情态动词can对于英语学习者来说并不陌生,而cannot...这种特殊结构在英语学习过程中却经常出现,因此本文就这一特殊结构加以归纳总结。

　　cannot but, cannot help but和cannot help都可表示"不得不"的意思。一般来说,cannot but和cannot help but后接原形动词,而cannot help的后面则应接动名词。例如:

　　I could not but laugh on seeing such a funny sight.看到这样滑稽的场面,我不禁笑了起来。

　　When a friend gave Jim a ticket to the concert, he couldn't help but go.当朋友给吉姆一张音乐会入场券,他只好去。

　　I cannot help forming some opinion of a man's character from his dress.我总是禁不住从一个人的穿着来判断他的性格。

　　The little girl was so beautiful and kind that I could not help loving her.那小女孩美丽、善良,我不禁喜欢上她。

　　can but, cannot choose but和cannot... otherwise than都表示"只得,只能",前两个后面接原形动词。例如:

　　He can but admit that it was his fault.他只得承认这是他的错误。

　　She could not choose but leave her children at home.她只好把孩子们留在家里。

　　The door cannot be opened otherwise than with a key.这门不用钥匙打不开。

　　cannot... too(over)表示"无论怎样……也不过分"之意,cannot seem to则意为"看来无法……"。例如:

　　We cannot admire his courage too much.他的勇气我们怎样赞美也不过分。

　　This point cannot be overemphasized.这一点无论怎样强调都不过分。

　　I can't seem to find my glasses anywhere.看来任何地方都找不到我的眼镜。

　　I can't seem to solve it right now.看来我无法马上解决这个问题。

　　另外,还有一种特殊结构,即:could+否定词+不定式+形容词或副词的比较级,这一结构形式上是否定,意义上却强调一种肯定。并且,后面的不定式有两种形式,一种是接动词原形的一般式,另一种是现在完成式,前者表示说话者对现在事情的判断和看法,后者则表示对过去事情的判断。例如:

　　I couldn't agree more. There is far more too much sex and violence on TV.我非常赞同这一看法,电视节目中有过多的色情与暴力成份。

　　His words couldn't have been more inspiring.他的话当时非常鼓舞人心。

　　He could hardly have felt more ashamed of himself.那时他对自己的行为感到非常羞愧。

　　cannot...结构在英语学习中易于混淆,望以上归纳对英语学习者有所帮助。

　　(文/李红；英语辅导报大学教师版2003-2004学年第32期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)