Today, more people than ever before are speaking to each other through satellite television, cellular telephones and computers.

現在透過衛星電視、行動電話和電腦來交談的人要比以往來得多。

注意:

在比較級句構中, than之後可接ever、before或ever before, 表『比以往更……』之意。

含比較級形容詞/ 副詞的子句 + than ever before

=含比較級形容詞/ 副詞的子句 + than ever/before

比以往更……

例: It is more expensive than ever before to buy a house in Taipei.

　(現在在台北買棟房子要比以前貴多了。)

　Janet dances more beautifully than ever before.

　(珍妮特現在舞跳得比以往好多了。)

That language happens to be English.

=It happens that that language is English.

那種語言正好是英語。

It happens + that 子句　　碰巧/正好……

注意:

在上列句構中, that子句中的主詞可往前移位置於句首, 而因時態之不同, 有下列變化。

主詞 + happen(s) to + 原形動詞

主詞 + happen(s) to + have + 過去分詞

a. 時態相同時, to之後接原形動詞。

例: It happens that he is here.

　　　時態相同

　= He happens to be here.

　　(他正好在這裡。)

　　It happened that he had some money.

　　　　　　時態相同

　　= He happened to have some money.

　　　(他剛好帶了錢。)

b. 時態不同時, to之後接"have + 過去分詞"。　

例: It happens that he was there.

　　　　　　時態不同

　= He happens to have been there.

　　(他當時剛好在那兒。)

　　It happens that he knew it then.

　　　　　　　　時態不同

　→He happens to have known it then.

　　(他碰巧當時知道這件事。)