谈谈英语中的“正话反说”结构  |
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大家在学习英语的过程中,想必会发现一种特殊现象:当我们表达某种含义时,有时不从正面着手,而从反面或侧面入手进行阐述,如当你要鼓励某人去做某事时,通常说:Why
not do it? 为何不做呢?其实是赞成某人去做。 英 |
新浪博客
语中这种“正话反说”结构较为常见,为便于学习掌握,笔者现将其归纳如下:
1.某些不需要回答的疑问句和能表达说话人强烈感情的疑问句,含非常明显的肯定意义。例如:
①Who does not know?(=Everybody knows.)
谁不知道?(意思是“人人都知道。”)
②Won't you come into the room?
请进屋里来好吗?
③Isn't it a beautiful lake?
那湖真美啊!
④Why not do some shopping?
干吗不去买东西?
2.否定词 + without…构成的双重否定,意为“每……必……”;“没有……就没有……”。该句型使用两个否定,用来加强语气,表示肯定意义。例如:
①I cannot see the picture without thinking of my mother.
我每次见到这张相片都想起我的妈妈。
②They couldn't have completed their task on time without your help.
有你们的帮助,他们才按时完成了任务。
③There is no smoke without fire.
无风不起浪。
3.cannot/never…too/over/enough…意为“越……越……”、“非常”、“无论怎样……也不过分”。例如:
①You cannot be too careful while driving.
开车时你越小心越好。
②He cannot see you soon enough.
他想很快见到你。
③A man can never have too many friends.
朋友越多越好。
4.否定词和其他词(语)搭配,构成的双重否定结构。例如:
①He doesn't fail to write to his parents every month.
他每月都给他的父母写信。
②There is no one but knows him.
人人都认识他。
③In that school not any lessons are held in languages rather than English.
在那个学校每门课程都是用英语讲授的。
④It never rains but it pours.
不雨则矣,一雨倾盆。
5.表示让步的“It is … that…”结构
“It is a/an + 形容词 + 名词 + that…”结构是一个特殊的习惯用语,意思是“(即使)再……的……也”。句子真正的意思与字面意思相反,即否定的形式应译成表示让步的肯定意义。例如:
①It is a good wife that never grumbles.
再好的妻子也唠叨。
②It is a long lane that has no turning.
山穷水尽疑无路,柳岸花明又一村。
6. not … until…意为“直到……才……”
在这个句型中,until可作介词,也可作连词。作介词时,后接名词、代词或短语;作连词时,后接句子。not … until…也可用于强调句型和倒装句式中。例如:
①The bus didn't leave until all the seats were taken.
直到车上坐满了乘客,汽车才开走。
②It was not until this morning that he finished the work.
直到今天上午,他才完成那项工作。
③Not until he failed did he realize what mistakes he had made.
直到失败了他才明白他所犯的错误是什么性质。
7. no + 比较级 + than…结构
用no + 比较级 + than…比较两个人或事物时,表示两者都含有消极意义,即含有与该形容词相反的属性,该结构相当于as + 比较级反义词的原级 + as,意为“与……一样”。例如:
①I regret to tell you her English is no better than yours.
我要遗憾地告诉你,她的英语与你一样差。
②Some kinds of bamboo grow no higher than your ankles.
有些竹子长得只有脚踝那么高。
8.“否定词(no/not/never/nothing…) + v. + 比较级”结构
该结构用比较级表达最高级的含义,具有强烈的肯定意义,意为“最……的”。例如:
①I couldn't agree more.
我非常同意。
②Nothing is more important than knowledge.
知识是最重要的。
③There is nothing he likes more than a glass of beer.
他非常喜欢啤酒。
9.“否定词(no/not/never/nothing…)+ v. + a/an +比较级 + 单数名词”结构该结构也从反面表示“最……的”的概念。例如:
①We have never seen a more interesting film than this one.
这部电影是我们看过的最有趣的影片。
②I've never heard a better story before.
这是我听到的最好的故事。
9.否定词 + so + 原级 + as…;否定词 + so… + as to do
该结构通过否定词与等级比较结构连用表达最高级含义,意为“最……的”。例如:
①Nothing is so valuable as health. 健康是最宝贵的。
②Nothing is so difficult as to get along with him.
与他相处最难。
10.否定词和某些词(语)构成的固定搭配,也可以表示肯定意义。例如:
①I cannot wait to read the book.
我非常渴望读到这本书。(cannot wait to + 不定式意为“急着做”。)
②We can see nothing but water.
我们只能看见水。(nothing but意为“仅仅”、“只有”。)
③She is none other than my teacher.
她正是我的老师。(none other than意为“正是”、“只是”。)
④There is nothing like reading.
读书其乐无穷。
11.其他一些“正话反说”结构的表现形式。例如:
①-What did you say?
-So you weren't listening to me.
解析:这里答话人没有正面回答刚才说的是什么,而是通过反说“(刚才我讲时),你都没有在听”对对方进行指责。
② The WTO cannot live up to its name if it does not include a country that is home to one fifth of mankind.
解析:“如果WTO不包括一个拥有世界人口五分之一的国家,那它就名不副实”,两个“不”字表明WTO应该接收这个国家(中国)。
③ Nowhere else in the world can there be such a quiet, beautiful place.
解析:该句通过反说、比较,再加上倒装句的语法效果,表达这个地方确实很美,很幽静。
巩固练习:
1. You ______ pay too much attention to your English learning, as it is so important.
A. should B. must C. cannot D. needn't
2. He has never again written ______ as his first one.
A. so good a book B. so a good book
C. a good so D. a so good book
3. John plays football ______, if not better than, David.
A. as well B. as well as
C. so well D. so well as
4.I have never spent a ______ day.
A. more worry B. most worrying
C. more worrying D. more worried
5. This pair of trousers isn't good, but that pair is ______ better.
A. rather B. hardly C. less D. even
6.-I usually go ther by train.
-Why not ______ by boat for a change?
A. to try going B. trying to go
C. to try and go D. try going
7. No bread eaten by man is so sweet as ______ earned by his own labour.
A. one B. the one C. which D. that
8.-The cake is delicious.
-Well, at least it is ______ the one I baked last week.
A. as bad as B. no worse than
C. no better D. no better than
9. It was not until 1920 _______ regular radio broadcasts began.
A. while B. which C. that D. since
10.-Do you think our basketballers played very well yesterday?
-_______.
A. They were not nervous at all
B. They were still young
C. They played naturally
D. They couldn't have done better
11.-Was his father very strict with him when he was at school?
-Yes. He had never praised him ______ he became one of the top students in his grade.
A. after B. unless C. until D. when
12.-How are you today?
-Oh, I ______ as ill as I do now for a long time.
A. didn't feel B. wasn't feeling
C. don't feel D. haven't felt
13.-Why? Where is the key to the meeting room?
-Dear me! You ______ it in the taxi.
A. had never left B. didn't leave
C. never left D. haven't left
14. I finally got the job I dreamed about and never in all my life _____ so happy.
A. did I feel B. I felt
C. I had left D. had I left
15. You can never be _______ careful in making a decision.
A. very B. quite C. too D. so
Keys: 1-5 CABCB6-10 DDBCD11-15 CDCDC
1.某些不需要回答的疑问句和能表达说话人强烈感情的疑问句,含非常明显的肯定意义。例如:
①Who does not know?(=Everybody knows.)
谁不知道?(意思是“人人都知道。”)
②Won't you come into the room?
请进屋里来好吗?
③Isn't it a beautiful lake?
那湖真美啊!
④Why not do some shopping?
干吗不去买东西?
2.否定词 + without…构成的双重否定,意为“每……必……”;“没有……就没有……”。该句型使用两个否定,用来加强语气,表示肯定意义。例如:
①I cannot see the picture without thinking of my mother.
我每次见到这张相片都想起我的妈妈。
②They couldn't have completed their task on time without your help.
有你们的帮助,他们才按时完成了任务。
③There is no smoke without fire.
无风不起浪。
3.cannot/never…too/over/enough…意为“越……越……”、“非常”、“无论怎样……也不过分”。例如:
①You cannot be too careful while driving.
开车时你越小心越好。
②He cannot see you soon enough.
他想很快见到你。
③A man can never have too many friends.
朋友越多越好。
4.否定词和其他词(语)搭配,构成的双重否定结构。例如:
①He doesn't fail to write to his parents every month.
他每月都给他的父母写信。
②There is no one but knows him.
人人都认识他。
③In that school not any lessons are held in languages rather than English.
在那个学校每门课程都是用英语讲授的。
④It never rains but it pours.
不雨则矣,一雨倾盆。
5.表示让步的“It is … that…”结构
“It is a/an + 形容词 + 名词 + that…”结构是一个特殊的习惯用语,意思是“(即使)再……的……也”。句子真正的意思与字面意思相反,即否定的形式应译成表示让步的肯定意义。例如:
①It is a good wife that never grumbles.
再好的妻子也唠叨。
②It is a long lane that has no turning.
山穷水尽疑无路,柳岸花明又一村。
6. not … until…意为“直到……才……”
在这个句型中,until可作介词,也可作连词。作介词时,后接名词、代词或短语;作连词时,后接句子。not … until…也可用于强调句型和倒装句式中。例如:
①The bus didn't leave until all the seats were taken.
直到车上坐满了乘客,汽车才开走。
②It was not until this morning that he finished the work.
直到今天上午,他才完成那项工作。
③Not until he failed did he realize what mistakes he had made.
直到失败了他才明白他所犯的错误是什么性质。
7. no + 比较级 + than…结构
用no + 比较级 + than…比较两个人或事物时,表示两者都含有消极意义,即含有与该形容词相反的属性,该结构相当于as + 比较级反义词的原级 + as,意为“与……一样”。例如:
①I regret to tell you her English is no better than yours.
我要遗憾地告诉你,她的英语与你一样差。
②Some kinds of bamboo grow no higher than your ankles.
有些竹子长得只有脚踝那么高。
8.“否定词(no/not/never/nothing…) + v. + 比较级”结构
该结构用比较级表达最高级的含义,具有强烈的肯定意义,意为“最……的”。例如:
①I couldn't agree more.
我非常同意。
②Nothing is more important than knowledge.
知识是最重要的。
③There is nothing he likes more than a glass of beer.
他非常喜欢啤酒。
9.“否定词(no/not/never/nothing…)+ v. + a/an +比较级 + 单数名词”结构该结构也从反面表示“最……的”的概念。例如:
①We have never seen a more interesting film than this one.
这部电影是我们看过的最有趣的影片。
②I've never heard a better story before.
这是我听到的最好的故事。
9.否定词 + so + 原级 + as…;否定词 + so… + as to do
该结构通过否定词与等级比较结构连用表达最高级含义,意为“最……的”。例如:
①Nothing is so valuable as health. 健康是最宝贵的。
②Nothing is so difficult as to get along with him.
与他相处最难。
10.否定词和某些词(语)构成的固定搭配,也可以表示肯定意义。例如:
①I cannot wait to read the book.
我非常渴望读到这本书。(cannot wait to + 不定式意为“急着做”。)
②We can see nothing but water.
我们只能看见水。(nothing but意为“仅仅”、“只有”。)
③She is none other than my teacher.
她正是我的老师。(none other than意为“正是”、“只是”。)
④There is nothing like reading.
读书其乐无穷。
11.其他一些“正话反说”结构的表现形式。例如:
①-What did you say?
-So you weren't listening to me.
解析:这里答话人没有正面回答刚才说的是什么,而是通过反说“(刚才我讲时),你都没有在听”对对方进行指责。
② The WTO cannot live up to its name if it does not include a country that is home to one fifth of mankind.
解析:“如果WTO不包括一个拥有世界人口五分之一的国家,那它就名不副实”,两个“不”字表明WTO应该接收这个国家(中国)。
③ Nowhere else in the world can there be such a quiet, beautiful place.
解析:该句通过反说、比较,再加上倒装句的语法效果,表达这个地方确实很美,很幽静。
巩固练习:
1. You ______ pay too much attention to your English learning, as it is so important.
A. should B. must C. cannot D. needn't
2. He has never again written ______ as his first one.
A. so good a book B. so a good book
C. a good so D. a so good book
3. John plays football ______, if not better than, David.
A. as well B. as well as
C. so well D. so well as
4.I have never spent a ______ day.
A. more worry B. most worrying
C. more worrying D. more worried
5. This pair of trousers isn't good, but that pair is ______ better.
A. rather B. hardly C. less D. even
6.-I usually go ther by train.
-Why not ______ by boat for a change?
A. to try going B. trying to go
C. to try and go D. try going
7. No bread eaten by man is so sweet as ______ earned by his own labour.
A. one B. the one C. which D. that
8.-The cake is delicious.
-Well, at least it is ______ the one I baked last week.
A. as bad as B. no worse than
C. no better D. no better than
9. It was not until 1920 _______ regular radio broadcasts began.
A. while B. which C. that D. since
10.-Do you think our basketballers played very well yesterday?
-_______.
A. They were not nervous at all
B. They were still young
C. They played naturally
D. They couldn't have done better
11.-Was his father very strict with him when he was at school?
-Yes. He had never praised him ______ he became one of the top students in his grade.
A. after B. unless C. until D. when
12.-How are you today?
-Oh, I ______ as ill as I do now for a long time.
A. didn't feel B. wasn't feeling
C. don't feel D. haven't felt
13.-Why? Where is the key to the meeting room?
-Dear me! You ______ it in the taxi.
A. had never left B. didn't leave
C. never left D. haven't left
14. I finally got the job I dreamed about and never in all my life _____ so happy.
A. did I feel B. I felt
C. I had left D. had I left
15. You can never be _______ careful in making a decision.
A. very B. quite C. too D. so
Keys: 1-5 CABCB6-10 DDBCD11-15 CDCDC