"the more...the more..."与"...more and more..."虽然同是形容词的比较级,是两个有不同含义的结构。"the more...the more..."这一结构相当于汉语中的"越……越……",表示两个过程按比例同时递增。这种句型的前一个the more...结构为从属分句,后一个the more...结构为主句;通常是从句在前,主句在后。例如:
The more they talked,the more encouraged they felt.他们越说越感到鼓舞。
Actually,the busier he is,the happier he feels.事实上,他越忙就越高兴。
The sooner you start,the more quickly you'll finish.你开始得越早,结束得就越快。
这种结构往往有省略。例如:
The sooner this is done,the better.这件事做得越早越好。
The higher the temperature,the faster the liquid evaporates.温度越高,液体蒸发得越快。
"...more and more..."这一结构相当于汉语中的"越来越……",表示一个过程的不断增长。例如:
These days more and more people are learning English.现在学英语的人越来越多了。
It's becoming more and more difficult to find a job.找工作越来越难了。
The car was running faster and faster.汽车行驶得越来越快。
John speaks French more and more fluently.约翰的法语说得越来越流利。
The prices are getting higher and higher.价格越来越高。
综上所述,"the more...the more..."表示两个过程同时递增,而"...moreandmore..."只表示一个过程的不断增长。
就语法而言,"the more...the more..."是个主从句结构,而"...more andmore..."则构成并列副词词组和并列形容词词组,或者仅在副词或形容词词组中充当前置修饰语。