有一些读者来信问到几个有关比较的问题，现让我们一一讨论如下。
问一：高中英语课本上有这样一句话：
(1)Molecules are so small that they are invisible under the most powerful microscopes, but they are huge compared with atoms.
请问这里为什么用原级 huge 而不用比较级 huger?
如用 compared with,其前一般须用原级 huge；如用 than，其前则须用比较级 huger。但二者的含义不同。 compared with 是比较两者的异同，不表程度上的差别。上述句中的 huge compared with atoms 的意思是说两者（分子与原子）大小不同（即分子大，原子小）。如用 huger than atoms,其义就不是一大一小，而是说分子在程度上是大于原子的。 compared with 表两者异同的用法在下面一些句子中更为明显：
(2)This time, the troupe brought to China about 60 dancers, compared with the 90 in 1956.
(3)Beijing can now dial direct as many as 130 cities around the country, compared to only 30 last year. （compared to 在此与 compared with 同义）
(4)Now they （American visitors）make up 19.5 per cent of all the foreign tourists in China, compared to 17.1 per cent last year.
再请看下面一句：
(5)Although Chinese farmers are leading a much better life now, the amount of money rural young men have to spend to get married is still too much compared with their present living standards and very often far more than is necessary.
这个句子里既有 compared with 强调两者（结婚费用与现有生活水平）的不相同或不相称，又有 far more than 表示两者（结婚费用与实际需要）在程度上的差别。
有时也可以用表示程度差别的 than 结构回答含有 compared with 的问题，如一位当代英国语法家所引证的：
(6)— How old is Mary compared with Jane?
— Mary is older than Jane.
顺便提及，和 compared with 一样，副词 comparatively一般亦须与原级连用，不可与比较级连用，如：
(7)I am comparatively tired.
(8)A marriage in their comparatively rich home town calls for a furnished two-storey home with a colour TV and refrigerator.
问二：有这样一道填空题：
(9)It was _________other than Xiao Wang.
请问只能填 none 而不能填 no 吗？
填 none 或 no 都可以，虽然 none 似乎要比 no 普通一些。从语法上看，none other than 中的 none 是不定代词，用作表语，other than = but。 no other than 中的不定代词 no 是定语，修饰用作表语的 other, than 是连词。从意义上讲，二者没有什么不同，但有人说 no other than 的语气似乎更强一些。也有人说 none other 可独立使用， no other 则不可。实际上，二者都是可以单独使用的，请看下面二例：
(10)— It't none other than Tom! We thought you were in Africa! Can it really be you?
— None other! （摘自《朗文当代英语词典》）
(11)— Mr. Clennam?
— No other , Mr. Casby. （摘自狄更斯著的 Little Dorrit）
问三：请问这句话是什么意思？
(12)We couldn't have had worse weather.
它的意思是：我们遇到的天气再坏不过了。形容词或副词的比较级与虚拟式 could 的否定式连用时，可有“不可能更……”或“再……不过”的意思。这种用法很普通，再如：
(13)We couldn't agree more.
(14)This could give me no greater pleasure.
(15)She couldn't care less.
(16)You couldn't have done better.
(17)— Things aren't going too well, are they?
— They couldn't be worse.
问四：为什么说下面一句话中有错误：
(18)Traditionally the president of the United States is a civilian； so it is all the remarkable that General Eisenhower should have achieved an overwhelming majority in the election.
这句话的错误在于 all the 之后没有 more。“all the + 形容词比较级”在英语里是一种常见的结构，副词 all 在此为加强语势而用，可译为“更加”。定冠词 the 在此亦相当于副词，有“因此”的含义（其原因往往暗含在句中）。上述全句的大意是：美国总统传统上都是平民，所以艾森豪威尔将军在大选中竟然获得压倒多数票，就更加引人注目。再如：
(19)If he will help us, all the better . （原因暗含在if从句中）
(20)A long delayed home letter is all the more welcome .（原因暗含在 long delayed 之中）
上述“the + 比较级”之前除可用 all 外，还可用 so much, none, any 等，如：
(21)If he doesn't work, so much the worse .
(22)— I've tried to explain to you.
— Well, I'm none the wiser .
(23)— He's very honest.
— That doesn't make him any the nicer .
有时可用 for 短语或 because 从句把原因表出来，如：
(24)He got wet through in the rain yesterday but isn't any the worse for it.
(25)My stepmother detests me with a hatred so much the more because it is veiled beneath a continual smile.
“the + 比较级”结构之前当然也可以不用 all， none, so much, any 等词语，如：
(26)It seemed nice to think that she was waiting for the spring. She felt the younger for it.
(27)— Can you come and dine with me?
— I really must ask you to excuse me. My first visit is due to my father, though I am not the less grateful for the honor you have done me.
请注意下面一句中的“the + more + 名词”结构：
(28)— Tell it to me.
— It would frighten you too much.
— So much the more reason .
上面谈的大都是“the + 形容词比较级”结构。除了形容词外，副词亦可用于这种结构，例如：
(29)With these words Mr. Bardell clung the tighter . （the + 副词 tighter）
