否定句中的非否定现象
有些英语句子不可“貌相”(望文生义),它们明明看起来是否定形式,有时却可以表示肯定的意义,甚至表示非常强烈的肯定意义。由此,语言的神奇妙用被体现得淋漓尽致。本文对这一有趣的语言现象进行了归纳总结,以期能给英语学习者带来一点新意扑面、趣在其中的感觉。1. can / could not...too表示“无论怎样也不过分”。例如:
You cannot be too careful when crossing the street. 穿越马路时,再怎么小心也不为过。
You can never be too careful in performing an experiment. 做实验越仔细越好。
2. can / could not...enough意为“无论怎么都不够”,表示强烈的肯定。例如:
I cannot thank you enough. 我对你感激不尽。
You can’t be careful enough. 你越小心越好。
3. too...not to表示“太……不会不……”,具有肯定意义。例如:
He is too careful not to have noticed it. 他那么小心,一定会注意到这一点的。
4. never too...to是对too...to的再否定,表示肯定。例如:
It’s never too old to learn. 活到老,学到老。
5. not...for nothing中,not用来否定for nothing,从而加强了谓语的肯定意义。例如:
He didn’t study law for nothing. 他学法律并没有白费。
Believe me, he did not fly into such a rage for nothing. 请相信我,他勃然大怒是有原因的。
6. nothing if not表示“极其”,含强烈的肯定意义。例如:
He was nothing if not clever. 他很聪明。
The story was nothing if not interesting. 故事极其有趣。
7. nothing less than表示“完全是”,有肯定的含义。例如:
What he said was nothing less than a lie. 他说的纯属谎言。
His negligence was nothing less than criminal. 他的粗心大意无异于犯罪。
8. nothing but表示“只有,只不过”,含肯定意义。例如:
We could see nothing but water. 我们只看见一大片水。
She does nothing but listen to records. 她除了听唱片什么也不做。
9. no的否定意义很强,和具有否定意义的名词连用,来表示强烈的肯定。例如:
She is no fool. (She is very clever.) 她绝不是傻瓜。
There is no question that Mr. Smith is the boss. 毫无疑问,史密斯先生就是老板。
10. 双重否定表示强烈的肯定。例如:
Nobody had nothing to eat. =Everyone has something to eat. 每个人都有吃的。
11. not...until / till表示“直到……才”,具有肯定的意义。例如:
She didn’t stop working until 12 o’clock last night. 昨晚12点以前,她一直在不停地工作。
12. “否定词 + so + adj. / adv. + as”结构,从反面表示“最”,是一种强烈的肯定。例如:
It wasn’t so bad as last time!这次不像上次那么糟!
None is so blind as those who won’t see. 没有比视而不见的人更瞎眼的了。
13. 有些带否定词的短语,在使用时并不构成否定意义,即表示肯定意义。例如:
He would go as soon as not. 他非常乐意去。
As often as not the buses are late on foggy days. 遇多雾天气时,公共汽车经常晚点。
14. 否定的感叹句、疑问句常表示肯定意义。例如:
Isn’t this film interesting?这部电影难道没趣吗?
Who doesn’t enjoy reading The Dream of the Red Mansion?谁不喜欢看《红楼梦》呢?(人人都喜欢看《红楼梦》。)
15. 以Why don’t you...和Why not ... 开头的疑问句往往表示邀请、建议、指导等,具有肯定意义。例如:
Why don’t you introduce her to your parents?你为什么不把她介绍给你父母呢?
Why not come and see me tomorrow?明天来看我怎么样?