總結英語的否定形式
肯定與否定是兩個完全對立的概念,容不得半點含糊。然而,英語的否定形式相當繁雜,稍有不慎,就會出錯。所以現在我們就來歸納一下英語對否定概念的表達方式作。
英語否定概念的表達形式大致可分為兩類:顯形否定與隱形否定。
顯形否定一般借助否定詞或含否定意義的句型表達,其否定含義較為直觀,故有明否定之稱;隱形否定無明顯否定詞,其否定含義往往要靠上下文或語境來推定,比較難以把握,故有暗否定或間接否定之稱。
一、顯形否定
常用否定詞
no,not,never,none,nobody,nothing,nowhere,neither, nor,neither...nor,but,without,unless,but for,but that,in the absence of,regardless of, instead of,exclusive of,short of,rather than,anything but,any more than,out of the question,would no more...than
由a-,dis-,il-,im-,ir-,un-,non-,anti-,mal-,under-等前綴及-less,-free,-proof等后綴合成的否定詞
hardly,scarcely,barely,little,few,seldom等半否定詞
avoid,ban,call off,cancel,deny,deprive,exclude,escape,evade,forbid,free...from,free from/of,fail,hate,ignore,lack,lose,miss,naught,neglect, prohibit,quit, refuse,rid,rule out,stop以及above,against,beneath,beyond,far from,off,out of,past和absent,bad,bare, empty, last, poor,vacant等可用于表達否定概念的詞。
1) 這類否定句要注意如下三個問題:
否定程度的強弱,說話者的態度以及否定句式表肯定概念
He is not richer than I. 他不比我富。
He is no richer than I. 他和我一樣,也不富。
He is not a statesman. 他不是政治家。
He is no statesman. 他絕非政治家。(弦外音:他不懂政治)
No less than fifty people were killed in the accident. 事故中多達五十人死亡(夠多的,≈as many as,多達)。
Write a short passage of not less than 200 words.
寫一段短文字數不少于二百(多則不限)。
We have not learned more than 1,000 English words.
我們學了不超過一千個英語單詞(頂多一千個,可能比這還少)。
We have learned no more than 1,000 English words.
我們學了一千個英語單詞(不夠多)。
I could not feel better.我感覺再好不過了。
I can not agree more.我完全同意。
You can’t be too careful when driving.開車時愈小心愈好(或盡可能小心)。
There is no smallest wind today.今天一點風也沒有。
There is no small wind today.今天的風可真不小。
It leaves nothing to be desired. 這已完美無缺。
2)錯位否定
It doesn’t seem to be logical. 這似乎不合邏輯。
I don’t think you are right.我認為你不對。
He didn’t go there by bus. 他不是乘公共汽車去的。
I don’t teach because teaching is easy for me. 我之所以教書,并不是因為教書容易。
In no circumstances should we be conceited.我們絕不應該驕傲自滿。
但有些否定詞的位置不同,含義也不同。
I haven’t decided to go there. 我沒決定去不去那兒。
I have decided not to go there.我已決定不去那兒。
這類詞還有 advise,tell,ask,require,request,pretend 等。
3)部分否定(或不完全否定)
當all,both,every,everything,everybody,everywhere,always,often,completely, wholly,entirely,necessarily 與not 連用時,也表示部分否定:
I do not remember all those names.我記不得所有的名稱。
He does not often come here. 他不是老來這兒。 Don’t always ask for help.不要老讓人幫忙。
另外,遇到beyond等介詞,要注意其搭配關系。
如:It’s quite beyond me (above me, past me, beyond my depth). 這個我理解不了。
beyond: ~ expectation(出乎意料), ~ debate / controversy(無可爭議,無疑的), ~ dispute(無可辯駁),~ description(無法描述),~ cure(不可救藥), ~ control (無法控制), ~ belief(難以置信),~ all comparison(不能相提并論,不能相比)
out of: ~ sight(看不見),~ humor(不高興),~ breath (喘不過氣來), ~ cash(沒有錢),~ mind(不去想),~ bounds(不準進入), ~ date / style / fashion(過時,不時髦),~ work(失業),~ danger(脫離危險)
beneath criticism(不值得批評);past repair(無法修補),past all belief(不可思議);off one’s mind (不放在心上),off color(精神不好,身體不舒服)
常用否定句型
1)too...to...,too...for...
He is too young to go to school.(=He is not old enough to go to school.)他還不夠上學的年齡。
That’s too much for me.這我可受不了啦。
但下列句中無否定含義:
He is too ready to speak.(≈He is talkative.)他太愛講話了。
I’m only too glad to help you. 能為您效勞,我高興極了。
2)stop (prevent,keep,hinder,protect,save,prohibit,dissuade...)...from...
Intact skin can protect the body from being invaded by germs.未受損的皮膚可以保護身體不受細菌侵害。
3)利用虛擬語氣表否定
You should(ought to) have done it better.
你本應做得更好。(還不夠好)
I could have come earlier.
我本來能早點來的。(實際上沒有早來) I wish he were here now.
我希望他現在能在這兒。(實際上他不在)
If only he had asked for my advice!
他當初要能征求我的意見就好了!(實際上沒有)
They would rather die than surrender.
他們寧死不降。
4)用before引導的從句表“來不及……,不等,未……先……,以防”等否定含義