■ relative to

relative 本来是个形容词，但是在实际语言中，relative to 往往起状语的作用（“与…相对而言”或“就…而言”），并不专门修饰一个名词。

• consult a person relative to the subject就该问题向某人咨询
• Iran is now stronger relative to the United States than it was on the eve of the Iraq war. (Foreign Affairs, Vol. 85, No. 4, July/Aug., 2006, p.69)相对于美国而言，伊朗现在比伊拉克战争前夕时地位更强有力了。
• The majority feels the US spends too much on UN dues, relative to other major countries. However, this feeling appears to be based largely on misperceptions. When informed about what portion of UN dues the US pays, relative to other countries, and how it is set, the majority finds it appropriate.大部分人觉得美国花在联合国经费上的开支比起其他主要国家来未免太大。但是这种感觉看来大多出自误解。大多数人一知道了美国在联合国经费当中同其他国家相比支付的份额以及其核定方式，就觉得这是恰当的。