as much as 看似简单,但在实际运用中却相当复杂,不仅用法颇多,而且许多含有as much as 结构的句子往往不好理解(尤其是不好翻译成中文),大家来说都是一个难点。

一、表示数量

1. 表示具体的数量,其后通常接有具体数量,其意为“……之多”“多达”“整整”,强调“多”。如:

In fact it cost me as much as 100 dollars. 事实上,它整整花了我100美元。

We walked as much as 50 miles that day. 那天我们整整走了50英里。

She trained hard for the race, sometimes running as much as 60 miles a week. 为了比赛,他拼命地训练,有时一个星期要跑60英里。

—Is it hot up there? 那上面热吗?

—Of course, as much as 45 degrees. 当然热,高达45度。

The speed can vary by as much as 15per cent. 其速度的差别可高达15%。

注:如上例所示,as much as 用于表示具体的数量时,其后接的可能是可数名词,但由于它们意义上仍然为不可数,故用as much as,不用as many as。如100 dollars,尽管其中的dollars为可数名词的复数形式,由于100 dollars仍是一个不可数的概念,仍是不可数的。但是下面这句是错的:I read as much as 100 articles today. 因为这里的100 articles表示的是可数概念,故应改为:I read as many as 100 articles.

2. 表示模糊的数量,其意为“与……一样多”,有时much后可接被修饰的名词(不可数)。如:

I ate as much as I could. 我能吃多少就吃了多少。

I’ll spend as much as necessary. 需要花多少钱,我就花多少钱。

Give me as much as you gave Jane. 给我的要和你给简的一样多。

I haven’t got as much money as I thought. 我不像原来想象的有那么多钱。

I'm sorry I haven't done as much as I should. 我很抱歉,我做得很不够。

Some of the doctors are paid almost twice as much as the nurses. 有些医生所获得的报酬差不多是护士的两倍。

We can take as much as our buyer can supply. 买主能提供多少我们就能要多少。

If you charge as much as that, you’ll scare customers off. 如果你要价那么高,你会把顾客吓跑的。

二、表示程度

1. 译为“尽量”“尽最大努力(可能)”,主要用于as…as possible [one can]。如:

You ought to rest as much as possible. 你应当尽量多休息。

I have helped you as much as I can. Now it is up to you. 我已尽我所能地帮助你了。现在该看你自己了。

I won’t have a pudding it was as much as I could do to finish the very large first course. 我不要布丁了——我能把第一道大菜吃完就已经很不容易了。

2. 译为“像……一样(的程度)”。如:

He doesn't think of you as much as he ought to. 他没有像本应该的那样对你好。

We’re in the dark just as much as you are. 我们跟你们一样被蒙在鼓里。

I don’t pretend to know as much as he does about it. 我不敢说我对此事的了解有他那样多。

He doesn't think of you as much as he ought to. 他没有像本应该的那样对你好。

I like cats as much as dogs. 我喜欢猫和喜欢狗和程度相同。(此句可视为 I like cats as much as I like dogs 之省略)

3. 译为“与……一样多”。如:

I haven’t as much responsibility as before. 我不再担负过去那样多的责任了。

4. 译为“好像”“几乎”“并不多”“等于”。如:

That is as much as saying I am a liar. 那无异于说我撒谎。

He as much as admitted that it was his fault. 他几乎承认说是他的错。

You said “all right”, which was as much as to say that you were satisfied. 你当是说“行”,这就等于说你认为满意。

注:as much as to say [saying] 可视为习语,意为“等于说”。

4. 译为“既……又”“不仅……而且”。如:

It is as much our responsibility as yours. 这既是你们的责任,也是我们的责任。

It is as much your responsibility as mine. 这件事你和我一样都有责任。

He retorted that it was my fault as much as his. 他反驳说那不仅是他的错,而且也是我的错。或:他反驳说我的错误并不比他的错误小。

I expect to weep as much as (to) laugh. 我简直又想哭,又想笑。

5. 有时有较灵活的译法:

His latest play is not so much a farce as a burlesque tragedy. 他最近的一个剧本与其说是一个滑稽剧,不如说是一个滑稽的悲剧。

三、表示经常性

Do you dine out as much as you did in st1:place w:st="on">Paris? 你还像在巴黎那样常常在外面吃饭吗?

Grandma's getting on a bit and doesn't go out as much as she used to. 奶奶年事日高, 不像从前那样常出门了。

四、两点特点说明

1. 第二个as有时为关系代词,用以引导定语从句。如:

I gave him as much as he could eat. 他能吃多少,我就给了他多少。

As much as he earned was given to his girlfriend. 他赚的钱都给了他的女朋友。

2. 当连接两个成分作主语时,其后谓语动词习惯上要与前面一个成分保持一致。如:

John, as much as his brothers, was responsible for the loss. 不仅约翰的兄弟要对这损失负责,而且约翰自己也要对这损失负责。

as much as用法精讲