running back to fetch them, and committed hundreds of the like mistakes, in the best humour possible;humour здесь «настроение», а не «юмор». possible после существительного усиливает превосходную степень: «в самом лучшем настроении, какое только возможно».
• III.8 But soon the steeples called good people all, to church and chapel, and away they came, flocking through the streets in their best clothes, and with their gayest faces.
• III.9 To a poor one most.”
• III.9 who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived.
• III.9 and that he stood beneath a low roof quite as gracefully and like a supernatural creature, as it was possible he could have done in any lofty hall.Сравнение as … as: «совершенно так же изящно, как». quite здесь «вполне, совершенно».
• III.11 And Martha warn’t as late last Christmas Day by half-an-hour?”После as late подразумевается as she is now: «не была такой поздней, как сейчас». Предлог by вводит величину разницы: в прошлом году Марта пришла на полчаса раньше. Вопросительный знак передаёт возмущённый тон, а порядок слов остался как в утверждении.
• III.12 “As good as gold,” said Bob, “and better.
• III.12 Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard.
• III.12 Bob’s voice was tremulous when he told them this, and trembled more when he said that Tiny Tim was growing strong and hearty.
• III.12 and while Bob, turning up his cuffs—as if, poor fellow, they were capable of being made more shabby—compounded some hot mixture in a jug with gin and lemons,Сравнительная степень с more; чаще говорят shabbier. shabby — «потёртый, поношенный».
• III.13 Such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of all birds;
• III.14 Yet every one had had enough, and the youngest Cratchits in particular, were steeped in sage and onion to the eyebrows!
• III.15 These held the hot stuff from the jug, however, as well as golden goblets would have done;Здесь as well as — настоящее сравнение, «так же хорошо, как», а не союз «а также». do заменяет глагол hold: «как вмещали бы золотые кубки». would have done — о несбывшемся: золотых кубков у Крэтчитов нет.
• III.16 It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child.Две сравнительные степени: more + прилагательное — «более», less + прилагательное — «менее». worthless = worth «ценность» + -less «без»: «ничего не стоящий». fit to + инфинитив — «годный, достойный того, чтобы».
• III.17 Nobody knows it better than you do, poor fellow!”do стоит вместо know, чтобы не повторять глагол: «лучше, чем (знаешь) ты».
• III.18 After it had passed away, they were ten times merrier than before, from the mere relief of Scrooge the Baleful being done with.«В десять раз веселее, чем прежде»: число, times и сравнительная степень. merry — merrier: y меняется на i.
• III.18 Also how she had seen a countess and a lord some days before, and how the lord “was much about as tall as Peter;”Кавычки показывают, что это слова самой Марты. as tall as — «такого же роста, как»; much about — разговорное «примерно, почти что». Точка с запятой внутри кавычек — пунктуация того времени.
• III.19 and when they faded, and looked happier yet in the bright sprinklings of the Spirit’s torch at parting,yet при сравнительной степени значит «ещё»: happier yet = still happier, «ещё счастливее».
• III.20 and frowning lower, lower, lower yet, was lost in the thick gloom of darkest night.
• III.22 and one of them: the elder, too, with his face all damaged and scarred with hard weather, as the figure-head of an old ship might be:elder — «старший» о людях (из двоих), рядом с обычным older. too здесь «к тому же, притом»: запел как раз тот, что старше.
• III.22 And every man on board, waking or sleeping, good or bad, had had a kinder word for another on that day than on any day in the year;
• III.23 whose depths were secrets as profound as Death:
• III.23 It was a much greater surprise to Scrooge to recognise it as his own nephew’s and to find himself in a bright, dry, gleaming room,Сравнительную степень усиливает much, а не very: much greater — «гораздо больше».
• III.23 If you should happen, by any unlikely chance, to know a man more blest in a laugh than Scrooge’s nephew,
• III.23 When Scrooge’s nephew laughed in this way: holding his sides, rolling his head, and twisting his face into the most extravagant contortions:
• III.23 Scrooge’s niece, by marriage, laughed as heartily as he.as … as he (did): глагол во второй части опущен. В книжной речи после as стоит he, в разговорной теперь говорят as him.
• III.24 “More shame for him, Fred!” said Scrooge’s niece, indignantly.
• III.24 and the sunniest pair of eyes you ever saw in any little creature’s head.
• III.24 “He’s a comical old fellow,” said Scrooge’s nephew, “that’s the truth: and not so pleasant as he might be.В отрицании вместо as … as часто стоит so … as: «не такой приятный, как…». might be — «мог бы быть»: мягкое, насмешливое преуменьшение.
• III.26 I am sure he loses pleasanter companions than he can find in his own thoughts, either in his mouldy old office, or his dusty chambers.Двусложное pleasant образует сравнительную степень и суффиксом (pleasanter), и словом more; теперь чаще more pleasant. Смысл: мы более приятное общество, чем его собственные мысли, с которыми он сидит один.
• III.26 but he can’t help thinking better of it—I defy him—if he finds me going there, in good temper, year after year, and saying Uncle Scrooge, how are you?
• III.27 he softened more and more;Сравнительная степень, повторённая через and, значит постепенное нарастание: «всё больше и больше».
• III.28 for it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.Дословно «и никогда не лучше, чем на Рождество», то есть «а лучше всего на Рождество». После never подразумевается is it.
• III.28 And I no more believe Topper was really blind than I believe he had eyes in his boots.no more … than — «не больше, чем», то есть «так же мало, как»: рассказчик не верит ни в то, ни в другое. Топпер, значит, подглядывал из-под повязки.
• III.28 then his conduct was the most execrable.
• III.29 for the sharpest needle, best Whitechapel, warranted not to cut in the eye, was not sharper than Scrooge; blunt as he took it in his head to be.
• III.31 by struggling men, and they were patient in their greater hope; by poverty, and it was rich.Сравнительная степень без than: надежда «большая», «высшая», чем их нынешние тяготы.
• III.32 It was strange, too, that while Scrooge remained unaltered in his outward form, the Ghost grew older, clearly older.grow с прилагательным значит «становиться»: grow old «стареть», grow older «становиться старше».
• III.33 No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread.not half so … (as) — «и вполовину не так… (как)»; сравнение не договорено: как эти двое детей. dread как прилагательное («страшный») — книжное, старое слово; обычно это существительное «ужас», а прилагательное сейчас dreadful.
• III.33 Scrooge could say no more.
• III.33 but most of all beware this boy,
• III.33 Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse.make + дополнение + прилагательное — «делать что-то каким-то»: «делать это (зло) ещё хуже». worse — сравнительная степень от bad.
• IV.2 But Scrooge was all the worse for this.all the + сравнительная степень + for — «тем более … из-за чего-то»: «от этого ему стало только хуже». the перед сравнительной степенью здесь значит «тем», как в the sooner the better.
• IV.2 while he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black.Здесь не «пока», а «тогда как»: противопоставлены глаза Духа, которые видят Скруджа, и глаза Скруджа, которые не видят ничего.
• IV.3 “Well, I am the most disinterested among you, after all,” said the first speaker,
• IV.3 When I come to think of it, I’m not at all sure that I wasn’t his most particular friend;
• IV.6 who was no less startled by the sight of them, than they had been upon the recognition of each other.Сравнение с отрицанием: «не менее поражён, чем были (поражены) они». После had been причастие startled опущено, чтобы не повторять его. Past Perfect показывает, что женщины испугались друг друга раньше.
• IV.7 “You couldn’t have met in a better place,” said old Joe, removing his pipe from his mouth.
• IV.7 “No man more so.”
• IV.7 “Why then, don’t stand staring as if you was afraid, woman; who’s the wiser?
• IV.8 Who’s the worse for the loss of a few things like these?
• IV.8 “It’s the truest word that ever was spoke,” said Mrs. Dilber.
• IV.8 “I wish it was a little heavier judgment,” replied the woman;
• IV.9 Joe went down on his knees for the greater convenience of opening it,
• IV.10 It’s the best he had, and a fine one too.
• IV.10 It’s quite as becoming to the body.becoming — прилагательное «идущий, к лицу» (от become в значении «быть к лицу»: that hat becomes you). Сравнение не договорено: quite as becoming (as the fine one), «ничуть не меньше к лицу, чем та».
• IV.10 He can’t look uglier than he did in that one.”ugly — uglier: y после согласной меняется на i. did заменяет looked, that one — that shirt, то есть хорошую рубашку. Смысл: хуже, чем в хорошей, он в коленкоровой выглядеть не будет, потому что и в той был безобразен.
• IV.10 he viewed them with a detestation and disgust, which could hardly have been greater,
• IV.11 but had no more power to withdraw the veil than to dismiss the spectre at his side.«Имел не больше сил…, чем…»: то есть не мог ни того, ни другого. Подлежащее he не повторено.
• IV.14 Yes. Soften it as they would, their hearts were lighter.Подхватывает слова мужа with light hearts: «на сердце у них стало легче».
• IV.14 and it was a happier house for this man’s death!for после сравнительной степени называет причину: «счастливее из-за, благодаря». happier: в сравнительной степени y меняется на i. В восклицании горечь: чья-то смерть принесла в дом счастье.
• IV.15 The noisy little Cratchits were as still as statues in one corner, and sat looking up at Peter, who had a book before him.Сравнение as … as. still здесь не наречие «всё ещё», а прилагательное «неподвижный, тихий».
• IV.16 “But I think he has walked a little slower than he used, these few last evenings, mother.”Наречие в сравнительной степени: в живой речи говорят walk slower вместо more slowly.
• IV.17 If he could have helped it, he and his child would have been farther apart perhaps than they were.Замечание рассказчика: слёзы не отдаляют Боба от сына, а приближают к нему; сдержись он, они были бы «дальше друг от друга». farther — сравнительная степень от far, apart — «врозь, на расстоянии».
• IV.18 Now, it wasn’t,” cried Bob, “for the sake of anything he might be able to do for us, so much as for his kind way, that this was quite delightful.
• IV.18 “You would be surer of it, my dear,” returned Bob, “if you saw and spoke to him.
• IV.18 I shouldn’t be at all surprised—mark what I say!—if he got Peter a better situation.”
• IV.18 “It’s just as likely as not,” said Bob, “one of these days; though there’s plenty of time for that, my dear.
• IV.20 “Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point,” said Scrooge, “answer me one question.
• IV.21 The Spirit, stronger yet, repulsed him.yet при сравнительной степени значит «ещё»: stronger yet = still stronger, «ещё сильнее». Перед оборотом подразумевается being: «будучи ещё сильнее».
• V.1 Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own, to make amends in!Превосходная степень с of all: «лучше и счастливее всего». Это вводные слова ко всей фразе, глагола при них нет.
• V.1 “I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy.as + прилагательное + as: «такой же …, как». as light as a feather — ходячее сравнение, «лёгкий как пёрышко»; light здесь «лёгкий», не «светлый». В первой строфе Скрудж был «твёрд, как кремень»; теперь сравнения совсем другие.
• V.1 I am as giddy as a drunken man.
• V.2 it was a splendid laugh, a most illustrious laugh.most с неопределённым артиклем — не «самый», а «весьма, в высшей степени»: a most illustrious laugh — «преславный смех». illustrious обычно говорят о знаменитых людях и древних родах; этим подготовлена следующая фраза.
• V.2 He was checked in his transports by the churches ringing out the lustiest peals he had ever heard.
• V.3 “What, the one as big as me?” returned the boy.Сравнение as … as: «такая же большая, как я». После второго as в живой речи ставят me; строгая грамматика требовала бы as I (am).
• V.3 Come back with him in less than five minutes and I’ll give you half-a-crown!”
• V.4 It’s twice the size of Tiny Tim.Так сравнивают по величине: twice + the size of — «вдвое больше, чем». Артикль стоит после twice.
• V.5 And Scrooge said often afterwards, that of all the blithe sounds he had ever heard, those were the blithest in his ears.Обычная рамка превосходной степени: of all «из всех», затем придаточное без that с ever и перфектом: «какие он когда-либо слышал».
• V.6 “Not a farthing less.
• V.7 Nothing could be heartier.Сравнительная степень от hearty «сердечный, радушный» (от heart). Подразумевается: чем этот приём. Отрицание в английском одно, оно в слове nothing.
• V.8 “Hallo!” growled Scrooge, in his accustomed voice, as near as he could feign it.«Настолько близко (к прежнему), насколько он мог его изобразить». feign — «притворно изображать»: сердитый голос теперь приходится подделывать.
• V.8 “Now, I’ll tell you what, my friend,” said Scrooge, “I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer.
• V.8 Bob trembled, and got a little nearer to the ruler.get с наречием места — «переместиться»: «подвинулся чуть ближе». a little перед сравнительной степенью — «немного».
• V.9 “A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year!Сказуемого нет, это продолжение пожелания: «(желаю вам) Рождества веселее, чем те, что я вам устраивал». have given стоит в перфекте, потому что речь о всех годах до этого дня.
• V.9 Scrooge was better than his word.
• V.9 He did it all, and infinitely more;infinitely — наречие от infinite «бесконечный» (ударение на первом слоге: ˈɪnfɪnət); перед сравнительной степенью оно значит «несравненно, гораздо».
• V.9 He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew,Оборот as … as: «такой хороший друг, какого (только) знал город». После as, so, too, how артикль a ставится не перед прилагательным, а после него: as good a friend, а не a as good friend.
• V.9 he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms.