它通常放在被修饰的成分之后(句末或句中),有时也可置于句首(后接逗号),强调“上限”的语气。
以下是不同语境的实用例子,帮你快速理解:
数量限制:
These shoes cost $80 at the most.
(这双鞋最多80美元。)
We can take 5 people in the car at the most.
(我们的车最多能坐5个人。)
时间限制:
I’ll finish the report in an hour at the most.
(我最多1小时就能写完报告。)
At the most, the meeting will last 30 minutes.(会议最多持续30分钟。)(句首强调)
年龄/程度限制:
She’s 25 years old at the most—she looks younger!
(她最多25岁——看起来更年轻!)
The test was difficult, but I got 70 points at the most.
(考试很难,但我最多拿了70分。)
I need at least 2 hours to finish this.(我至少需要2小时完成。)
I can stay at the most 1 hour.(我最多能待1小时。)
简单来说,at the most 就是用来“压上限”,告诉别人“别担心,不会超过这个数”~