否定[英語詳解]

否定[英語詳解]

否定,增添詞綴,即前綴或後綴,使原來的詞由肯定意義化為否定意義。

前綴和後綴

(Prefixes and suffixes)

增添詞綴,即前綴或後綴,使原來的詞由肯定意義化為否定意義。常用的否定前綴有ab- / dis- / il- / ill- / im- / in- / ir- / mis- / non- / un-等,否定後綴有-less / -free等,例如:

--It is abnormal for him to walk in his sleep. (夢遊症)

--This will disqualify (使…沒有資格) him from taking part in the game.

--The ship was leaky (漏) and very much disabled.

--Your remark is ill-timed.

--Every word he said was impossible of belief.

--The new evidence has completely invalidated(使…站不住腳)his theory.

--To be afraid of the number 13 is irrational.

--He bore (忍受) his misfortunes bravely.

--On the sea there were fleets of nondescript ships—converted yachts,riverboats,tugs and barges. (在海上有成批的無法歸類的船隻——改裝的遊艇、河裡的小船、拖船和駁船。)

--Such criticism is meaningless.

--The cause of the accident remains unknown to us.

--Water is incompatible (不相容)with fire.

--She is getting impatient.

--The method of working is useless.

--She is reckless of consequence. (她是不顧後果的。)

--She dislikes being spoken to like this.

--The sea is ice-free.

--He bought two bottles of wine at the duty-free (免稅) shop.

上述否定詞綴一般都表示否定,但是有時有些否定詞綴(前綴,後綴)並不表示否定。例如:

--Thank you for your invaluable (寶貴的) help.

--That nurse was indifferent (冷漠) to the sufferings of the patients.

--Oil is inflammable. (油容易燃燒。)

--Something seems to have unloosed her tongue.(不知什麼事情使她說個沒完。)

--Styles come and go,but good taste is timeless.(風格隨時在變,而風雅是永恆的。)

--He’s a shameless (無恥) liar.

--Works of art,historical monuments and priceless history records were ruthlessly destroyed. (藝術品、歷史上遺留下來的紀念品以及珍貴的歷史文獻慘遭破壞。)

注意:英語中的前綴in-,un-通常表示“不”或“…的相反”的含義,因此由其構成的派生詞一般具有否定的意義。然而,有些由這兩個前綴構成的派生詞並非有否定的意義,而與詞根同義或近義。著名學者周海中教授在《in-,un-不一定表示“否定”》一文中就舉了若干個例子,如:coming/incoming(來到),habit/inhabit(居住於),loose/unloose(解開,釋放),rip/unrip(撕開)等。這類派生詞雖然不多,但值得注意,勿望詞生義。

副詞

有些副詞本身形式上是肯定,但是具有否定的性質,因此不要再用否定詞去加強這類詞。如:hardly,seldom,scarcely,rarely,little等。這些詞一旦出現,則表示整個句子的意思接近完全否定,稱之為幾乎否定。

副詞hardly和scarcely的意思等同於almost not或almost no。例如:

--They scarcely/hardly seem to care.

--It is hardly/scarcely right.

--Hardly anyone wants the job. (Quirk.)

--I can barely speak to any of my colleagues.

注意:hardly/scarcely和not 一樣,可以與不定慣詞a,不定代詞any以及副詞yet和ever等搭配。例如:

--They hardly have any friends.

--He hardly ever leaves his office before twelve o’clock.

--He had hardly a penny left.

--They can hardly have got there yet.

要否定某件事時,使用包括否定詞not (或n’t),no,nothing,nowhere等的否定句。句子中否定詞後面的部分叫否定範圍。這部分就是需要否定的內容。否定範圍可以包括,也可以不包括句尾的狀語。例如:

--He definitely hasn’t taken the job. (It’s definite that he hasn’t)句中definitely一詞在否定範圍以外。

--He hasn’t definitely taken the job. (It’s not definitely that he has)句中的definitely則在否定範圍以內。

--They weren’t at home/for the whole day.

--(For the whole day,they weren’t at home.)

--They weren’t at home for the whole day.

--(It’s not true that they were at home for the whole day.)

在否定範圍內要使用any型詞,如any,yet和ever,anyone,anything,anywhere,at all,either。但在否定詞後也可以使用some型詞。如some,already,sometimes,somebody,something,somewhere,some-time,already,somewhat,somehow,too (表增加的副詞),但這些詞在否定範圍之外。因此在否定範圍之內的any型詞與在否定範圍之外的some型詞所表達的意思是不同的。例如:

--I didn’t attend any of the lectures (I attended none of the lectures).

--We haven’t had dinner yet.

--I didn’t attend some of the lectures (There were some lectures that I didn’t attend).

否定詞的一般作用就是使帶否定詞的句子變成否定。這就意味著帶not的否定句的某些特點,也適用於其他否

定詞

1)否定詞後面一般不用some類詞而用any類詞,這是由some類詞和any類詞的語法特徵所決定的。some一般用於肯定陳述句,any一般用於yes-no問句和否定詞後面。例如:

--I seldom get any sleep after the baby wakes up.

--I’ve spoken to hardly anyone who disagrees with me on this point.

否定詞在句首時,主語和功能詞位置要顛倒,也就是說,語序是功能詞 + 主語(除非否定詞包括在主語之內)。

在否定句中,any類詞不只跟在not或n’t後面,也跟在nobody, no,scarcely等其他否定詞後面。

Hardly/scarcely與不定代詞anybody,anyone,anything並列在一起,相當於almost not a 或almost not one 的意思。

--Hardly/Scarcely anybody believes that.

--I hardly/scarcely saw anything.

副詞seldom和rarely是not often 的意思。例如:

--I seldom get any sleep.

--Living as they do in a remote (偏遠的) village,they rarely have visitors.

2)never為否定詞,only在某種程度上也是一個否定詞。當only強調錶示主語的名詞詞組時,可與any連用。例如:

--I have never seen such a device.

--I never said such a thing.

--Only two of us had any experience in sailing.

注意:never在句中的位置和not相同,但如果never的位置放置不同,句意就不同。例如:

--He never intended to use the method. (他從來沒想使用這種方法。)

--He intended never to use the method.(他想從此不再使用這種方法了。)

以上1)和2)中的否定或有否定含義的副詞時常放在陳述句首,以表示強調,而其後所用的詞序用倒裝語序。

--Rarely does crime pay so well as many people think.

--Scarcely ever has the British nation suffered so much.

--Little did I expect such enthusiasm from so many. (Crowell)

Only強調的句首部分不是主語部分時,其後所用的詞序有時可用倒裝,也可以不用倒裝。例如:

--Only his mother will he obey.

比較:

--Only his mother he will obey. =It’s only his mother that he will obey. (Quirk)

--Only on Sundays do they eat with their children. (only修飾狀語on Sundays)

3)可以用來表示否定意義的副詞還有down,off,otherwise,out,vainly等。例如:

--He is down in health. (他身體欠佳。)

--We have the afternoon off on Saturdays. (我們星期六下午不工作。)

--He stood still,trying vainly to answer my question.(他愣愣的站著,回答不出我的問題。)

--The Labour Party was out (of power). (工黨不掌權了。)

介詞

有一部分介詞可使用在排除否定句中,即:一個句子裡有二個部分:一部分肯定,另一部分被否定;反過來也是這樣,這種否定句稱為排除否定句。例如:

--We all went but him.此句中被否定的是“他”。

--We all did not go but him.此句中的“他”處於謂語動作的否定之外。這兩句都屬於排除否定句。

but 是介詞,表示“除……外”。相當於but的還有except,excepting,barring,except for,with the exception of,but for等。例如:

--He could answer all the questions but one.

--There was nothing in the desk but a few pencils.

--Nobody knew it but me.

--It snowed everywhere yesterday but in the South.

--Who but he would do such a thing?

--All the items were discussed exclusive of (除……外) the last two.

--They passed with the exception of (除……之外) three.

--The meeting will be held next Tuesday barring unforeseen factors (如無意外情況).

--I looked everywhere except there.

--He desired nothing except (to) see cherry trees.

--I looked for the book everywhere except in the laboratory (實驗室).

--The screen was all dark save for (除了) one bright spot.

注意:but作介詞時相當於except (除……之外)。主要用在all,no- body,nothing,who,where…… 等之後(參見以上例句)。except; except for和but for三者意思不一樣,用法也不一樣。

except 作“除……之外”解,表示被排除的人或事與句中列舉的人或事物屬於同一種類。例如:

--We all succeeded except Xiao Li.

except for 作“除……外,只是……”解,表示被排除的人或物不屬同一類。句子說明基本情況後,由except for引出的人或物對基本狀況作表異議的補充說明。例如:

--The hall is empty except for a man on duty.

but for 作“要不是……”解,相當於一個條件狀語結構。例如:

--But for air and water,nothing could live.

有些介詞,暗含否定性概念,這類介詞有above,beneath,beyond,from,again,behind,below,without,beside,besides,but,inside,out-side,over,under,off,past等。例如:

--To be vain of one’s rank or place is to show that one is below it.(凡因自己的地位而覺得了不起的人,就表明他不配有這樣的地位。)

--He is above playing tricks on others. (他不至於捉弄他人。)

--Almost everything was against him.

--That’s all beside the point (不關正題).

--He is anything but (決不是) a scholar.

--They are under ten years of age (不滿10歲).

--To my mind,his integrity is above suspicion.(在我看來,他的廉潔是不容置疑的。)

--The book is above me. (這本書我讀不懂。)

--This kind of thing is beneath attention (不值得注意).

--The scene after the earthquake was beyond description.

--She only just refrained (克制) from giving a cry.

--Everyone was invited to the party besides me (除我之外).

--We have been without rain for a long time.

--The book are off (=no longer on) the shelves.

--Our car broke down again inside a mile (不到一英里).

--She is off duty now.

--The pain was past bearing (無法忍受).

--That’s outside my interests.

注意:介詞without作“沒有”解,多半作條件狀語用,也可作行為方式狀語或定語。例如:

--We can do nothing without energy. (條件狀語)

--He did the experiment without difficulty. (行為方式狀語)

--This will be a new-type automobile without any wheel.

--instead of 作“而不是”解,可以做介詞,也可以作連詞。例如:

--Instead of giving me an apple,she gave me a pear.

--The child was walking in the street,instead of on the sidewalk (人行道),but right next to the curb (路邊). (連詞)

--This is dull instead of interesting. (連詞)

動詞短語

這類短語有:fall/run short (of) (缺乏),free from,keep from,keep off,lose sight of,protect from,refrain from,save from,turn a deaf ear,make light of,warn against,prevent from等。例如:

--We have run short of rubber and wood again.

--He falls short in a number of respects in punctuality,in courtesy,and in attention to his work.

(他在守時、禮貌和專心工作等幾方面都有不足之處。)

--It is a day that frees from wind (無風).

--He kept the matter from everybody’s knowledge.

--The antibiotics (抗生素) have protected millions of people from being killed by bacteria (細菌).

--He saved the boy from drowning (淹死).

--He turned a deaf ear to my advice.

--He makes light of everything. (他把什麼都不當一回事。)

--He warned me against smoking in the library.

形容詞短語

可以用來表示否定意義的形容詞短語有:far from,far cry from (與……完全不同),free from,free of,safe from,short of,independent of,absent from,devoid of (沒有),ignorant of (不知道),innocent of (沒有),the last等。例如:

--The work is far from (being) completed.

--What he said is far cry from what he did.

--He is free from care (憂慮).

--The village is said to be free of thieves.

--They are independent of their parents.

--Some of the students were absent from class yesterday.

--She seems devoid of common sense.

--I was ignorant of the fact.

--The windows are innocent of glass.

--The last person I want to see is Jeff. (傑夫是我最不想見到的人。)

--He is the last man to accept a bribe.(他決不受賄。)

副詞短語

可以用來表示否定意義的副詞短語有:apart from,away from,out of 等。例如:

--He kept himself apart from other children.(他與其他孩子不合群。)

--Apart from the cost,the hat doesn’t suit me.(這帽子不合適,更不說價錢貴了。)

--Stay away from the fire! (不要靠近火!)

--The ancient town is out of existence.

介詞短語

用來表示否定意義的複合介詞有:but for,in the dark,in default of,in defect of,at one’s end,at fault,for fear of,in ignorance of,at issue with,at a loss,in the negative,in place of,in spite ,of,instead of,out of,in vain 等。例如:

--But for him,we should fail.

--He is still in the dark.(他仍然一無所知。)

--Cooks could make artificial birds and fishes in default of real ones. (廚師在沒有真禽真魚時,可以做出假禽假魚。)

--I used artificial flowers in defect of real ones.

--We are in complete ignorance of his plan. (我們根本不知道他的計畫。)

--We are entirely at issue with him. (我們的意見與他不和。)

--I am at a loss what to do.

--He answered in the negative.

--We may use this substance in place of soap.

--They wanted to go in spite of (儘管) rain.

--They used chopsticks instead of knives and forks.(他們用筷子而不用刀叉。)

--Out of sight,out of mind. (眼不見,心不煩。)

--I tried in vain to get any information from her.

連詞短語

可以用來表示否定意義的複合連詞有:but that,in case that,except that,excepting that,for ,fear that,or (else),rather than,save that,saving that,still less等。例如:

--Who knows but that it may be so? (誰能說不會這樣呢?)

--He would have helped us but that he was short of money at the time. (要不是他那時沒有錢,他會幫助我們的。)

--Keep silence,or else I shall stop speaking. (保持安靜,否則我就不講了。)

--They are engaged in designing an engine rather than (in) repairing the machine. (他們從事發動機的設計工作,而不是修理那台機器。)

--You should help them rather than they should help you.

--This book is difficult rather than easy for me to read.(這本書我讀起來並不容易,而是相當困難。)

--She doesn’t like music,much less dancing.

--I don’t accuse you of falsehood,still less of dishonesty.(我不會控告你的虛偽,更不會控告你的欺詐。)

--He could not operate the machine,still less could he fix it. (Wang)

--I know nothing about him except that he lives next door. (Zhan)

--He’s working hard for fear (that) he should fail. (Oxf)

--We have no news save that the ship reached port safely.

注意 still less 是用於否定句之後,less是否定副詞little 的比較級。所以,still less 比句子前一部分的否定更進一步的深入。much less 和even less 與still less 意思相同。使用still less 時,如果後一部分是句子時,後一部分必須倒裝。使用still less 時,如果句子的前半部分沒有否定詞not,雖則是否定意義時,一般不用still less,而用still more。例如:

--Proof reading is uninteresting,still more so when it is one’s own work.

使用still less 短語時,要否定的句子成分必須和前面的句子成分相對稱,rather than短語用法也一樣(如例句所示)。rather than 短語可以表示主觀願望的抉擇,即“寧願……而不……”、“不是(或不應該是)這樣,而是(或應該是)那樣”。此時,句中多半有would,had等詞;rather than短語還可以反映客觀上的差異,即表示“與其說是……不如說是……”、“倒不如說”之意。

--save that 和 saving that 作“除了”解,這是比較文氣陳舊的用法,通常用except that和excepting that。

反意疑問句

(Tag questions)

反意疑問句從結構上看,總是有兩部分:第一部分是否定結構,第二部分就用肯定結構。第一部分提出一種看法,第二部分用來質疑或者表示證實,即要求證實問句內容的真實性。前一部分總 是用降調,後一部分用升調,表示懷疑的程度較大;如果說話人堅信第一部分說的是事實,第二部分只是用來強調或證實一下,這時後面的問句就用降調。也就是說,否定的傾向就強些。反意疑問句只是證實一下提問者本來心裡已經有數的答覆,這類句子與其說是疑問句,不如說是陳述句。

a. 陳述句的謂語為否定式的反義疑問

--You won’t forget the shopping,will you?

--She never/scarcely seems to care,does she?

--Nobody was watching me,were they? (Leech)

--He doesn’t like his job,does he? (Leech)

--Your friend didn’t write you often,did he?

注意:

1)反意疑問句是加在陳述句後面的縮短了的yes—no問句。它的組成是功能詞加代詞。用什麼功能詞以及功能詞用什麼時態,取決於前面的動詞短語。代詞要重複,或回指陳述句中的主語。例如:

--The boat hasn’t left,has it?

2) 如果用像suppose這樣的動詞,主語是第一人稱,動詞後面接that分句,就會出現以下情況,例如:

--I suppose you’re not serious,are you? (不說:I suppose you’re not serious,don’t I?)

3) 在帶used to的陳述句後面,反意疑問句中的功能動詞用did。例如:usedn’t

--They used not to write to you,did they?

--didn’t use

4) 如果反意疑問句的陳述部分含有no,none,no one,nobody,never,nothing等這樣的詞,其疑問尾句是一般疑問式。例如 :

--None of your students liked the novel,did they?

--You have never been to Hangzhou,have you?

--The surgeons could do nothing for the patient,could they?

--There was nobody in the room,was there?

5) 有hardly,seldom,scarcely,barely等這樣的詞的陳述句,也作為否定陳述句對待,即其疑問尾句也是一般疑問式。例如:

--She was hardly ten then,was she?

--Mary seldom goes to the cinema,does she?

--Scarcely any wine has yet arrived,has it? (Quirk)

6) 如果句子的主語是no one,nobody,none,anybody,anyone和neither時,用代詞they作為疑問尾句的主語。例如:

--Neither of them go there in time for the meeting,did they?

--I don’t suppose anyone will get to like the film,will they?

但是如果句子的主語是nothing時,疑問尾句的主語則是代詞it。例如:

--Nothing was said about the matter,was it?

b. 否定式祈使句後的反意疑問句

在否定式祈使句後的反意疑問中,必須用肯定形式will you,這使直截了當的否定變得含蓄一些了。例如:

--Don’t do that,will you?

--Don’t throw the book away,will you?

--Don’t let’s do that,shall we?

--Don’t let him do that again,will you?

注意:在以let us開頭的否定陳述部分開頭時,後面反意疑問句用shall we。

not的位置

(Position of not)

在英語中,否定副詞not可以出現動詞(be)之後,或助動詞(do)之後,或情態動詞之後,

以對句子的謂語進行否定;也可以出如今句子中的某個成分(主語、主語補語、賓語、定語、

狀語、謂語的陳述詞等)之前,對名詞、代語、形容詞、副詞、不定式、分詞或主動詞等進行否

定;not所處的這些位置使否定句被劃分為二大類:即“一般否定句” 和“特指否定句”。下面就以這

種劃分闡明not的位置問題。

1 Not在“一般否定句”中的位置

一般來說,用否定副詞not否定謂語動詞,並通過否定謂語使全句受到否定的句子,叫做“一般否定句”。Not在“一般否定句”中有以下幾種位置:

a. not放在聯繫動詞之後

聯繫動詞有am,is,are,was,were這五種形式,not即放在這五個聯繫動詞之後。例如:

--China of today is not what it was twenty years ago.

注意:

1)在疑問句中,not與特殊動詞構成縮略式一起放在主語之前;或特殊動詞提到主語之前,not留存主語之後。例如:

--Isn’t that Teddy Thomson out?

--Is that Teddy Thomson not out?

不可以說:*Is not that Teddy Thomson out?

2)這五個形式有時也作助動詞。例如:

--We are not going to do it.

--Tom was not fooled by his friend.

3)在 there is,there are 表示存在的句型中,not否定副詞放在聯繫動詞(be)後面,there 在這裡是引導詞。not a 後面跟單數名詞,not any 跟複數名詞或不可數名詞。例如:

--There is not a moment to be lost. (分秒必爭)。

--There is not any water in the bottle.

b. 放在助動詞(do)之後,實義動詞之前。

如果句中只有行為動詞,在構成否定式時,就需在行為動詞的前面加do not (doesn’t),過去時一概用did not (didn’t)。例如:

--I don’t know why Mr. Cooper is so angry today.

--They did not steal so much.

--She does not have his letter. (她沒有收到他的信)

--I did not have breakfast this morning.

注意:

1)have 意為“有”、“具有”時,可以直接在其後加not,也可以藉助do(does,did)構成否定式。例如:

--They have not a swimming pool in their school. (英國英語)

--They do not have a swimming pool in their school. (美國英語)

Have意為“有”、“具有”以外的含義時,無論是美國英語還是英國英語,均藉助do(does,did),構成否定式。例如:

--He didn’t have a rest after lunch.

在完成時中,not放在have(has,had)之後。例如:

--They have not finished the work.

否定詞not有時直接放於行為動詞後面,而不藉助於助動詞。這是一種古舊的用法,如今多用於詩歌、諺語和比較莊重的文體中。例如:

--I know not why I am so sad.

--He,hearing this,knew not how to behave,nor how to answer her.

--We are fleet-winged men at arms; we fear not mountains or rivers deep.

有些虛擬語氣的從句,其謂語動詞的前面,沒有助動詞,只有副詞not。例如:

--The doctor suggested that my father not go to New York.

--It is important that he not give up hope because of difficulties in his work.

--It is requested that the delivery of goods not be delayed.

c. 放在情態動詞後。

情態動詞有:can,could,might,may,must,ought,need,dare,should等。例如:

--She won’t object.

--He wouldn’t stand that type of music.

--He dare not do it.

2 Not在“特指否定句” 中的位置

如前所述,not位於謂語動詞之前而否定謂語的就是“一般否定句”。英語裡還有一種否定句,它不是否定謂語,而是就句子中某個成份(如主語、主語補語、定語、賓語、狀語、謂語內的陳述詞等)進行否定,它所否定的對象可以是名詞、代詞、形容詞、副詞、不定式、分詞、動名詞或主動詞等。這類否定非謂語成分的句子,就叫“否定句”。在“特指否定句“中,not用於否定非謂語成分主要基於這兩種情況:第一是不這樣安排not,就會改變句子意義;第二是用於含有對比的敘述中。not在“特指否定句”中的位置有以下幾種:

a. not位於主語之前。例如:

--Not a soul was anywhere visible.

--Not many of us wanted the war.

b. not 位於主語補語之前。

一般來說,not位於聯繫動詞之後,否定謂語動詞be,屬“一般否定句”。然而有時,雖然位於聯繫動詞之後,卻不是為了否定謂語動詞,而是否定主語補語,屬“特指否定句 ”。例如:

--It’s not a cat,but a dog.

--His object is not to eat. (他的目的是不吃飯)

c. not位於賓語之前。例如:

--You must always remember not to become conceited. (自負)

--I can not risk not telling him.

--We felt sorry for not coming on time.

--The teacher told his students not to make such a mistake again. (否定複合賓語的第二部分)

注意:

在I think,I believe,I feel. I suppose,I expect 等引出的賓語從句中,英語習慣將從句中的否定詞not 放在主句中。這種句子形式上是否定主句謂語動詞的,實際上是否定賓語從句的。例如:

--I don’t think it’s right to make such a hasty decision.

--I don’t believe that he will come tomorrow.

--I didn’t expect you would do such a thing.

d. not位於定語之前。

--Not all the books are good.

--Not two native speakers of English speak it alike.

--Not every student can do the problem.

e. not位於狀語之前。例如:

--I went to see him off,not to meet him.

--They suffered not a little through the war.

--Not knowing his address,I did not write to him.

--Not surprisingly,he failed in the final exam

注意:

否定狀語或狀語從句時,往往將否定詞提前移到謂語中去,其意義仍然是表示否定後面的部分。例如:

--He didn’t walk across the park. (not否定across the park)

--You can’t judge a thing only by its looks. (not 否定by its looks)

--He didn’t leave college because he was tired of learning. (not 否定原因狀語從句)

--I didn’t go because I was afraid. (not否定原因狀語從句)

此句中,顯然有兩個不同的意思:第一個意思是:“我沒有去因為我害怕”;第二個意思是:“我並非因為害怕而去”。第一義,not 否定謂語動詞,屬“一般否定句”;第二義,not否定非謂語成分,即原因狀語從句,屬“特指否定句”。此歧義可以在I didn't go 之後上標上一個表示停頓的逗號而得以消除。

--I didn’t go,because I was afraid.

此句中的not,否定謂語動詞go。

f. 謂語內的陳述詞否定。

通常not否定副詞位於情態動詞後時,對謂語動詞進行否定,屬“一般否定句”;然而有時,not位於情態動詞後時,卻是對謂語中的主動詞進行否定,屬“特指否定句”,但與一般的“特指否定句”又有不同的地方,因為它的否定範圍從謂語的主動詞開始直至延伸到幾個句子成分,並且有的句子還有不定代詞any。例如:

--They may not go swimming. (=They are allowed not to go swimming.) (他們可以不去游泳。)

這是一個肯定句,謂語一半否定,即否定主動詞go,情態動詞肯定。

--You could not attend any of the lectures. (=It’s possible for you not to attend any of the lectures.)

有時一個句子包含有兩種否定:即“一般否定”和“謂語內陳述詞否定”。例如:

--I can’t not obey the order. (= It is not possible for me not to obey the order.或I have to obey the order.)

--You can’t not admire her. (=It is not possible for you not to admire her.或You have to admire her.)

全部否定

(Full negation)

全部否定是百分之百地、毫無例外地否認一個事物的存在、成立或真實性。英語句子在表示全部 否定意思時,常用以下四種形式:a. 含有“絕無”意義的否定詞(如no,none等)+ 表示肯定意義的謂語這種形式;b. 用否定謂語 + 不定代詞或不定副詞形式;c. 肯定謂語 + 含否定意義的單詞;d. all等概括詞 + 肯定謂語 + 含有否定意義的單詞。這四種形式來表達。

a. no,none等否定詞 + 肯定謂語

否定詞除no,none外,還有nobody,nothing,nowhere,neither,nor,nohow(絕不,毫不), nowise(一點也不)等。這些詞本身就是絕對否定意義,謂語雖然是肯定形式,但整個句子仍

表達否定的意義。例如:

--Nobody can tolerate this.

--No trickery can fool us.

--Neither of the sisters is here.

--The book was nowhere to be found. (Wan)

b. 否定謂語 + 不定代詞或不定副詞

not + any / anyone / anybody / anything / anywhere / either / anywise/ anyways / or / ever表示全部否定的概念。例如:

--I didn’t go anywhere this morning.

--I don’t like either of the novels.

--Anyhow I shall not go today.

--I am not taking linguistics or American literature. (Wan.)

注意:

不定代詞通常不能在否定詞的前面。例如:

--Nobody can do it.

不能說:Anybody cannot do it.

not + half 也可表示全部否定的概念。例如:

--You don’t mean half what you are saying. (你說的,根本不是你想的。)

c. 肯定謂語 + 含否定意義的單詞

--I have answered every single question,but my opponent has answered none.

--He was nowhere to be seen.

--The ship was leaky and very much disabled (不能用).

--It’s utterly impossible that you will catch the bus.

--On this hot day the sea was irresistible.(在這樣的熱天,我們無法抵禦下海的欲望。)

--This book is useless.

注意:帶否定詞綴的詞,也可表示全部否定的概念。有關常用的否定前綴和否定後綴可參考

d. All等概括詞 + 肯定謂語加上含否定意義的單詞

all,every,both等概括詞在本句型中表示全部否定。它的否定意義不是通過謂語,而是通過句子其他成分中含有否定意義的單詞表達出來。例如:

--Every result was abnormal (不正常).

--Both substances are impure (不純).

--All her fuss (大驚小怪) is unnecessary.

--All his plans came to nothing.(他的一切計畫都沒有實現。)

注意:

1) 此句型也可以通過謂語來表示否定意義,但是謂語動詞在形式上必須是肯定式,只是靠它的詞綴來表示它的否定意義。如dislike,disbelieve。例如:

--We all disbelieve in the existence of God.

--We both dislike pop music.

2) little和dream,expect,think等動詞連用時,有完全否定的意思。例如:

--Little did I dream of succeeding so well.(我做夢也未想到會有這樣大的成功。)

部分否定

(Partial negation)

部分否定是局部地或在一定程度上否定一個事物的成立、存在或真實性。在日常英語中,表示部分否定通常可以同以下四種方式表達:a. 用表示“部分”意思的some/sometimes等詞加上否定詞;b. 用否定詞not加上表示“較大數量”或“較大程度”的many/much等詞;c. 用否定詞not + 表示 “整體”、“全體”意思的all/entirely等詞;d. 否定詞與and連線的兩個並列詞語連用。

a. 用表示“部分”意思的some/sometimes等詞 + 否定詞。這種形式,可以表示部分否定的概念。例如:

--Some students are not right in answering the question.

--Sometimes you are not right.

b. 用否定詞not + many/much等詞。

部分否定也是對較大數量或較大程度的否定,因此可以用not + many / much / very much / some 來表示部分否定的概念。例如:

--There are not many books on the shelf.

--There is not much water left in the bottle.

--I don’t like classic very much.

--I don’t like some of his poems.

c. 用否定詞not + 表示“整體”、“全體”的意思的all/entirely等詞

部分否定是對全部肯定的否定,因此可以用not + all / every / both / always / fully / wholly / altogether / entirely / quite來表示部分否定的概念。例如:

--All is not gold that glitters. (是發光的並非都是黃金。)

--All the answers are not right. (答案並非全對。)

--I don’t know all of them. (對於他們我不是個個都認識。)

--Not all the students will be translators.

--Every one cannot make music. (不是所有的人都懂音樂。)

--Everybody wouldn’t like it. (並不是人人都喜歡它。)

--Not everything is attractive and interesting over there.

--Not everyone can play the violin.

--Not every man can do it.

--Both children are not clever. (兩個孩子並不都是聰明的。)

--I don’t like both of the novels. (這兩本小說我不是都喜歡。)

--Not both methods are practical.

--Such a thing is not found everywhere.

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

--We don’t wholly agree with him.

--This kind of person is never to be entirely trusted.

--Joanna was not altogether satisfied with the sailor.

--The new house is not quite what it should be.

d. 否定詞與and連線的兩個並列詞語連用

否定詞與and連線的兩個並列詞語連用時,有時只表示部分否定,即通常否定and後面的部分。例如:

--He did not speak clearly and correctly.(他不能講得清楚而正確。即:他講得清楚但不正確。)

--The lecture was not instructive and interesting.(講座頗有教育意義,但不生動。)

--I am sorry. But I simply cannot stay up night after night at parties and work the next morning. (對不起,我只是不能天天在晚會上熬夜,而第二天早上又得工作。)

注意:

1) 否定詞後用and連線兩個並列成分時,有時會出現兩種情況:要么僅否定其中的一個並列成分(多為後者),要么兩個並列成分雙雙受到否定(此時and的作用與or相同),這樣便會造成句子出現歧義。例如:

--He doesn’t have long hair and wear jeans. (他並非既蓄長發,又穿工作褲。或:他沒有蓄長發也沒有穿工作褲。)

不過這種歧義也可以通過上下文清除。又例如:

--You cannot eat your cake and have it. (諺語:魚和熊掌不能兼得。)只有一種含義:“事無雙全”。

2) 否定詞與由as well as連線的兩個並列結構連用時,否定詞只否定as well as之前的部分,而對 as well as後面的部分卻表示肯定。例如:

--I shall not go as well as you. (你去,但我不去。)

--Tom does not speak French as well as English. (湯姆說英語,但不說法語。)

雙重否定

(Double negation)

所謂雙重否定,即句子,不僅在簡單句子,也可在複合句中,同時有兩個否定詞,或一個否定詞 和一個具有否定含義的詞、短語等。這種兩次運用否定手段,起到了相互抵消否定意義的作用, 實際上是強調的肯定。這種表達方式或為了表達委婉的語氣,或為了加強整個句子的語氣,同一般的肯定句相比,更加重了肯定色彩,更富有感染作用。

雙重否定具有下列表達形式:

a. 否定詞 + 否定詞綴

1) 否定詞 + 否定前綴

例如:

--Such things have happened not infrequently.

--Nothing is unsuspected.

--But it seemed no impossibility to him.

--The tart (尖刻的) reply did not discomfort him.

--A radar screen (螢光屏) is never unlike a television screen.

2) 否定詞 + 否定後綴

例如:

--The period of waiting was not limitless.

--No cigarette is completely harmless.

(有關否定前綴和否定後綴可參照27.1.1)

b. 否定詞 + 含有否定意義的詞

1) 否定詞 + 名詞

例如:

--No one has any doubts about his ability.

2) 否定詞 + 動詞

例如:

--We must never fail to act as the doctor has told us to.

3)否定詞 + 形容詞

例如:

--No one can be free of faults.

4) 否定詞 + 副詞

例如:

--Not once did he answer otherwise. (他沒有一次不是這樣回答。)

5) 否定詞 + 介詞

否定詞 + without

例如:

--There is no rule without exceptions (例外).

否定詞 + but (for)

例如:

--Some oil wells produce nothing but salt water.

--But for your help,we couldn’t have finished the work in time.

否定詞 + except

例如:

--She doesn’t do anything except looking after her baby.

6) 否定詞 + 連詞

否定詞 + 連詞unless

例如:

--Do not come unless I call you. (我不叫你,你就不要來。)

--He will never go there unless he is invited.

否定詞 + 連詞until / till

例如:

--It was not until 1979 that I began to study English.

--He didn’t go abroad till he graduated from college.

c. 否定詞 + 否定詞

1) 完全否定詞 + 完全否定詞

例如:

--No one has nothing to eat.

--Nobody has nothing to offer to society. (沒有人不向社會貢獻的。)

--None of us have never made mistakes.

--He is nothing if not diligent. (勤勉是他的最大的長處。)

2) 完全否定詞 + 半否定詞

例如:

--He took no little pain over it. (他在這事上費了很多力氣。)

--He is not seldom ill.

--It is not rarely that they discuss the matter from all angles.

--The doctor’s achievements are nothing short of a miracle. (醫生的成就簡直是奇蹟。)

d. 否定詞 + 否定句

例如:

--No pains,no gains.

--Nothing can be wholly beautiful that is not useful. (凡是沒有用的東西就沒有可能達到十全十美。)

--He replied that there was nothing he would not sacrifice (犧牲).

含有否定詞的句子 + 否定連詞but的句子

例如:

--It never rains but it pours. (沒有一次下雨不是傾盆大雨。)

--I never see you but I think of my brother.

含有否定詞的句子 + 有否定含義的關係代詞but的句子。

例如:

--There is no rule but has exception (例外).

--No one but can do it. (沒有人不能做這件事。)

--There is not a woman but doesn’t get an eye for illness.(沒有一個女人對病痛沒有識別力的。)

--He never comes but he brings something for her.

注意:

1) but在下列例句中是否定副詞,此時but後面只能接動詞原形,即不帶to的動詞不定式,有時也

可用cannot choose/help but但是以cannot but形式最常用。例如:

--I could not but speak the truth. (我不得不說實話。)

--We can not choose but read books to increase our knowledge.

2) but that前面含有否定意義的doubt,question,wonder,deny等詞語時,but that相當於連線詞

that,不再含有否定意義。例如:

--There is no question but that the earth is round. (毫無疑問,地球是圓的。)

--I don’t deny but that he will become an outstanding teacher. (我不否認他會成為一名出色的教 師。)

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