段階的な数量詞

段階的な数量詞は、比べる要素の正確な数量を特定することなく、ひとつの数量詞と他の数量詞を比較します。段階的な数量詞は、名詞の前に置かれ、可算名詞か不可算名詞かで異なる数量詞が必要となります。文脈から明確な場合は、名詞が省略される時もあります。

これらは、独特な形の比較級と最上級で、質 (形容詞)や何かがなされた様子の程度(副詞)を比べます。比較級や最上級といった段階的な数量詞は、増加や減少の尺度で相対的な位置を保持します。最上級の前には、常に theがつきます。

There are many people in England, more people in India, but the most people live in China.
Much time and money is spent on education, more on health services but the most is spent on national defence.
Few rivers in Europe are not polluted.
Fewer people die young now than in the seventeenth century.
The country with the fewest people per square kilometre must be Australia.
Scientists have little hope of finding a complete cure for cancer before the year 2020.
She had less time to study than Paul but had better results.
Give that dog the least opportunity and it will bite you.