【问】 (1) We have a third as many students in our class as we had last term.

(2) We have a third as many students again in our class as we had last term.

请问这两个句子有什么区别?

【答】 句(1)的意思是：我们班上的学生是上学期的三分之一。在a third as many(...)之后加上again之后，表示more(...)than(比……多三分之一)。句(2)的意思是：我们班上的学生比上学期多了三分之一。

a third as much again的含义也是如此。

今年的房价比五年前高了三分之一。

(参见again²)