▲基本同意童老师的观点!严格说来,应该用 much less 而不是 many less,因为 less 用于修饰或指代不可数名词,而 much 也是用于修饰或指代不可数名词的。如:
It takes them much less time to get to sleep. 他们入睡所花的时间要少得多。
I’d like much less of that soup. 那汤我不要那么多。
◎另外,less 还可用于形容词或副词前表示较低程度的比较级,此时也可用 much 来加强语气。如:
It is simply much less specific. 这简直更不明确了。
Thunderstorms are much less common in Ireland than in England. 爱尔兰的雷雨远较英格兰为少。
◎much less 还可用作习语,表示“更不用说”“更何况”。如:
The boy didn’t have a girlfriend, much less a wife. 那男孩连女朋友都没有,更不用说有妻子了。
I don’t suspect him of negligence, still less of dishonesty. 我不相信他会粗心大意,更不想象他会不诚实。
The baby can’t even walk, much less run. 这婴儿连走路都不会,更不用说能跑了。
He’s too shy to ask a stranger the time, still less speak to a room full of people. 他连向陌生人打听时间都不好意思,更不用说向一屋子人讲话了。
▲按照规范语法,less 后要接不可数名词,不能接可数的复数名词(遇此情况可考虑改为fewer)。不过在现代英语中,尤其是口语或非正式文体中,也有人将 less 用于复数名词前,此时若要加强语气,则可用 many less(很不普通,且很多人反对这种用法)。如:
I’ve got many less problems than I used to have. 我现在的问题比过去少得多。
There are many less accidents in modern factories. 在现代的工厂里事故少多了。