進階 · Unit 46
比較 — as ~ as possible
as + 原級 + as possible 和 as + 原級 + as + 主詞 + can 都是「盡可能地」的意思，表示最大程度。用 possible 就不需要主詞，比較簡潔；用 can 則可以依時態換成 could，配合過去的語境。
概念說明
as + 原級 + as possible 和 as + 原級 + as + 主詞 + can 都是「盡可能地~」的意思，表示最大程度。用 possible 就不需要主詞，比較簡潔；用 can 則可以依時態換成 could，配合過去的語境。
A. as + 原級 + as possible — 盡可能地~
as + 原級 + as possible 是把形容詞、副詞的原級原封不動地留著，前後加上 as，最後再加 possible 的形態，不需要再提一次主詞，所以在會話、電子郵件、公告中非常常用。
| 代表表達 | 意思 |
|---|---|
| as soon as possible | 盡可能快 (ASAP) |
| as fast as possible | 盡可能快 |
| as much as possible | 盡可能多 |
| as often as possible | 盡可能常 |
| as clearly as possible | 盡可能清楚 |
| as carefully as possible | 盡可能小心 |
- I'll finish the report as quickly as possible. (我會盡快把報告完成。)
- Please explain as simply as possible. (請盡可能簡單地說明。)
- We need to save as much water as possible. (我們必須盡可能節約用水。)
B. as + 原級 + as + 主詞 + can — 同樣意思的另一種說法
as + 原級 + as + 主詞 + can 是用主詞 + can 取代 possible 來表達同樣意思的方式，在過去的語境中 can 會變成 could。as ~ as possible = as ~ as 主詞 can 就是這兩種說法的等價關係。
| 時態 | 形態 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| 現在、未來 | as + 原級 + as + 主詞 + can | I'll come as soon as I can. |
| 過去 | as + 原級 + as + 主詞 + could | She ran as fast as she could. |
- I'll help as much as I can. (我會盡我所能地幫忙。)
- He answered as honestly as he could. (他盡可能誠實地回答了。)
- We arrived as early as we could. (我們盡可能早到了。)
- Please speak as loudly as you can. (請盡可能大聲說。)
C. 兩種說法互換 — 同一個情況兩種說法
as ~ as possible 和 as ~ as 主詞 can 只要時態和主詞資訊對得上，就可以自由互換。像電子郵件、公告這種不必特地寫出主詞的場合，possible 比較簡潔；句子裡的主詞已經很清楚時，主詞 + can 的形態比較自然。
| possible 的說法 | 主詞 + can/could 的說法 |
|---|---|
| I'll do it as fast as possible. | I'll do it as fast as I can. |
| Please come as soon as possible. | Please come as soon as you can. |
| She helped as much as possible. | She helped as much as she could. |
| Speak as clearly as possible. | Speak as clearly as you can. |
- I'll send the file as soon as possible. = I'll send the file as soon as I can. (我會盡快把檔案寄出去。)
- Study as much as possible before the exam. = Study as much as you can before the exam. (考試前請盡可能多讀一點書。)
- She spoke as calmly as possible. = She spoke as calmly as she could. (她盡可能冷靜地說話。)
- Please arrive as early as possible. = Please arrive as early as you can. (請盡可能早點到。)
重點整理
- 1as ~ as possible 和 as ~ as 主詞 can 意思完全一樣，可以依情況自由互換。(例: as soon as possible = as soon as I can)
- 2在過去的語境中要用 as ~ as 主詞 could 來配合時態，而 possible 沒有時態所以原樣不動。(例: She ran as fast as she could.)
- 3在 as ~ as possible / can 句型裡，形容詞、副詞一定要用原級，不能換成 -er 或 more。(例: as soon as possible / X: as sooner as possible)
- 4像電子郵件、公告這種不需要主詞的場合用 possible 比較簡潔，句子裡的主詞已經明確時用主詞 + can 比較自然。(例: Please reply as soon as possible.)
- 5as soon as possible 在會話和工作場合常縮寫成 ASAP，是非常常見的慣用表達。(例: I need this ASAP = I need this as soon as possible.)
例句
Please reply as soon as possible.
請盡快回覆。
I'll finish the report as quickly as I can.
我會盡快把報告完成。
She ran as fast as she could.
她盡可能跑得快。
Speak as clearly as possible.
請盡可能清楚地說。
He helped as much as he could.
他盡可能地多幫忙。
這個單元還有更多例句。註冊後可以看完整內容並聆聽發音。
容易犯的錯誤
Please reply as soon as possible.
She ran as fast as she could yesterday.
I'll come as soon as I can.
Speak as clearly as possible.
Please explain as simply as you can.