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英语语法学习 之 否定句式
巨人雷式雷式 爱侃英语
[来源]:南昌巨人雷式学校 [作者]:爱侃英语
英语中的否定结构形式多样, 有部分否定、全部否定、几乎否定、双重否定等。在译成汉语时, 有时要将否定结构译成肯定含义, 有时又要将肯定结构译成否定含义; 有时在英语中否定主语, 可是译成汉语时就转换成否定谓语。诸如此类的现象很多, 值得探讨。
一、常用否定表示法
1. 部分否定
代词或副词如all, both, every, everybody, every day, everyone, many, everything, entirely, altogether, absolutely, wholly, completely, everywhere, always, often 等与not 搭配使用时, 表示部分否定, 意为&并非都是, 不是每个都是&等。例如:
Both of them are not my brothers. &
他们两个不全是我的兄弟。
这一句是部分否定, 不可译成&他们两个都不是我的兄弟&。如要表达这个意思, 要说:
Neither of them is my brother.
All is not gold that glitters.
= Not all is gold that glitters.
发光的并非都是黄金。
Every man can not do it.
= Not every man can do it.
不是每个人都能做这件事。
I do not remember all these formulas.
这些公式我并非全都记得。
This kind of tree is not found everywhere.
这种树并非哪里都能找到。
Everyone can not answer this question.
并非每个人都能回答这个问题。
The rich are not always happy.
富人未必总是幸福的。
Every couple is not a pair.
成对成双多, 珠联璧合少。 (= Not every couple is a pair.)
Not all her work is successful.
并非她所有的工作都是成功的。
Not every child wants to become a film star.
并非所有的孩子都想成为电影明星。
Every man cannot be a writer.
并非每个人都可成为作家。
She is not always excited.
她并非总是兴奋。
I don&t altogether agree with you.
我并不完全同意你。
He is not absolutely wrong.
他并不完全错。
I don&t wholly believe it.
我并不完全相信它。
She is not entirely mistaken.
她并没有完全弄错。
Note: 汉语有句成语:&明修栈道, 暗度陈仓&, 指的是一种虚虚实实、声东击西、使人莫辨真相的战术, 表现了虚指与实指、形式与实质的不同。说来也巧, 英语语言中的否定结构也往往具有这种形与实不符的现象, 形式上否定的是A, 但实际意义上否定的却是B, 等等。这种否定的虚实移位, 往往造成歧义, 须细加辨别。
①否定主语, 但否定词not 在形式上往往否定谓语, 也就是上文所说的&部分否定&。全称代词all, both 等作否定句主语时, 都可能产生否定移位, 形式上否定全体, 但实际上否定部分, 参阅上文。再如:
Everybody can not enjoy the music.
&(= Not everybody can enjoy the music.)
并非每个人都能欣赏这首曲子。
②否定表语和宾语, 但否定词not 在形式上往往否定谓语。这种否定也是用否定全体的形式来否定部分, 常同all, everyone 等连用。例如:
I don&t agree with all of you.
(= I agree with some of you.)
我并不完全同意你们。
I don&t like both of the books.
(= I like not both of them.)
这两本书我并非都喜欢。
(只喜欢其中的一本)
The cloth does not feel very soft.
&(= The cloth feels not very soft.)
这布摸起来不是太柔软。
③否定状语, 但否定词not 在形式上往往否定谓语。例如:
He has not come to the decision quickly.
(= He has come to the decision not quickly.)
&他并不是匆忙作出决定的。
I did not do it for myself. (= I did it not for myself.)
我做那件事并非为了自己。
The student did not sit there listening to the teacher.
那个学生坐在那里, 并没有听老师讲课。
She didn&t return the same person that she left.
返回时, 她同先前离开时判若两人。
------ 但是, 谓语中的否定词not 并非只能否定其后的状语, 如上面的句子也可理解为For myself, I did not do it. (我为了自己, 没做那件事) 。为避免歧义, 可以将状语提前, 并在其后加逗号。如果是遇到not...because 句型, 若否定主句, 可将because 从句提到主句前, 或在because 从句前加逗号同主句隔开; 若否定从句, 可在because 前加not, 或用It is (was) ...that...结构。在口语中, 否定主句时, 主句谓语动词用降调, 否定从句时, 主句谓语动词读升调。下面几个句子均能产生歧义, 试加以分析, 并调整句子结构以排除歧义。
The poem is not found in this volume.
She didn&t come to the meeting by t rain.
He didn&t buy the picture because it was cheap.
④happen, prove, pretend 等后有否定不定式时, 否定词not 往往移位否定谓语。例如:
She didn&t happen to be present.
她当时恰巧不在场。
He didn&t pretend to notice the misprint.
他假装没注意到那个印刷错误。
⑤在not...and...结构中, 否定的往往是and 后的部分, 但否定词not 往往否定谓语。例如:
The house is not big and comfortable.
这房子很大, 但不舒适。
He does not speak Russian and French.
他说俄语, 但不说法语。
Don&t drink and drive.
不要酒后开车。 (喝了酒就不要开车。)
We cannot put on airs and make people like us.
要是摆架子, 人们就不会喜欢我们。
------ 但要注意, all, both, everybody 等用在谓语为decline, fail 等否定意义动词的句子中, 或用在有否定前缀的词作表语的句子中, 是全部否定, 不是部分否定。例如:
All of them were unhappy. (= None of them was happy.) 他们都不幸福。
Both girls disbelieve in his words.
两个女孩都不信他的话。
⑥在古雅的文体中, 还常用&行为动词+ not&这种否定结构。例如:
I know not what else she can do for you. (相当于do not know)
He doubted not but that she would regret some day. (相当于did not doubt)
2. 全部否定
英语中表示全部否定时常用no, not, none, nobody, nothing, nowhere, neither, never 等。例如:
None of my friends smoke.
&我的朋友都不抽烟。
Neither of the substances dissolves in water.
这两种物质都不溶于水。
Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it.
世上无难事, 只怕有心人。
Never have we been daunted by difficulties.
我们任何时候都没有被困难吓倒过。
------ 正确理解和区分部分否定和全部否定是很重要的, 稍一疏忽, 就会出现译文上的错误。
I don&t know anything about her.
我对她的情况一无所知。 (全部否定)
I don&t know everything about her.
她的情况我并不完全知道。 (部分否定)
None of the answers are right.
所有的答案都不正确。 (全部否定)
All the answers are not right.
并非所有的答案都是正确的。 (部分否定)
I do not know any of them.
他们我全不认识。 (全部否定)
I do not know all of them.
他们我并非个个都认识。 (部分否定)
3. 双重否定, 意义肯定
双重否定是指同一个句子里出现两个否定词, 即否定之否定。双重否定句表示的意思是肯定的, 通常比肯定句的语气要重。译成汉语时可以译成肯定形式, 也可以保持双重否定的形式。例如:
No one can command others who cannot command himself.
正人先正己。
There was never a great genius without a tincture of madness.
&伟大的天才总有点癫狂。
It is not impossible to master a foreign language within a short period of time if you use a good study method.
如果你学习方法对头, 那么在短时期内掌握一门外语并不是不可能。
Variation outside the range given are not unlikely.
变化超出规定范围并非不可能。
He doesn&t lend his books to nobody.
他的书没有哪个不借。
You can&t make something out of nothing.
巧妇难为无米之炊。
What&s done cannot be undone.
做过的事后悔也无用。
Nothing is nothing at all.
没有一件事情是微不足道的。
It is impossible not to do it.
不做这件事是不可能的。
Not in frequently did they quarrel.
他们经常吵架。 (= many times)
He was not weak never to resume his work again.
他的身体还没有虚弱到以后不能恢复工作的地步。
Nothing is impossible to a willing mind. 有志者事竟成。
He went out as usual, though not without some fear.
他照常出去了, 虽然有些害怕。
It&s not uncommon for the students to make spelling mistakes.
学生们出现拼写错误是常见的。
------ 可用于表示双重否定的词、结构有no...not (不&不) , no (not) ...without (不&&不&&) , no...but (没有&不) , cannot but + v (不得不) , cannot help + v-ing, cannot help but + v, without doubt, without exception, without fail, nothing less but (正是) , none but (除&&外,别无&&..) , no one but (除了&&外没有别人) , none too (一点也不) , no alternative but (除&&以外别无选择) , there be no doubt that, there be no denying that, there be no question that, not seldom (常常) , not infrequently (经常) , not unlike (跟&&一样) , not displeased (满意) 等。再如:
Nobody does nothing.
&人人都要做事的。
He is not displeased with my answer.
他对我的回答感到满意。
Now no spaceship can not be loaded with man.
现在没有任何宇宙飞船不能载人了。
No machine ever runs without some friction.
从来没有一台机器运转时没有摩擦。
At the beginning of learning English you can not speak it without making mistakes.
开始学英语时讲英语不可能不犯错误。
There is nothing so difficult but it becomes easy by practice.
无论多么困难的事, 只要实践便会变得容易了。
We cannot but read books to increase our knowledge.
我们不得不读书以增长知识。
We cannot help admiring his courage.
我们不能不佩服他的勇敢。
I can&t help but feel sor ry for her.
我不得不为她感到遗憾。
4. 几乎否定
几乎否定 (又称半否定) 表示整个句子的意思接近于否定。常用的词有little (few) (很少, 一点儿) , barely (仅仅, 几乎不) , hardly (几乎不, 简直不) , rarely (很少) , scarcely (几乎没有, 简直不) , seldom (不常, 很少) 等。例如:
This problem has been little studied.
对这个问题几乎还没有研究过。
He little realizes the danger he is in.
&他几乎还没有意识到所面临的危险。
He would hardly recognize his hometown if he saw it now.
如果他现在看到了他的家乡, 他将很难辨认了。
I seldom get any sleep.
我几乎不能入睡。
Scarcely anybody believes that.
几乎没有人相信这件事。
It is hardly right.
这几乎是不对的。
Little remains to be said.
简直没有什么可说的了。
Note: 这些词后常插入if ever, if any, if at all
等表示让步概念。例如:
They rarely, if ever, tour to that country.
他们难得到那个国家去旅行。
The manuscript has few, if any, misspellings.
这部手稿的拼写错误即使有也是极少的。
5. 形式否定, 意义肯定
英语中有些形式上否定而内容含义却是肯定的结构, 译成汉语时不能拘泥于原文表层结
构的否定, 要忠实于原文含义, 即译出此类否定结构的肯定含义。
1) can not...too
意为&越& 越&, 非常, 无论怎样& 也不过分 (It is impossible to overdo, The more...the better) &。在此结构中, cannot 也可改用can hardly, scarcely, never, too 也可改用over, enough, sufficient 等。例如:
You cannot be too cautious
你越谨慎越好。
We can hardly praise his achievement too much.
对他的成就我们无论怎样赞扬也不过分。
A man can never have too many fiends.
朋友越多越好。
Newton&s contribution to modern science can scarcely be overrated.
牛顿对现代科学的贡献无论怎样评价也不过高。
He can&t see you quickly enough.
(= He desires to see you as soon as possible.)
Note:&cannot wait + 不定式&意为&be eager to...急于做&, 表示强调的肯定意义。例如:
I cannot wait to read the book.
我非常渴望读到这本书。
He couldn&t wait to see her.
他渴望见到她。
2) no (nobody) ...but
意为&都&, 没有&不&, 只有&才&&。例如:
There is no man but has his faults.
人皆有过。
There is no material but will deform more or less under the action of forces.
各种材料在力的作用下, 多少都会有些变形。
There is no rule but has exceptions.
凡是规则都有例外。
Nobody reads the book but will be moved.
这本书谁读了都会受感动。
There exists no man but has an enemy.
人不树敌世上无。
Note: ① 这种结构中的but 起关系代词的作用, 相当于that, which, who does (will, have...) not。
②在疑问词或否定词后面, but 都含有否定意义, 不论是作代词还是连词均表示双重否定, 也就是肯定, 意为&没有&不&等。参阅有关章节。比较:
No one believes that she will succeed.
没有人相信她会成功。 (否定)
No one believes but she will succeed.
人们相信她会成功。
&(直译为&没有人相信她不会成功&, 为双重否定表示的肯定)
There is no one who knows him.
没有人认识他。 (否定)
There is no one but knows him.
人人都认识他。 (肯定)
There is no man that errs.
人都没有错。 (否定)
There is no man but errs.
人人都会有错。 (肯定)
③注意下面三句:
You will not find the answer but (that) you study it thoroughly.
你不深入研究就找不到答案。 (= 只有&&.才能, 条件状语)
He is not such a fool but he can tell a friend from a foe.
他并没有蠢到敌友不分。 (程度状语)
But (that) you lent him a large sum of money, he would have gone bankrupt.
要不是你借给了他一大笔钱, 他早就破产了。
(条件状语, 这种结构中的主句要用虚拟语气)
3) never (not) ...but (that)
意为&每当&总是&, 没有哪次不是&&, but (that) 可以引导名词从句、结果从句、条件从句或定语从句。例如:
I never see you but I think of my mother.
每当看见你时, 我总是想起我的母亲来。
It never rains but it pours.
每次下雨都是倾盆大雨。 (谚语: 祸不单行。)
I never think of summer but I think of my school days.
想到夏天就想起了我的学生时代。
Never a day passed but brought us good news.
我们每天都有好消息。
He will not be angry but that he is offended.
人们惹了他他才会生气。 (条件状语)
I never walked in the park but (that) I thought of her.
我每次从公园里走过总会想到她。 (结果状语)
4) nothing but 与none but
意为&仅仅, 只, 只有&才&, 与nothing other than 同义。nothing but 后接非指人的名词, none but 后接指人的名词或非指人的名词。例如:
We can see nothing but (或nothing other than) water.
我们只能看见水。
The children want to do nothing but watch television.
孩子们只想看电视。
None but me knew what happened.
只有我知道发生了什么事情。
You can find that sort of bird nowhere but in Australia.
你只有在澳大利亚才能找到那种鸟。
None but a fool would do such a thing.
只有傻瓜才愿干这件事。
Nothing was heard but the dripping of water.
只听见雨水的滴嗒声。
He chose none but the best.
他只选最好的。
------ 这种形式有时也可用疑问句来表示。例如:
What is coal but a kind of stone?
煤只不过是一种石头。
Whose fault is it but your own?
这只不过是你自己的过失。
Note: 下面一句也是形式否定, 意义肯定:
She can hardly be other than grateful.
她非常感激。
5) nothing else than
意为&仅仅, 完全&。例如:
His failure was due to nothing else than his own carelessness.
他的失败完全是他的粗心所造成的。
6) no (none) other than
意为&正是, 仅仅是&。例如:
This is no other than the book we want to buy.
这正是我们要买的那本书。
She is none other than my adviser.
她正是我的导师。
The anonymous letter was written by none other than the author himself.
写匿名信的正是作者本人。
7) more often than not
意为&常常, 往往&。例如:
John is a fairly good swimmer. He wins more o f ten than not.
约翰是个游泳健将, 他常常在比赛中获奖。
During foggy weather the t rains are late more o f ten than not.
在有雾的天气里, 火车常常晚点。
The st reet is crowded more o f ten than not.
那条大街常常很拥挤。
Note: ①as often as not 意同more often than not 相近, 意为quite often, fairly often。例如:
As o f ten as not, he gets up late.
他时常晚起床。
②as likely as not 意为&很可能, 或许&, 相当于maybe, very likely。例如:
She will forget all about it as likely as not.
她很可能忘得一干二净。
8) It was all (that) one could do not to + 动词这种结构意为&很难不&。例如:
It was all she should do not to tell the whole story.
她不得不说出全部实情。
It was all she could do not to cry.
她禁不住失声痛哭。
9) can&t keep from 与can&t ref rain from
意为&禁不住, 不得不&。例如:
She couldn&t keep from laughing.
她不禁大笑起来。
I can&t refrain from rejecting his proposal.
我不得不否决他的建议。
10) 否定词+ 比较级 (相当于最高级)
I couldn&t agree more. 我非常同意。
He couldn&t feel better. (He felt best.)
他感到好极了。
To her, nothing is more humiliating than being laughed at by others.
There is nothing he likes more than a glass of beer.
他非常喜欢啤酒。
Nothing is more valuable than health. (= Health is the most valuable.)
Nothing is more precious than health.
健康是最宝贵的。
Never have I seen more beautiful scenery than this!
我从来没见过如此美的景色!
Never was a man more fortunate than he.
世上没有一个人像他那样幸运。
Nobody is more sel f ish than the merchant.
没有比那个商人更自私的人了。
He wants nothing more than time.
他最需要的是时间。
Note: 比较no more than (只能, 仅仅) , no less than (不亚于, 同样, 正是) 和no worse than (同&&..一样好) 。例如:
He could no more than go there alone.
他只能独自一人去那里了。 (只能, 仅仅)
She is no less beautiful than her sister.
她同她妹妹一样漂亮。 (同样, 不亚于)
He is no less a person than the man you are looking for.
他正是你在找的那个人。 (正是)
Her paper is no worse than his.
她的论文同他的一样好。 (同&一样好)
11) 否定词+ without
There is no smoke without fire. 有烟必有火。
He believed, not without reason, that the project will be a success.
他有理由相信, 这项工程会成功的。
He did it not without reason.
他做那件事不是没有理由。 (= with)
12) 否定词+ till, until, unless, before 等
这种结构意为&直到&&才&。例如:
Draw not your bow till (before) your arrow is fixed.
箭搭好了才拉弓。
You can never gain your aim, unless you work hard.
你只有努力工作才能达到目的。
13) 否定句+ and + 否定谓语
这种结构表示&只要&就&&。例如:
No one will see the film and not be moved.
= Everyone will be moved when he sees the film.
这部电影谁看了都会受感动。
One can not see her and not love her.
= Anyone that sees her will love her.
谁见到她都会爱上她。
14) 疑问句+ and + 否定谓语
这种结构表示&只要&..就&.., 只要&..能不&..?&。例如:
Can you read the book and not be moved?
= Can you not be moved when you read the book?
你读了这本书能不受感动? (意为: 一定会受感动)
Can anybody see the girl and not be charmed?
= Anybody that sees the girl will be charmed.
谁见了这个女孩都会迷上她的。
15) no otherwise
no otherwise 表示&只是, 不会其它&, 相当于only, nothing but 等。例如:
He is no otherwise afraid than of his father.
他只是怕他父亲。 (= only afraid)
He does no otherwise than fool around all day.
他整天只是到处转悠。 (nothing but)
She will be a good artist, and no otherwise.
她将成为一名优秀的艺术家, 一定会。 (= surely)
16) 否定修辞性问句表示的肯定
形式否定的修辞性问句常表示非常强烈的肯定。参阅下文。例如:
Who does not know it?
人人都知道这个。
What has he not suffered?
他受过很多的苦。
Does no one understand me?
肯定会有人理解我的。
Wasn&t it a wonderful match!
比赛真是太精彩了! (= It was really a wonderful match! )
Can&t man change the world?
人类能够改变世界。 (= Man can change the world.)
17) 否定感叹句表示的肯定
What bad deeds would he not do!
他什么坏事都能干得出来。
Isn&t it wonderful! 真好啊!
18) nothing if not&&&否定的习惯用语表示的肯定
nothing if not 表示的是肯定, 相当于very, much, extremely, above all (极其, 特别是, 主要特点是, 首先) , 多用来强调作表语的形容词或名词。参阅有关章节。例如:
He was nothing if not modest.
他是个很谦逊的人。
She is nothing, if not friendly.
她为人处事极为友善。
He is nothing, if not a musician.
他确实是个音乐家。
------ 这类表示肯定的习惯用语还有not slightly (很) , as likely as not (很可能) , all to nothing
&(完全) , as often as not (常常) , nothing very much (平平常常) , worse than nothing (十分糟糕) 等。
Note: 下面几个句子, 形式是否定, 但意义上均为肯定, 或是表示礼貌, 或是表示强调:
Won&t you have some beer?
请喝点啤酒吧!
How many feet, I wonder, have not trodden that path.
不知道曾有多少人走过这条小路。
She asked me whether she would not do anything for me.
她问我她是否能为我做点什么。
19) not a bit, not a little, not a few, no little, no few 和no small 等
在肯定句中, a bit 和a little 意义相同, 表示&有点儿&。例如:
Ifeel a bit (或a little) cold. 我感到有点冷。
------ 但是, 在否定句中, not a bit 表示否定的意思, 是not 的强语势, 相当于not in the least, not at all, 意为&毫不, 一点也不&。而not a little 则表示肯定的意思, 相当于much, a lot, considerably, 意为&很, 很多的&。比较:
no little = much
no few = many
no small = great
no common = very peculiar
not a little = much
only a little = little
not a few = many
only a few = few
quite a little = much
but a little= only a little = little
quite a few = many
but a few= only a few = few
He is not a bit tired. (= He is not tired at all.)
他一点也不累。
He is not a little tired. (= He is very tired.)
他非常累。
She has not a bit experience. (= She has no experience at all.)
她没有什么经验。
She has not a little experience. (= She has much experience.)
她有着丰富的经验。
He is not a bit like his father.
他一点也不像他父亲。
She hasn&t changed a bit.
她一点也没变。
He has not a few books.
他有许多书。
She is not a little frightened.
她非常害怕。
She likes a man of no little humour.
她喜欢幽默风趣的人。
He is a person of no little importance.
他是个相当重要的人物。
He is a man of no common type.
他可不是一般的人。 (= very peculiar)
It added no little to his pride.
这极大地增加了他的自豪感。
To my no little astonishment, they got divorced.
&我大为吃惊的是, 他们离婚了。
I am no little pleased.
我非常快乐。
They talked no little.
他们谈了很多。
He is no little of a statesman.
他是个了不起的政治家。
He knows no few famous scholars.
他认识许多著名学者。
No few friends broke off with him.
不少朋友都同他绝交了。
No few of them were absent.
他们许多人都缺席了。
To her no small delight, she came out first.
她得了第一名, 非常高兴。
Not once or twice have I advised her.
我多次劝过她。 (= many times)
The affair has given her not a little trouble.
The affair has given her quite a little trouble.
这件事给她带来许多麻烦。
The affair has given her only a little trouble.
The affair has given her but a little trouble.
这件事没给她带来什么麻烦。
He has but a few friends.
他没有什么朋友。
He has quite a few friends.
他有很多朋友。
Note: ①在某些句子结构中, 谓语动词可以用肯定式或否定式, 但句意不变。例如:
I wonder if you can (not) help her in her work.
我不知道你是否能在工作中帮帮她。
He talked with her again and again, to see if he can (not) persuade her into doing it.
I don&t know whether he has (no) friends here.
②下面两对句子, 用肯定式和否定式都可以, 表示的意思基本相同:
He tries to buy a pair of shoes that will wear. (= wear well)
He tries to buy a pair of shoes that will not wear. (not wear out easily)
他想买一双耐用的鞋。
第一句中的wear 意为&耐用 (endure continued use) &; 第二句中的wear 意为&磨损(become less useful) &。
She excused my doing the work.
She excused my not doing the work.
&她同意我不做那项工作。
第一句中的excuse 意为dispense (免除) , 本身有否定含义, 全句相当于She dispensed me from doing the work. (她免除我做那项工作) 。第二句中的excuse 意为pardon (原谅) , 全句相当于She pardoned me not doing the work. (她原谅我不做那项工作。)
③not 与数量词连用时, 有时表示否定含义, 相当于less than, 意为&不足, 少于&, 但有时表示肯定含义, 相当于more than, 意为&多于, 不止, 远多于, 绝非&。例如:
She does not get 500 dollars a month.
她一个月挣不到500 美元。
&(not 否定500 dollars, 意为&不足&)
She does not live on 500 dollars a month.
她一个月靠500 美元是活不下去的。
(not 否定live, 意为&多于&)
I have seen her not once or twice.
我见过她不止一两次。
④not half 通常表示&根本不, 一点也不&, 但有时也可以表示肯定含义, 意为&非常& (extremely) , not half good 表示&非常好&, not half bad 表示&相当好&。例如:
He can not half speak English.
他根本不会说英语。 (否定)
I do not half like the book.
我一点也不喜欢这本书。 (否定)
He did not half cry.
她嚎啕大哭。 (肯定)
She is not half willing to help you.
她非常愿意帮助你。 (肯定)
A: Do you like the scenery?
B: Oh, not half!
&啊, 太喜欢了! (肯定)
It&s not half bad.
The film is not half good (bad) .
这部电影非常好。 (= very good, not bad at all)
It is not half raining now.
雨正下得很大。
⑤not the least 和not the least of sth. 可以表示肯定意义, 意为&尤其, 最大的, 最重要的&。例如:
That is not the least of her anxieties.
那是她最担心的。
They differed in many ways. Not the least was the difference in character.
他们在许多方面不同, 最主要是性格不同。
6. 形式肯定, 意义否定
英语中某些结构形式上是肯定的, 而内容却是否定的。对于这些形式肯定、意义否定的结构, 我们在阅读理解时同样不应拘泥于原文的表层结构, 翻译时要译出它们的否定含义。
1) more than...can
相当于can not, 意为&简直不, 无法, 难以&。例如:
The beauty of the park is more than words can describe.
&这公园美得无法形容。
The boy has become very insolent and it is more than his parents can bear.
这男孩变得非常无礼, 到了他父母不能忍受的地步。
This is more than I can tell.
这件事我是不能讲的。
He has bitten off more than he can chew.
他承担了力所不及的事情。
The traveler entertained his host with stories, some of which were really more than
could be believed.
旅行者讲了一些故事给他的主人听, 其中一些简直不能使人相信。
Tom seemed to enjoy the danger, which was more than could be said of Jim and Polly.
汤姆似乎喜欢那种危险, 而吉姆和波莉可不喜欢那危险的事。
2) more than one can help
相当于as little as possible, 意为&尽量不, 绝对不&。例如:
Don&t tell him more than you can help.
能不跟他讲就尽量不跟他讲。
She never does more work than she can help.
能不做的事她是绝对不会做的。
3) more A than B
意为&是A 不是B; 与其说是B, 不如说是A&。例如:
Everything in the world should be regarded more as in motion than as at rest.
世界上万物都应该看成是在运动之中, 而不是处于静止状态。
The book seems to be more a dictionary than a grammar.
这本书看起来与其说是一本语法书, 不如说是一本词典。
He is more brave than wise.
&他有勇无谋。
I was more angry than frightened.
我不是害怕了, 而是生气了。
The growth of the separate sciences has been more developmental than intentional.
各门学科的成长是自然发展的, 而不是人为促成的。
4) 比较级+ than + to + v
意为&不至于&, 懂得&不该&&。例如:
I am wiser than to believe that.
我不至于蠢到竟然相信这种事情。
She knew better than to go out alone on such a night.
这样的夜晚, 她不至于连不该单独外出都不知道。
You ought to know better than to go swimming immediately after a meal.
你应该知道刚吃过饭不宜立即去游泳。
Fools may believe you, but I know better.
傻子才会相信你, 但我可不相信你的话。 (省略了不定式)
5) anything but
意为&绝对不, 根本不是, 一点也不&。例如:
The wooden bridge is anything but safe.
那座木头桥一点也不安全。
It&s a sick joke if the West thinks he&s a liberal&he is anything but liberal.
如果西方把他看作一个自由派人士, 那无异是开令人厌恶的玩笑, 他根本不是什么自由派。
He is anything but a scholar.
他决不是什么学者。
I will do anything but that.
我决不干那种事。
6) have yet to + 动词
这种结构相当于have not yet + 过去分词。例如:
I have yet to hear the story.
= I have not yet heard the story.
我还没听过那个故事。
I have yet to learn the new skill.
= I have not yet learnt the new skill.
我还没有学那项新技术。
7.&It is a + 形容词+ 名词+ that&结构的谚语表示的否定
It is a long lane that has no turning.
没有不拐弯的长路。
It&s an ill wind that blows nobody good.
没有使人人都遭殃的恶风。
It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest.
没有自毁其巢的恶鸟。 (脏鸟多污窝。)
It is a wise father that knows his own child.
无论怎样聪明的父亲也未必了解自己的孩子。
It is a poor man that never rejoices.
从未快乐过的才是可怜人。
8.&as+ 形容词原级+ as&表示的否定
A nod is as good as a wink to the blind horse.
根本不必点头。
I was as surprised as anyone on hearing the news.
听到这个消息没有人比我更吃惊了。
9.&may (might) as well&表示的否定
It is still
we may as well stay here over the night.
外面依然在下大雨, 我们还不如呆在这里过夜呢。
How slow the bus is! We might as well walk.
这汽车开得多慢呀! 我们还不如步行呢。
You might as well throw the money into the sea as lend it to him.
你把钱借给他还不如扔进海里。
You might as well burn these books than give them to her.
你把这些书给她还不如烧毁的好。
Note: 下面since 从句中的动词肯定式具有否定含义:
It has been five years since he worked there.
他不在那里工作已经5 年了。
It has been twenty years since I was in the countryside.
我离开农村已经20 年了。
10. 名词引起的否定
常见的有: neglect (忽视) , failure (失败) , refusal (拒绝) , absence (缺少) , shortage, reluctance, ignorance, loss, exclusion, lack, negation, Greek to (或all Greek to) (对&&一无所知) 。例如:
Shaking the head is a sigh of negation.
摇头是不同意的一种表示。
The failure was the making of him.
这次不成功是他后来成功的基础。
A few new instruments are in a state of neglect.
一些仪器处于无人管理的状态。
Latin is Greek to her.
她对拉丁文一无所知。
That&s all Greek to me.
我对那一点不懂。
11. 动词或动词短语引起的否定
常见的有:miss (没有击中) , deny (否认) , lack (缺乏) , refuse (拒绝) , escape, baffle, resist , reject, decline, negate, doubt, wonder, grudge, spare, fail, exclude, overlook, cease, neglect, defy, forbid, give up, refrain from, lose sight of, keep up with (不落后于) , save...from (使------不受) , shut one&s eyes to (不看) , to say nothing of (更不用说) , not to mention (更不用说) , protect (keep, prevent) ...from (避免&) , keep off (不接近) , keep out (不使入内) , turn a deaf ear to (对& 根本不听) , fall short of... (不足) , live up to (不辜负) , dissuade ...from (劝&不要) , keep...dark (不把&说出去) 。例如:
We will live up to the expectations of the people all over the count ry.
我们决不辜负全国人民对我们的期望。
The first bombs missed the target.
第一批炸弹没有击中目标。
The specification lacks detail.
这份说明书不够详细。
The value of loss in this equation is so small that we can overlook it.
在此方程中, 损耗值太小, 可以忽略不计。
The error in calculation escaped the accountant.
这个计算上的错误没有被会计看出。
The scene baffled all description.
这景色 (美得) 无法描述。
I rather doubt if her words are t rue.
我一点也不敢确定她的话是否真实。
Please re f rain from smoking in public places.
请勿在公共场所吸烟。
I wonder if she will come.
我不知道她是否来。
The mean man grudged the food his horse ate.
这个吝啬鬼不肯让他的马吃饱。
The lady couldn&t spare the car.
这位女士没有汽车不行。
She forgot to mail the letter.
她没有把信寄出。
He tried to avoid falling into the t rap.
他设法不落入圈套。
He just lost the t rain.
他刚好没赶上火车。
The lazy man shunned work.
那个懒汉不干活。
Please keep the news dark.
请不要把这个消息说出去。
12. 形容词引起的否定
常见的有: far from (一点也不) , free from (of) (不受&&影响) , safe from (免于) , short of (缺少) , ignorant of (不知道) , independent of (不受&&支配) , impatient of (对&&不耐烦) , deficient in (缺乏) , clear of (from) , devoid of, alien to, foreign to, blind to (看不见) , a far cry from (完全不同于) , far and few between (很少) , absent from, different from, reluctant to, less than (少于) , dead to (对&无反应) 。例如:
She is reluctant to leave her hometown.
她不愿离开家乡。
Her explanation is far from satisfactory.
她的解释不能让人满意。
Short of equipment, we made our own.
没有设备, 我们就自己制造。
Mothers are sometimes blind to the faults of their children.
做母亲的有时不能觉察自己孩子的过错。
All music is alike to him.
他不懂音乐。
Far be it from me to assert that he is a criminal.
我决不想断言他是个罪犯。
The first computer was a far cry from a modern one.
早期的计算机同今天的相比有天壤之别。
Holidays are f ar and few between.
假日很少。
Note: ①the least...和the last...结构亦可表示否定, 相当于the most unlikely, the least unlikely, 后接不定式或定语从句, 意为&最不配, 最不愿, 决不&&, 是一种强有力的否定方法。例如:
He is the last man she wants to meet.
她最不愿意遇见的就是他。
That is the least of his worries.
那是他最不担心的事情。
She is the last woman to eat her words.
她决不会认错的。
②be all thumbs, leave much to be desired 等短语可以表示否定。例如:
I&m all thumbs as far as drawing is concerned.
谈到绘画, 我可是一窍不通。
The paper leaves much to be desired.
这篇论文很不完善。
③no small chance 和no smallest chance
no small 表示的是肯定意义, 相当于a great。英语中, 否定式同形容词或副词原级、比较级或最高级连用, 常常表示强调的肯定意义, 而不是表示否定。例如:
She has no small chance of success.
&她极有可能会成功。
He has no small reputation as a writer.
作为一个作家, 他的声誉是很高的。
She never felt happier in her life.
她那时最高兴。
④下面no smallest 等表示的是强否定, 相当于not the least...。例如:
She has no smallest chance of success.
她完全没有成功的可能。
I have not the faintest suspicion of his honesty.
我一点儿也不怀疑他的诚实。
He has not the slightest hope of winning the match.
他赢得这场比赛是毫无希望的。
13.Catch me doing that! &&&反语等表示的否定
反语 (reverse remark) 指的是用正面的话来表达反面的意思。Catch me doing that! 一句形式肯定, 但含义否定, 相当于You won&t catch me doing that. 或I won&t do that. 反语语势很强, 常用来表示讽刺、强调等, 多用感叹句形式。例如:
Catch me saying that!
我可不会说那个的!
You&re telling me. (= I don&t need you to tell me.)
我不用你指教。
A fat lot you know! (= You know nothing!)
你懂得真多! (你什么都不懂。)
You may ask him for all I care. (= I don&t care if you ask him.)
你想问就问他吧, 我才不管呢!
Much I care. (= I don&t care at all).
我才不在乎呢。
Do that again if you dare. (You dare not do that again.)
量你也不敢再做那件事了。
I am damned if it is true.
绝对没有这回事。
I shall be hanged if I go there.
我死也不去那里。
I should worry.
我才不放在心上呢。
A: Is he an expert?
他是专家吗?
B: The devil he is.
他绝对不是。
Note: ①as...as 结构有时亦可用作反语, 肯定的形式表示否定的意义。例如:
He knows as much of himself as a blind man does of colors.
他没有自知之明, 犹如盲人不识颜色。
You might as well expect a river to flow backwards as hope to change his idea.
你不能使他改变主意, 正如不能使河水倒流一样。
②if 从句独立使用作感叹句时, 肯定谓语表示否定意义, 否定谓语表示肯定意义, 这种用法的if 从句往往表示强调、惊奇、恼怒、沮丧等感情色彩。例如:
If this is human life! (= This is not human life at all.)
这真不是人过的生活!
Try it if you dare. (You don&t dare to try it.)
你不敢试。
If it isn&t the picture she has been looking for!
天哪! 这不就是她一直在找的照片吗!
If it isn&t a pity! (= It is a pity indeed.)
I shall never tell her the secret. See if I do. (I shall never tell her.)
I shall tell her the secret. See if I don&t. (Surely I shall tell her.)
I&m damned (jiggered, a villain) if I let him know it. (I will never let him know it.)
我要是让他知道这件事, 我就不是人。
14. 介词或介词短语引起的否定
常见的有: past (超过) , above (超出...... 之外) , without (没有) , beyond (超出) , instead of &(代替) , in vain (无效, 徒然) , in the dark (一点也不知道) , at a loss (不知所措) , but for (要不是) , in spite of (不管) , at fault (出错) , against (提防) , before (与其...... 宁愿) , below (低于) , beside (与...... 无关) , but (除...... 之外) , except (除...... 之外) , from (阻止, 使不做某事) , off (离开, 中断) , under (在...... 下, 不足) ,within (不超出 (范围、时间等) ) , beneath (不如, 在...... 下) , beneath one&s notice (不值理睬) , out of (不在...... 里面, 不再处于某种状态) , out of the question (不可能) , in the dark about (对...... 不知) , off the beaten t rack (不落俗套) 。例如:
Her memory is at fault.
她想不起来了。
The book is beyond me.
这本书我看不懂。
Test showed that the machine was in order.
测试表明, 这台机器没有毛病。
I was quite in the dark about the matter.
这件事我一点也不知道。
His statement was entirely out o f place on such an occasion.
在这种场合, 他说的话是完全不适当的。
Please lend me that dictionary instead of this one.
请借给我那本字典而不是这本。
I found myself at a loss for words of consolation.
我简直想不出安慰的话来。
You&d better stay out o f that affair.
你最好不要去管那件事。
A great man is above flattery.
一个伟大的人是不屑于阿谀奉承的。
I warned him against going there.
我提醒他不要去那里。
She&d choose death be fore dishonor.
她宁死而不受辱。
He is below her in intelligence.
他的智力不如她。
Such behavior is beneath him.
这种举动同他的身份不相称。
What she said is beside the question.
她说的话与这个问题无关。
Whose fault is it but hers?
不是她的错又是谁的错?
Everybody is down on him except you.
人人都对他进行攻击, 但你却没有。
She persuaded him from taking the foolish step.
她劝他不要采取愚蠢的行动。
He went his own way in spite of all the gossip.
他不顾各种闲言碎语, 走着自己的路。
She is o f f duty today.
&今天她不值班。
The pain is almost past bearing.
疼痛简直无法忍受。
All the children here are under eight.
这里所有的孩子都不到8 岁。
The work is not within man&s power.
这项工作非人力所能及。
There is no smoke without fire.
没有火, 就没有烟。
The performance is of f the beaten track.
这表演不落俗套。
Note: 介词before 可以表示否定, 连词before 也可以表示否定。例如:
The bird flew away be fore he shot.
他还没有开枪, 鸟就飞走了。 (不等&就)
He got up be fore the moon set down.
月亮还未落他就起床了。 (尚未&就)
He would die be f ore he betrayed his country.
他宁肯死也不愿背叛国家。 (宁愿------决不)
Another week passed be fore he knew it.
又一个星期不知不觉地过去了。
(before sb. knew it 意为&不知不觉, 还没弄清&)
She fell off the boat into the river be fore she knew it.
她还没弄清怎么回事就从船上掉进了河里。
15. 副词短语引起的否定
常见的有:much less (still less, let alone) (更不用说) , by no means (决不) , in no way (决不) , no longer (不再) , no more (也不, 不再) , on no account (决不) , under no circumstances (决不) , in vain (徒劳) , not...at all (根本不) , not...in the least (一点也不) 。例如:
He can&t speak English at all.
他根本不会说英语。
Youth lost will return no more.
青春不再。
He is by no means selfish.
他决不自私。
You must on no account lend money to him.
你决不能把钱借给他。
She is not worried in the least.
她一点也不担心。
16. 在修辞性问句中, 肯定的形式表示强烈的否定
Who knows? (= Nobody knows.)
谁又知道呢?
Is there a reason for despair?
难道有绝望的理由吗?
(= Surely there is no reason for despair.)
What can mean more than life?
没有什么东西比生命更重要。
(= Nothing can mean more than life.)
Who would have thought of that?
谁也不会想到那个。
(= No one would have thoughtof that.)
二、英汉否定语气的转换
汉英两种语言在表达否定方面有一定的差异。有些句子, 在英语中否定主语, 而译成汉语时却否定了谓语, 在英语中否定谓语, 而译成汉语时却又否定了状语。这种现象我们称之为否定语气的转移。在阅读和翻译的过程中, 只有注意到这种否定语气的转移, 才能正确理解原文并使译文通顺, 合乎习惯。
1. 否定主语转换为否定谓语
No energy can be created, and none destroyed.
能量不能创造, 也不能毁灭。
Neither plan is practicable.
两个方案都行不通。
No sound was heard.
没有听到声音。
No signal is detected.
没有检测到信号。
2. 否定谓语转换为否定状语
He doesn&t study in the classroom.
他不在教室里学习。
I was not playing all the time.
我没有一直在玩。
Metals do not change their form as easily as plastic bodies do.
金属不像塑料物体那样容易变形。
Contrary to what is thought, the earth does not move round in the empty space.
与通常的想法相反, 地球并不是在空无一物的空间中运转的。
3. 主句部分的否定转换为从句部分的否定
The motor did not stop because the electricity was off.
电机停止运转, 并非因为电源中断了。
The object did not move because I pushed on it.
该物体移动, 不是因为我推了它。
I didn&t buy the book because it is cheap.
我买了那本书, 并不是因为它便宜。
The mountain is not valuable because it is high.
山并不因为高才有价值。
4. 否定主句的谓语转换为否定宾语从句的谓语
1) 这类否定的转移多出现在动词think, believe, expect, suppose, imagine, reckon, fancy 等后面的宾语从句中
I don&t think John will come.
我认为约翰不会来。
(当然也可以说I think John won&t come. 下同)
I don&t suppose they will object to my suggestion.
我想他们不会反对我的建议的。
We do not consider that neutrons have charges.
我们认为中子不带电。
I don&t believe the paper is written by him.
我以为这篇论文不是他写的。
I don&t calculate that he has said that before.
我以为他没有说过那种话。
I don&t expect that you&re right.
我认为你不对。
I didn&t anticipate that he would come to the meeting.
我估计他不会来开会的。
I don&t reckon he&ll go there again.
我以为他不会再去那里的。
I don&t f eel the food can last us through the winter.
我以为食物不够我们过冬的。
He didn&t imagine that she would go abroad.
他料想她不会出国了。
I don&t figure he can pass the examination.
我认为他不会考及格。
I shouldn&t say your choice is right. 我看,
你的选择是不对的。
I wouldn&t say the novel is worth reading.
我认为这部小说不值得读。
2) 当view, wish, belief, thought, opinion 等名词作主句的表语时, 可以把从句中谓语的否定转移到主句的谓语上
It is not my opinion that he is the best man for the job.
我认为他并非是做这项工作的最佳人选。
It is not my thought that he can finish the work within a week.
我认为他不可能在一周内完成这项工作。
It is not my belie f that you can make something out of nothing.
我相信你不能做无米之炊。
It is not my wish that you should break your word.
我希望你不要违背诺言。
Note: 习惯用语It looks like (看起来) , It seems (似乎) , It sounds as if (听起来好像) 作主句时, 也可把从句谓语中的否定转移到主句的谓语上。比较:
It looks like it&s not going to snow.
It doesn&t look like it&s going to snow.
看起来好像不会下雪。
5. 否定介词宾语转换为否定谓语
The circuit should be overloaded on no conditions.
电路在任何情况下都不得过载。
In no circumstances must a soldier leave his post.
士兵在任何情况下都不得擅离自己的岗位。
Under no circumstances would he yield.
在任何环境下他都不会屈服。
6. 否定宾语转换为否定谓语
At no time and under no circumstances will China be the first to use unclear weapons.
中国在任何时候和任何情况下都不首先使用核武器。
We know of no effective way to store solar energy.
我们不知道贮藏太阳能的有效方法。
三、几种易引起误解的否定结构及否定形式
1. no + 名词与not a (an, any) + 名词
no 是形容词, 用来否定名词, not 是副词, 用来否定动词、副词或形容词。no 否定名词时往往带有感情色彩, 用在表示职业或人物的名词前常含贬义, 意为&无资格, 外行, 不会& 等。比较:
He is no doctor at all.
他对医道一窍不通。
He is not a doctor.
他不是从医的。 (可能是教师或商人)
He is no artist.
他决不是个艺术家。 (根本算不上艺术家)
He is not an artist.
他不是艺术家。 (可能是个数学家)
John is no honest man.
约翰是个很不老实的人。
John is not an honest man.
约翰不是个老实人。
They are no friends of ours.
他们决非我们的朋友。
They are not our friends.
他们不是我们的朋友。 (可能是别人的朋友)
He is no fool. 他很精明。 (= He is anything but a fool.)
He is not a fool. 他不是呆子。
He is no scholar. 他没有文化。 (无知)
= He is illiterate.
He is no genius. 他愚笨。
= He is dull.
He is no millionaire. 他穷。
= He is poor.
I have no English book. (一般句型)
I have not an English book. (强调句式)
2. no more...than 与not more...than
1) no more...than 含有消极、否定的意思, 译为&A 与B 都不&, 不&也不&等, 相当于not...just as...not
He is no more diligent than you.
你不勤奋, 他也不勤奋。 (都不勤奋)
= He is not diligent just as you are not diligent.
He is no more a teacher than we are.
我们不是教师, 他也不是教师。
= He is not a teacher just as we are not teachers.
2) no more...than 句型对比较的双方A 与B 即than 的前后两部分在意义上都给予否定。特别应注意的是, than 后面的从句在形式上是肯定的, 但在意义上却是否定的, 所以译为&A 与B 都不&&, 着重点往往是than 前的部分
I am no more an expert than he.
他跟我一样不是专家。
This book is no more interesting than that one.
这本书和那本书一样都没有趣。
A student can no more obtain knowledge without studying than a farmer can get harvest without ploughing.
学生不学习不能获得知识, 正如农民不耕种不能得到收获一样。
Your story today is no more convincing than the one yesterday.
你今天讲的故事和昨天讲的故事都不令人信服。
He can no more ride than fly.
他不能骑马正像他不能飞翔一样。
You are no more a general than I am a statesman.
你不是将军, 犹如我不是政治家。
A home without love is no more a home than a man without soul.
无爱之家庭犹如无灵魂之人。
3) no more...than 与not...any more than 意思相近
上面第3 句可改写成:
A student cannot obtain knowledge without studying any more than a farmer can get harvest without ploughing.
The Chimpanzee is not genetically designed to speak any more than humans are designed to fly. 从遗传学的角度讲, 正如人生来就不能飞行一样, 黑猩猩也天生就不会讲话。
He is not a poet any more than I am a novelist.
他不是诗人, 正如我不是小说家一样。
A whale is not a fish any more than a horse is.
鲸不是鱼, 正如马也不是鱼一样。
Note: no more...than 可用于表示同一个人的两个方面择其一, 意为&与其说&, 倒不如说&。例如:
He is no more a teacher than a worker.
说他是个教师, 倒不如说他是个工人。
He is no more a wise man than an intelligent man.
说他是个明智的人, 倒不如说他是个有知识的人。
4) not more...than 句型说明比较的双方A 与B都是好的, 都给予肯定。意为&A 比不上B, A 不像B&或没有到&的程度&等。本句型着重点往往在后一个分句, 译成汉语时, 仍按原来的语序
He is not more diligent than you.
&他没有像你那样勤奋。 (意指两个人都勤奋, 但你更勤奋)
This book is not more interesting than that one.
这本书不如那本书有趣。 (两本书都有趣)
Xiao Wang is not more careful than Xiao Li.
小王比不上小李仔细。 (小王和小李都仔细, 但小王仔细的程度不如小李)
Note: not more...than 与less...than 或not so...as 的意思相同。上面一句可改为:
Xiao Wang is less careful than Xiao Li.
Xiao Wang is not so careful as Xiao Li.
3. no more than 与not more than
no more than 强调&少&, 译作&只有, 不过, 仅仅&。not more than 是客观叙述, 意为&不超过&。例如:
He is no more than five years old.
他只有5 岁。 (有嫌&小&的意思)
He is not more than five years old.
他不会超过5 岁。
He has learned no more than 100 words.
他才学会100 个字。 (有&少&的意思)
He has learned not more than 100 words.
他学会的字不超过100 个。
He has no more than five dollars on him.
他身上仅有5 美元。 (强调少, 但有5 美元)
He has not more than five dollars on him.
他身上带的钱不超过5 美元。 (强调数额少于5 美元)
He said no more than we had expected.
他只是说了我们所预料的而已。
4. no less than 与not less than
no less than = as much as 或as many as, 意为&竟有&之多, 多达&, 强调&多&, 有时表示
exactly, only 等。not less than 意为&不少于, 至少&, 是客观的叙述。比较:
A poor man is no less a citizen than a rich man. 穷人和富人一样都是公民。
= A poor man is as much a citizen as a rich man.
You can speak to your boss no less than he can speak to you. (= as much as)
No less than twenty soldiers were wounded. (= As many as)
It means no less than an insult. (= exactly)
His son has read no less than 30 English books.
他儿子竟然已经读了30 本英文书。(强调&多&)
His son has read not less than 30 English books.
他儿子读的英文书不少于30 本。(不强调&多&或&少&, 只是客观叙述)
There were no less than five thousand people at the meeting.
到会的人竟然多达5 000。(强调人多)
There were not less than five thousand people at the meeting.
到会的人不少于5 000。(不强调人多或人少)
Note: 注意下面句中no less 的用法。
What are you writing? A new novel, no less.
你在写什么呢? 在写一部新小说呢。 (表示自豪)
5. no less...than
no less...than 前后均为肯定, 译为&正如, 恰好; 就是/ 正是& (人) ; 不劣于, 不下于; 和------一样, 多达, 应有&之多&等, 常含有惊奇等感情色彩。例如:
He fought with no less daring than skill.
他既勇敢又善战。
No less an authority than Dr. James has spoken highly of the invention.
连詹姆士这样的权威都高度评价这项发明。
The middle-aged man was no less (no other) a person than the new minister.
这位中年人正是新来的部长。
Her voice is no less sweet than it used to be.
她的歌喉和以前一样甜美。
not bigger than 不比...... 大
no bigger than = as small as 一样小
not wise than 不比...... 聪明
no wise than = as stupid as 和...... 一样笨
not richer than 不比...... 富
no richer than = as poor as 一样穷
not later than 不比迟
no later than = as early as 一样早
not heavier than 不比...... 重
no heavier than = as light as 一样轻
not darker than 不比...... 黑
no darker than = as bright as 一样亮
Tom is no less prudent than Jim. (= Both Tom and Jim are prudent. = Tom is as prudent as Jim.)
Note: no less...than 还可表示&只能&, 相当于can not...but。例如:
He can do no less (或no more) than laugh. 他只能发笑。
6. no (little) better than 与not better than
no (little) better than = as bad as, 意为&和...... 一样不...... , 和...... 差不多&, 表示两者都
不好, 都差等, 这里no 或little 作副词用, 相当于not at all。not better than 意为&并不比
------好, 至多也不过是, 还不如&。例如:
He&s no better than a beggar.
他比乞丐好不到哪去。
I found him no better than an idiot.
我发觉他简直是个愚人。
She sings no better than a crow.
她唱得太差劲。 (as poorly as a crow)
The orphans& homes then were no better than living hells.
那时的孤儿院简直和人间地狱一样。
This machine is no better than that one.
这台机器和那台机器差不多。 (都不好)
This machine is not better than that one.
这台机器并不比那台机器好。 (都不错)
His pronunciation is no better than mine.
他的发音和我的一样糟。
His pronunciation is not better than mine.
&他的发音不比我的好。
7. not (或never) ...nearly
not (或never) nearly 表示&根本不&, 是一种强势否定, 相当于not at all。类似结构还有
not...anywhere near, no...anywhere near 等。例如:
She isn&t nearly aware of the danger.
她根本没有意识到危险。
She never came anywhere near to knowing what it meant.
她根本没有弄懂那是什么意思。
He isn&t anywhere near as honest as you think.
他根本不像你想象的那样诚实。
8. nowhere near
nowhere near 表示&根本不, 远远没有, 远不及&。例如:
It took nowhere near three hours.
花的时间还不到3 个小时。 (= much less than)
Fifty dollars is nowhere near enough.
50 美元还差得远呢。
She is nowhere near finding out the truth of the matter.
她根本没有弄清楚事实真相。
This is nowhere near so good as that.
这远远没有那好。
9. nothing like
nothing like 表示&没有东西比得上, 没有比&更好的, 没有什么比&更&。例如:
There is nothing like home.
金窝银窝不及草窝。
There&s nothing like walking as a means of keeping fit.
什么也比不上散步更有利于健康。
It was nothing like what he expected.
&事情一点也不像他原先期望的那样。
He was nothing like so careful now as in the past.
他现在远不如过去那么细心。
10. 表示强调的接续否定
在同一句中, 一个否定词后又接续另一个否定词, 对否定加以强调。例如:
None of them dare do it, not one.
他们谁也不敢做那件事, 没有一个敢。
I cannot go, no farther.
我不能走了, 不能再走了。
He won&t lend his car to anyone, not even to you.
他不会把车借给任何人, 就连你也不借。
I wouldn&t accept his help, not if I went begging.
我就是去讨饭也不会接受他的帮助。
11. 双重否定表示的强调否定
在口语中, 有时双重否定并不表示肯定, 而是表示强调的否定语气。但这种表示法在书面语中应避免。例如:
We don&t know nothing about it.
&我们对那件事一点也不知道。
Nobody don&t know where we&re from.
谁也不知道我们从哪里来。
I never get no sleep these days.
这些日子我怎么也睡不着。
He has not a single relative, no friend, no money, no nothing.
他没有一个亲属, 没有朋友, 没有钱, 什么也没有。
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