1.simple用作形容词,基本意思是“简单的,易懂的”,侧重于事物不复杂,易于迅速解决或很快被头脑接受。simple也可作“朴素的,简朴的”解,一般指生活过得简朴。simple引申可指人“头脑简单的,易受骗的; 迟钝的”或事物“结构单一的,非复合的”解。
2.simple在作“结构单一的,非复合的”“纯粹的,单纯的,完全的”解时,没有比较级和最高级形式。

用作定语
▲～+n.
He wrote a story in simple English.他用简单的英语写了一则故事。
She pitched her article at a very simple level so that even the children could understand.她的文章简单明了,就连小孩都能听得懂。
We can reduce what he said to three simple facts.我们可以把他讲的内容归纳为三件事。
This kind of analysis reduces the problem to its simplest form.这种分析把这个问题概括成最简单的形式。
These are very simple requirements, but they must be conformed with.这些都是很简单的要求,然而必须遵守。
Was it possible to design a simple, general-purpose control unit?当时能设计出一种简单、通用的控制器吗?
The simple plan evolved into a complicated scheme.这个简单的计划逐渐发展成了一项复杂的规划。
He embarrasses discussion of the simplest subject by use of a difficult technical terms.他用难懂的专门字眼使最简单的题目讨论复杂化了。
The police faced the prisoner with a simple choice:he could either give the names of his companions, or go to prison.警察让犯人面临一个简单的选择:要么说出同伙的名字,要么进监狱。
I pity you if you can't answer such a simple question!你要是回答不了这样一个简单的问题,我为你感到可悲!
Mike can knock out three or four of those simple drawings in a day.迈克一天可完成三四张那样简单的图画。
Such a simple explanation never occurred to me!我从未想到如此简单的解释。
I cooked myself a simple breakfast.我给自己做了一顿简单的早饭。
I entertained my friends at my own table with a simple meal.我在自己家里请朋友吃了一顿便饭。
He leads a very simple life.他过着非常简朴的生活。
Einstein enjoyed himself playing his violin in his simple home.爱因斯坦在他那简朴的家里拉小提琴消遣。
We use bricks and branches of trees to form a simple shelter.我们用砖和树枝搭成一个简陋的住所。
Their buildings are constructed in a plain and simple style.他们楼房的建筑风格朴实无华。
She did it for the simple reason that she had no choice.她这样做纯粹是因为她没有别的选择。
His motive was simple greed, nothing else.他的动机完全是出于贪心,而不是别的。
The simple truth is,I don't know.实话实说,我不知道。
A simple mistake in judgement was often exaggerated to the proportions of a major crime.在审判时,小的过失常常被夸大到滔天大罪。
A simple sentence has only one verb.一个简单句只有一个动词。
A knife is a simple tool.刀子是结构单一的工具。
用作表语
▲S+be+～
This picture is very simple.这幅画很简单。
Many forms of life are very simple.很多生命形式很简单。
That doesn't bother me, it's quite simple.这很简单,不会把我搞糊涂的。
He was as simple as a child.他像孩子一样天真。
She wasn't as simple as people thought.她不像人们认为的那样头脑简单。
I wish we could offer you more money, but I'm afraid it's not as simple as that.我很希望我们能多给你一点钱,但事情恐怕不是那样简单。
His life is very simple.他的生活过得很简朴。
▲S+be+～+to-v
The machine is quite simple to use.这机器操作简单。
You may be joking but she's simple enough to believe you.你也许是在开玩笑,但她却愚蠢得信以为真。
I'm not so simple as to think it will be easy.我绝不至于笨得以为那是容易的事。
I'm not so simple as to suppose you like me.我不至于笨到以为你喜欢我。
▲It be ～+to-v
The plan sounds simple enough but it won't be so simple to put it into action.这个计划听起来相当简单,但是要将它付诸实施却没有那么容易。
用作宾语补足语
▲S+V+O+～
When speaking to young people, keep it simple.对年轻人说话,要简明易懂。

simple, easy, facile, simplified
这组词都可以表示“做某事或理解某事没有太大困难”。其区别是:simply是个最一般的词,指不复杂或不难懂,因此能很快被头脑接受; easy也是一个最一般的词,常指事情容易做,不费劲; facile源于法语,几乎等于easy,但在现代英语中它常与一件表面上的甚至是虚假的东西相联系,因而带有贬义色彩; simplified指经过简化变得不复杂、不难理解或不难做。例如:
It is very easy to do this thing.做这件事非常容易。
There are a lot of simplified novels in our library.我们图书馆里有许多简写本小说。the facile smile of the high-pressure salesman有高度工作压力的售货员脸上皮笑肉不笑
下面两句意思相同:
It was simple to do the job.
It was a simple job to do.
做那项工作很容易。

［同义词］   basic, clear, easy, elemental, unskilled
［反义词］   clever, complex, difficult
［词源］  ＜古法语 ＜拉丁语simplex(不复杂)