摘 要:在我国高中英语教学中,否定表达是一个难关,因为否定词多种多样、用法灵活,其思路与表达形式在许多方面与汉语不同,若按字面意义翻译常常造成误解.因此,让学生深入理解否定词的分类及用法颇为必要.
关 键 词 :显性及隐性否定词;否定转移;否定句型
在高中英语教学中,否定词的学习是学生感到棘手和难以掌握的知识点,涉及到学生对双重否定、否定转移及倒装等语法点的理解和运用.所以本文主要就否定词分类及用法做一一阐释.
否定词的使用大体可分为两类——显性否定与隐性否定.前者一般借助否定词或含否定意义的句型表达,其否定含义较为直观,故称之为显性否定;后者无明显否定词,其否定含义往往要靠上下文或语境来推定,比较难以把握,故称之为隐性否定.现分述如下:
一、显性否定
1.常用否定词
(1)no,not,never,none,nobody,nothing,nowhere,neither,
nor,neither...nor,but,without,unless,but for,but that,in the absence of,instead of,short of,rather than,anything but等.
(2)由a-,dis-,il-,im-,ir-,un-,non-,anti-,mal-,under-等前缀及-less,-free等后缀合成的否定词.
(3)hardly,scarcely,barely,little,few,seldom等半否定词.
(4)oid,ban,call off,cancel,deny,deprive,escape,forbid,free
from/of,fail,hate,ignore,lack,lose,miss,neglect,prohibit,quit,refuse,rid,stop以及above,against,beyond,far from,off,out of,past和absent,bad,empty,last等可用于表达否定概念的词.
2.否定词要注意如下六个问题
(1)否定程度的强弱,说话者的态度
He is not richer than I. 他不比我富.
He is no richer than I. 他和我一样,也不富.
(2)否定句式表肯定概念
I could not feel better. 我感觉再好不过了.
I can not agree more. 我完全同意.
(3)否定转移
It doesn’t seem to be logical. 这似乎不合逻辑.
I don’t think you are right. 我认为你不对.
(4)部分倒装
In no circumstances should we be conceited. 我们绝不应该骄傲自满.
In no case can I believe him. 在任何情况下我都不会相信他.
(5)部分否定(或不完全否定)
当all,both,every,everything,everybody,everywhere,always,often,pletely,wholly,entirely与not连用时,也表示部分否定:
I do not remember all those names. 我记不得所有的名称.
Don’t always ask for help. 不要老让人帮忙.
(6)常用否定句型
①too...to...,too...for...
He is too young to go to school.
等于He is not old enough to go to school.他还不够上学的年龄.
That’s too much for me. 这我可受不了啦.
但下列句中无否定含义:
He is too ready to speak. (He is talkative.)他太爱讲话了.
I’m only too glad to help you. 能为您效劳,我高兴极了.
②stop (prevent,keep,protect,se,prohibit...)...from...
Intact skin can protect the body from being invaded by germs. 未受损的皮肤可以保护身体不受细菌侵害.
③利用虚拟语气表否定
You should (ought to) he done it better. 你本应做得更好.(还不够好)
If only he had asked for my advice! 他当初要能征求我的意见就好了!
④用before引导的从句表“来不及等,不等,未等先等,以防”等否定含义
The bell rang before I could look over my answers. 我还没来得及看一下答案铃就响了.
⑤用比较级句型表否定
I know better than to believe him. 我才不相信他那一套呢.
He is more bre than resourceful. 他勇敢有余,谋略不足.
二、隐性否定
此类否定既无特定句型,又无否定词,其否定含义多为日常交际用语或引申义,颇为费解,也最易出错,切不可望文“生译”,如:
I’ll buy it . 我答不上来(或不晓得).
Catch me making the same error again. 我决不再犯同样的错误.
I dare him to jump. 我量他也不敢跳.
You are telling me!(等于Tell me about it!)这事还用你说?
Keep it dark! 这事不可泄露出去.
从上述用法及例句可以看出,要掌握英语的否定词,必须经过认真地学习和不断地积累,只有这样,才能真正了解、掌握并熟练运用英语否定词,加强英语的语感和运用.