否定转移与部分否定
三、拓展
“否定转移”是英语的常见现象。除此之外,还有下列几种情况:
1. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I know you. 对不起,我想我不认识你。
(not否定宾语从句中的know,类似用法的动词还有believe, suppose, imagine等)
2. She didn’t take an umbrella because it was raining. 她不是因为下雨才带雨伞的。(因为下雨,所以她没带雨伞。——讲不通)
(not否定原因从句,相当于She took an umbrella not because it was raining.)
3. Mary does not seem to like you.玛丽看起来不喜欢你。
(not 否定不定式like,相当于Mary seems not to like you.)
4. They didn’t come by train.他们不是坐火车来的。
(not否定介词短语by train,相当于They came not by train.)
5. I don’t find the story interesting.我发现故事没有趣。
(not否定宾语补足语interesting,相当于I find the story not interesting.)
6. ---What did you think of the film last night? ---It couldn’t be better.
“你认为昨晚的电影怎么样?”--- “好极了。”
(couldn’t是“不可能”,better是“更好”。“不可能更好”意味着“再好不过了”。当can’t 或couldn’t 跟比较级连用时,它们并没有否定谓语动词,而是否定了“比较级”,因而更加重了肯定的含义。又如:I can’t agree more. 我再同意不过了。)
7. I can’t thank you enough. 我对你真是感激不尽。
(not否定enough,意味着“感激不够”,又如:We couldn’t enjoy your meal enough. 你做的饭我们喜欢不够。)
8. We can’t praise the novel too highly. 这部小说我们怎么赞扬都不过分。
(not否定too highly,意味着“赞扬的程度不过分”。)