英语否定句综合教程

英语否定句 综合教程

一、转换否定

引用薄冰的原话,是“在英语中常可见到一些……形式上否定而意义上则表肯定的句子”。

1.cannot…too

You cannot be too careful.

误译:你不能太小心。

正译:你越小心越好。

英语说的cannot…too,意为“就算再……也不过分”或“越……越好”,其中的can表示可能性,too有over之意,可以换用enough或

sufficient等字样。同时,在not的位置换用其他的否定词,如hardly,scarcely等也是可以的。因此下面5句话的意思同上面这句话的意思是完全一样的。

You cannot be over careful.

You cannot be careful enough.

You cannot be sufficiently careful.

You cannot take enough care.

You cannot take sufficient care.

2.It is a good horse that never stumbles.

误译:从不失蹄的马才是好马。

正译:再好的马也有失蹄的时候。

这个句子属于“It be adjective noun that…”句型。该句型多出现在一些谚语中, 在某些情况下,这种句型需要从反面解释。 更多的例子:It is a long lane that has no turning.再长的胡同也有拐弯。（意思是:凡事总有变化,不会永远不变。）

3.He must be a fool if he does not know what I mean.

误译:如果他不懂我的意思,他肯定是个傻瓜。

正译:他就是再傻也会懂得我的意思。

4.She study no harder than me.

误译:她学习不如我努力。

正译:她和我学习都不努力。

在一些no（not） adj.比较级的句子里,意思是肯定的。

更多的例子:I couldn‟t agree with you more .我非常同意你的观点。

5.I never got no sleep in those days.

误译:那些日子我从来没有不睡觉。

正译:那些日子我怎么也睡不着。

英语和汉语一样,本来两个否定会成为一个肯定,但有时为了强调否定的语气,在通俗的口语中 会有双重否定仍表否定的情况。 更多的例子:“I don’t know nothing about what’s waiting for me,”said Thrash.施腊希说:“我不知道我未来的命运如何。”

二、否定句并非都表示否定

（一）含有否定词not,no,nothing,never等或表示部分否定的词hardly,barely等的句子被称为否定句。英语的否定句表现形式多种多样,应用十分广泛,但形式上的否定并不等于意义上的否定,在很多情况下,形式上的否定句表达的却是肯定的含义,需注意这类句子的理解和译法。

1.not…untiltill直到……才,只有……才

People do not know the importance of friends until they lose them.

人们直到失去了才知道朋友的重要。

You can not learn anything till you get rid of your complacency.

只有去掉自满,你才能真正学点东西。

It was not until midnight that we went to bed.

直到半夜,我们才去睡觉。

2.not…long before 很快就,不久就

It wasn‟t long before the conqured the country.

不久他们就征服了这个国家。

It won‟t be long before we finish the work.我们很快就会干完这活儿。

It will not be long before they finish the work.他们很快就会干完活儿。

（二） 否定表肯定

Cannot can never 和too, too much, enough, over 搭配表示 “无论怎样……也不会过分,越……越好”

This can‟t be stressed too strongly.这一点怎么强调也不过分”。

While you are doing your homework, you can‟t be careful enough.

你做作业的时候,越小心越好。

The development of society has made it necessary for us to have a good knowledge of Enghish, so we can‟t over emphasize the importance of learning English.

1.某些疑问句、感叹句或否定祈使句的表达与回答

例如：---You haven‟t been to Quanzhou, have you?

---No, I haven‟t. 是的，我没有去过。

比较：---Yes, I have. 不，我有去过。

又如：---Lovely day today, isn‟t it?

---Yes, isn‟t it? (降调) 是啊，真好。

Isn‟t that beautiful! (感叹) 多么美丽呀!

再如：Won‟t you have some beer?

=Why not have some beer? （邀请）请喝点啤酒吧！

---Take care and don‟t eat any more fish.

---I won‟t. 好的，我不会再吃的。

2.too…to…结构

例如：I‟m sure many firms would only be too glad to have you.

我想好多公司都会非常乐意雇佣你。

又如：The boy was too eager to get the piano. 那男孩非常想得到那架钢琴。

该结构中的形容词往往具有情感色彩，类似还有willing, ready, pleased, anxious等词。

3.cannot … too(much) 或can never/hardly…enough结构

例如：I cannot thank you too much. = I can never/hardly thank you enough.

我对你感激不尽。

此结构意为“无论如何…也不过分”。它还有几个变体的结构：用impossible, difficult

等词代替cannot；以sufficiently, exaggerate, to over-等词替代too/enough。

再如：You cannot take sufficient care. 你要特别小心。

The importance of this session cannot be exaggerated (overemphasized).

=It would be impossible to over-estimate the importance of this session.

这次会议极为重要。

4. 某些含有比较级的句子

例如：Considering she will be my wife, I couldn‟t be any happier.

一想到她将成为我的妻子，我就幸福无比。

又如：I couldn‟t agree more. 我完全同意。

三、某些说明哲理的句子

例如：It is a wise man that never makes mistakes. 智者千虑必有一失。

又如：It is a good horse that never stumbles (绊倒) . 金无足赤，人无完人。

It is a good machine that can work without power. 不论如何好的机器都需要动力。

比较：It is a wise father that knows his own child. 聪明的父亲也未必了解他自己的孩子。

四、某些短语

例如：It has caused me not a little anxiety. 此事使我相当焦虑。

比较：He's not a bit better. 他一点也没有好转。

再如：During his absence in London, I paid a visit to him.

当他在伦敦的时候，我去拜访过他。

这里absence in = presence in，而absence from London 才表示不在伦敦。

五、肯定表否定

1.某些引导词引导的从句

1）before 引导的从句，其动词常与can连用，表明该动作并未发生，意为“不等…就….”。亦表示“ 宁愿（与其）…也不…. ”。 例如：The boy rushed out before I could ask what his name was.

我还没来得及问那小孩的名字，他就已经跑出去了。

He died before he wrote a will. 他还来不及写遗嘱就死了。

再如：He will beg for food before he will ask his parents for money.

他宁可讨饭也不愿意向父母要钱。

2）since 引导的时间状语时，若从句谓语动词为持续性动词或状态动词的一般过去时，在大多数情况下，该句式表示主句的动作（或状态）是从从句的“动作或状态结束时”开始的。

例如：I have stayed at home since I was ill. 自从病愈后，我一直呆在家里。

再如：Six months have elapsed since he smoked. 转眼间他戒烟已有六个月。

比较：I have stayed at home since I have been ill. 自从生病以来，我一直呆在家里。

从句的动词用一般现在完成时，则表示从句动作或状态持续到今。

3）but 引导的定语从句时，从句表示否定涵义，but相当于关系代词“that (or who) not”。

例如：There is no one but knows it. 此事无人不知。

There was no man but thanked him. 人人都感激他。

2.某些短语或单词

1）anything but“根本不是，一点也不”

例如：Now, you can see, the battle is anything but finished.

现在，你可以看到这个战役远远没有结束。

又如：---Is the task easy?

---Anything but. I‟ll do my bit, though. 一点也不容易。但我会尽力的。

2) last “极少可能的，最不适合的”

例如：He is the last person I‟d have expected to see here. 他是我这里最不希望看到的人。

He would be the last man to say such things. 他决不会说这种话。

But Tom broke and ran and that‟s the last thing you do with a cougar.(美洲豹).

但是，汤姆脱开身来并往前奔跑，这是对付美洲豹最不应该做的事情。

3.某些交际用语

例如：People will be long forgetting him. 人们在很长时间内都会记住他的。

It is anyone‟s guess. 这是大家都拿不准的事。

For all I care! 这事我才不管呢！

六、部分否定

1.转移否定结构往往貌似一般否定结构（not的位置与一般否定结构中的 not完全相同）,实际上却是一种部分否定结构或是not由一部分转移到另一部分。

all, both和every及其合成词

例如：But not all experts agree that this is a good idea.

=But all experts don‟t agree that this is a good idea.

并不是所有的专家都认为这是个好主意。

I can afford one, but not both. 我买得起一样，但还不能两样都买。

I agree with most of what you said, but I don‟t agree with everything.

你说的我大部分同意，但并非完全都同意。

比较：All this is unimportant.

=None of this is important. 这个全都不是很重要。

I wasn‟t listening all the time.

我一时一刻也没有听。（或：我并不是所有的时间都在听。）

1）all…not

Not all bamboo grows tall.

误译:所有的竹子都长得不高。

正译:并非所有的竹子都会长很高。

这句话中,not否定的不是高,而是 all。这是一种部分否定。

更多的例子:All that glitters is not gold.发光的不一定就是金子。

2）every…not

Not everyone in our class likes football.

误译:在我们班每个人都不喜欢踢足球。

正译:在我们班并非每个人都喜欢足球。

这句话中,not否定的不是like,而是 everything。

更多的例子:This flower is not seen everywhere. 这花并不是随处可见的。

3）both…not

But you see,we both cannot go.

误译:但是我告诉你,我们两人都不能走。

正译:但是我告诉你,我们两人不能都走。

这个句子中,not否定的不是go,而是 both。

更多的例子:I don‟t want both the books.我不是两本书都要。

2.and连接相关性质的两个状语、定语或表语（肯定前半部分）

例如：Prof. Smith did not explain it correctly and clearly.

史密斯教授把它解释得正确，但不够清楚。

（或：史密斯教授没有把它解释得既正确又清楚。）

再如：The story is not interesting and instructive. 这个故事有趣，但没有教育意义。

比较：The story is not interesting or instructive.

=The story is neither interesting nor instructive.

这个故事既没有趣味也没有教育意义。

3.as well as 连接两个对等成分（肯定后半部分）

例如：We haven‟t heard from Steven as well as from Andy.

我们收到了安迪的信，但没有收到史提芬的信。

We will not go to Thailand as well as you. 你们要去泰国，而我们不去。

比较：We as well as you will not go to Thailand. 和你们一样，我们也不去泰国。

七、否定转移

1.当think, believe, suppose, imagine这一类动词引导一个否定概念时，通常将引导动词think变为否定。

例如：I don‟t think you‟ve met my wife. 你大概没有见过我的妻子吧。

2.结构句型“not…because…”中的not常常是否定because所引导的状语从句，而不是否定主句的谓语动词。

例如：They did not come to the hospital because they wanted to see me.

他们来医院不是因为要看我。

再如：Tom was not unhappy because he was unable to go there.

汤姆并不是因为不能去那儿而感到不高兴。

比较：He did not go to the lecture this morning because he was sick.

今早他没来参加讲座，因为他病了。

I did not write that letter because of what you told me.

由于你给我说了，我才没有写那封信。

（或：并不是因为你跟我说了，我才写那封信。）

再如：You should not look down upon a man because he is poor.

误译:因为一个人穷,所以你不应该看不起他。

正译:你不应该因为一个人穷就看不起他。

在这个句子里,not否定的不是后面的动词look down upon,而是because he is poor。值得注意的是,这种句型是有歧义的,我们要根据上下文排除歧义。

3.not…to

They don‟t come to see you laughed at.

误译:他们不是来看你被嘲笑的。

正译:他们到这儿来并不是要看你被嘲笑的的。

在这个句子里,not否定的不是动词 come,而是to see you laughed at。

更多的例子:He said,Now,look,I didn‟t come here to get along with you guys.You‟re going to have to get along with me.他说:“喂,老弟们,我到这儿来不是来听你们的,该是你们来听我的。”

英语否定句 专项练习

A.将下列句子译成汉语

1. One would assume that there would have been not difficulties because of cold war in applying those procedures.

2. But two systems are not necessarily identical, or even very similar, because they have some properties in common.

3. Nations do not distrust each other because they are armed, they are armed because they distrust each other.

4. I never heard of anyone making a “skeleton”, as we were taught at school.

5. He does not dominate or intimidate his staff, like Mr. Johnson, nor does he read or work like Mr. Carter.

6. All the great truths are obvious truths. But all obvious truths are not great.

7. Now, I have recalled these beginnings of the careers of Frankin, Darwin and Mozart because they strikingly illustrate a profound psychological truth the significance of which can scarcely be overestimated.

8. No necessity of making a living away from home results in neglect of children, and no father is confronted with his inability to „buy’ and education for his child.

9. His last three or four novels are not nearly so good as earlier ones.

10. The law confers innumerable rights on women and treats them with almost respect. But nowhere in practice does a woman have these rights.

11. The change which these years have brought about is too remarkable to be passed over without being noticed, too weighty in its lesson not to be laid to heart.

12. I’d no more scribble all over the first edition of “Paradise Lost” than I’d give my baby a set of crayons and an original Rembrandt.

13. It may be that when his life at last comes to an end he will leave no more trace of his sojourn on earth than a stone thrown into a river leaves on the surface of the water.

14. Any ship that crosses the Pacific is accompanied for many days by the smaller albatross, which may keep company with the vessel for an hour without visible or more than occasional movement of wings.

15. It was never intended by Nature, Hitler claims, that all races should be equal, any more than individuals are equal.

16. The fledgling stock market is not recognized by the central government, but the local authorities could not care less when there is money to be earned.

B.将下列句子译成汉语

1. All materials are not fuels which burn.

2. I dont like both of the novels.

3. Both children are not clever.

4. A man of learning is not always a man of wisdom.

5. The good and the beautiful do not always go together.

6. Both of the substances do not dissolve in water.

7. Opportunities come to all, but all are not ready for them when they come.

8. Every man is not polite, and all are not born gentlemen.

9. Not every minute difference is noted.

10. No both of them can serve the purpose.

11. Every subject is not treated in the same way.

12. All forms of matter do not have the same properties.

13. A nation can no more exist without people than a tree can grow without roots.

14. Oil does not blend with water any more than iron floats on it.

15. She is no more than an ordinary worker, but she has invented a lot of new machines.

16. A home without love is no more a home than a body without a soul I a man.

17. You are no more a general than I am a scholar.

18. Nations are not be judged by their size any more than individuals.

19. In the battle, the bandits killed were no less than twenty thousand.

20. He usually carries not less than 1,000 dollars in his pocket.

21. He left me no more than 100 dollars.

22. Our students have designed no less than five kinds of new machines.

23. This song is no less popular than that one.

24. This song is not less popular than that one.

25. Her mistakes in composition are no fewer than yours.

26. Her mistakes in the essay are not fewer than yours.

27. You can find that sort of tree nowhere but on this island.

28. Winds are nothing but moving air.

29. It is no less than a blackmail to ask such a high price.

30. It cannot be too much emphasized that the development of agriculture must keep pace with the development of industry.

31. The anonymous letter was written by none other than his son.

32. You have a better command of French than to make such mistakes.

33. He is more diligent than clever.

34．He will not be behind the bars long.

35．You don’t run away because a few people are troublesome.

36. One has to be blind not to recognize this fact.

37. Her principles are not at the mercy of the opinion polls.

38. President Bush could have come to Israel at better time.

39. Japanese leaders, however, are nothing if not pragmatic when it comes to their dealings with China.

40. Nations do not distrust each other because they are armed, they are armed because they distrust each other.

41. Koreans can no more agree on whether the changes have come too fast or too slowly than they can on what Korean democracy is or should be.

42. Her partners in Strasbourg all believe that creating a new Europe will need passion as well as paperwork. They suspect

they could no more raise a cheer from Mrs. Thatcher than squeeze a smile from a suit of armor.

参考译文

Part A

1. 人们会认为，在应用这些程序时不会因冷战的缘故而发生任何障碍。

2. 但是这两个思维系统并不因为有某些共同的特征就一定是相同甚至十分相似的。

3. 国家间并不是因为各自武装了起来才互不信任，它们是因为互不信任才各自武装起来的。

4. 我从来没听说过有哪位作家像我们在学校所学的那样先写一个什么“提纲”。

5. 他不像约翰逊先生那样控制或威吓幕僚，也不像卡特先生那样勤奋阅读和工作。

6. 伟大的真理都是显而易见的道理，但是不见得所有显而易见的道理都是伟大的真理。

7. 现在我已把富兰克林、达尔文以及莫扎特刚开始事业的情况回顾了一下。因为这些情装饰品雄辩地说明了一个心理方面的深刻真理，其意义再怎么估量也不会过分。

8. 在那里不存在必须离开家园外出谋生而导致孩子无人照管的现象，也不存在父亲无力为他孩子“购买”教育的问题。

9. 他的最后三四部小说远远不如他早期的几部好。

10. 法律赋予妇女无数权利，并给予尊重。可是在实践中她们一点也享受不到这些权利。

11. 近年来所发生的变化是极为显著的而不容有所忽视，在这上面得到的教训极为深刻，不容我们不铭记在心。

12. 我决不会在一本初版《失乐园》上乱涂乱写，就像我不会把一盒蜡笔连同一幅伦勃朗的原画交给我的婴孩让他任意涂写一样。

13. 也许他的生活一朝结束之后，他这一生在世界上不会留下什么痕迹，正如一块石子投入河中没有在水面上留下任何痕迹一样。

14. 行驶在太平洋上的船只往往一连好几天有较小的信天翁伴航，这种鸟可跟着船连续飞行一小时而不拍动一下翅膀，或只是偶尔拍动一下。

15. 希特勒宣称，上帝从不认为的有民族应当平等，正如个人不平等一样。

16. 这个新的股市虽未得到中央政府的承认，但是只要有钱可赚，地方政府根本就不在乎中央政府是否承认它。

Part B

1．能燃烧的材料并非都是燃料。

2．这两本小说我不是都喜欢。

3．这两个孩子并不都是聪明的。

4．有学问的人并不一定都是有智慧的人。

5．善和美不一定总是一致的。

6．这两种物质并不都溶于水。

7．机会是均等的，人人都有，但不见得在机会到来的时候人人都能准备好去接受它。

8．不见得人人都懂礼貌，而所有的人也不见得都是天生的君子。

9．并不是每一点细微的判别都注意到了。

10．并不是两者都适合这个用途。

11．并不是每一个题目都以同样的方法处理。

12．不是一切形式的物质都具有相同的特性。

13．一个国家不能离开人民而存在，正如树没有根不能生长一样。

14．油不能和水混合，正如铁不能浮在水上一样。

15．她只不过是一个普通工人，然而她却发明了许多新机器。

16．没有感情的家庭不成其为家，同样，没有灵魂的躯体也不成其为人。

17．你不是将军，就如同我不是学者一样。

18．国家如同个人一样，不能以大小衡量。

19．在那一战役中，匪徒死亡者多达两万人。

20．他口袋中一般总带着至少1000美元。

21．他只留给我100美元。

22．我们的学生竟然设计出五种新机器。

23．这首歌受欢迎的程度竟然不亚于那首歌。

24．这首歌受欢迎的程度不比那首差。

25．她作文里的错误和你的一样多。

26．她作文里的错误并不比你的少。

27．你只有在这个岛上才能找到那种树。

28．风只不过是流动的空气而已。

29．要这样的高价简直是敲诈。

30．农业的发展必须赶上工业的发展，这一点无论如何强调也不过分。

31．写匿名信的正是他儿子。

32．你法语掌握得较好，不至于有这样的错误。

33．与其说他聪明，不如说他勤奋。

34．他很快就要出狱了。

35．一个有眼无珠的人才会看不清这个事实。

36．你并不会为有那麽几个人不好对付就逃得远远的。

37．她的原则并不会因为民意测验的结果如何而动摇或改变。

38．布什总统此时造访以色列，可谓适逢佳机。

39．然而，在与中国交往方面，日本领导人极其务实。

40．国家之间并不是因为各自武装了起来才互不信任，是因为互不信任才各自武装起来。

41．韩国人对韩国的民主是什麽样子或应是什麽样子，看法不一致。同样，他们对变革是否来得太快或太慢， 也各执一辞。

42．她在斯特拉斯堡的伙伴们都认为，创立一个新欧洲不仅需要做设计规划的具体工作，而且还需要有一股热情。他们觉得，要让撒切尔夫人说出一句喝彩赞许的话来实难办到，犹如一副盔甲，怎麽拧它也不会笑。