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never,not,seldom,hardly,little等副词包含的否定意义比较明显,将其译成汉语时,也不容易遗忘“不”字。但是,还应记住暗含否定意义的too,only,sometimes,yet,almost,nearly等。将它们译成汉语时,不一定非用否定词不可,但在理解上却不能忽视其否定意义的存在。现分述如下:

一、暗含否定意义的副词too

too...to结构意为“太……而不能”。此结构中的too隐含“太……而没益处”的意义。例如:

1.The boy is too young to go to school.这个男孩太小不能上学。

2.He is too tired to walk any farther.他太累了,不能再走更远的路了。

3.It is too dark for us to see anything.天太黑了,我们什么也看不见。

4.She is too angry to speak.她气得说不出话来。

这种结构也可以转换成so...that...not”或“not...enough to do”句式,其意义不变。如句①和句②可改为:

5.The boy is so young that he can’t go to school.→The boy is not old enough to go to school.

6.He is so tired that he can’t walk any farther→He is not strong enough to walk any farther.

too much(many/hard...)for也表示否定意义,意思是“受不了”、“吃不消”。例如:

7.This work is too much for me.这工作我吃不消。

8.The question is too hard for me.这个问题太难,我答不上来。“not too...to”意为“并不太……所以能做某事”。“too...not to do”意为“不是不……所以能……(即可能)”。例如:

9.English is not too difficult to learn.英语并不太难学。

10.The problem is not too difficult to work out.这道练习题并不太难,能够解答出来。

11.He is too careful not to notice it.他那么细心,不会不注意到这一点的。

12.He is too strong not to carry the heavy box.他那么有力气,不会搬不动那个重箱子的。

too前面加上only时,only的否定意义和too的否定意义构成双重否定。这种双重否定即表示肯定意义。only too的意思相当于very。例如:

13.We shall be only too pleased to hear from you further.我们非常欢迎你再来信。

14.The news is only too true.那消息是非常真实的。

15.I’m only too pleased to be able to get home.能够回到家,我真高兴。

too后面有ready,apt,easy等形容词时,“too ready/apt/easy too...”表示肯定的意思。例如:

16.Beginners are too apt to make mistakes.初学者容易出错。

二、暗含否定意义的副词only

only与never,seldom等一样,含有否定意义。例如:

1.You would probably do better in the test,only that he gets rather nervous.若不是他有点紧张,他可能考得更好。

2.Only for your help,I should have fallen into the river.要不是你的帮助,我就掉进河里了。

3.She loved her son and let him have his way only to spoil him.她很爱她的儿子,她儿子要怎么样就怎么样,结果倒把他宠坏了。

4.Only he has seen the film.只有他看过这部电影。(意即其他人没有看过。)

5.Only a few students can work out this difficult problem.只有少数学生能算出这道难题。(意即多数学生算不出来。)

三、暗含否定意义的副词sometimes

some和somebody,something,somewhere,sometimes同样隐含否定意义。说“Some of these books are useful”的同时也是在说“Some of these books are not useful”。因此使用这些词时,往往含有否定意味。例如:

—Do you like watching TV?你喜欢看电视吗?

—Sometimes.有时侯喜欢。(即有时候不喜欢。)

四、暗含否定意义的副词yet

副词yet后面接动词不定式时,表示未做的动作。这种肯定句式,实际上暗含否定意义。例如:

1.I have yet to hear of it.(=I have still not heard of it?)我还没有听说过此事。

2.The visitor is here just yet.(He will not be here soon.)来访者此刻还在这里。(意味着过一会儿就不在这里了)

五、暗含否定意义的副词almost和nearly

almost与nearly也是隐含否定意义的副词。例如:

1.Supper is almost ready.晚饭差不多准备好了。(实际上是说:Supper isn’t ready yet.)

2.He nearly died.他差一点死了。(意味着:He didn’t die yet.)

3.—What time is it?几点了?

—It’s nearly 12 o’clock.快12点了。(意味着:It isn3t 12 o’clock.)