premodification of comparatives ¹ (比较级的前置修饰语)

形容词或副词的比较级最常见的修饰语是 much, very much, far, even, still。此外，还有 a great(good) deal, a lot, lots, many, rather, somewhat, a little, a bit, slightly, n times, n percent 等等。

1. a great(good) deal more difficult(CGEL) 更加困难得多

2. a lot(lots) shorter (CGEL) 短得多

3. a little more difficult 较困难一些

4. much more money (or far more money) (Leech) 多得多的钱

5. many more opportunities (or far more opportunities) (Leech) 多得多的机会

6. somewhat easier 稍微容易一些

7. “You're never going to find the ideal man,” said one girl. “you have to be a lot more realistic.” (Hillary, Living History) 有个女孩说：“你找不到理想的男人，就必须更现实一些。”

虽然上面的词项都可用作形容词和副词比较级的修饰语。但是，当形容词比较级用作单数名词的定语时，只能用 much 和 far 等来作它的强化语，而不能用 a great(good) deal, a lot 或 lots 来作它的强化语：

That was a $\$left\{\begin{array}{l} much \\ far \\ \times great deal \end{array}\right\} easier job. (CGEL) 这是一件容易得多的工作。