at most 和at least 都是介词短语,在句中做状语,修饰数量或程度的词语。 的确,一般说来, 状语,尤其是表示方式的状语,往往出现在被它修饰的动词后,或干脆在句尾,如: He spoke highly of his professor. He does everything carefull. 但也有很多状语人们倾向于前置,尽管后置按语法也对,例如频率状语: He often works late into night. He is sometimes careliess. at least 和 at least 就是这样的,放在它们所修饰的表示数词或程度的词语前。所以最为常用的词序应该是: The girl is at least 7. The pencil costs at most five yuan。 需要说明的是 --- 前面提到过 --- 换个词序在语法上还是允许的;而且,有时候为了强调,或加强状语的预期,说话者还故意把他们放到一个不同寻常的位置,如句尾: The girl is 7 at least。 The pencil costs five yuan at most,
At least 至少 at most 至多
At least, 最起码 At most, 顶多