英语中有些句子，形式上看似否定，但表达的是肯定含义，还有些句子，形式上看似肯定，但却表达否定意义；若英语学习者只拘泥于表层结构，就会出现理解偏差，产生误解。所以我们在读文章时要翻译出它们相应的准确含义，通过现象看到其本质。

　　一、否定形式表肯定意义

　　1. Can not (hardly, never)...too (over, enough)=It is impossible to do something

　　You can't be too careful while driving. 开车时越小心越好。

　　We can hardly wait to see her. 我们渴望见到她。

　　2. 否定词but

　　在否定词后面，but都含否定意义，所以和前面的否定词构成双重否定，表肯定。

　　①No one believes but he will succeed. 人们相信他会成功。(没有人相信他不会成功)

　　试比较：

　　There is no one who knows him. 没有人认识他。(否定)

　　There is no one but knows him. 人人都认识他。(肯定)

　　②It never rains but it pours. 不下雨则已，一下就是倾盆大雨。(谚语：祸不单行)

　　3. nothing but

　　在此结构中，nothing可换成none, nowhere等否定代词，but可换成other than。

　　The children want to do nothing other than watch TV. 孩子们只想看电视。

　　You can find this kind of animal nowhere but in Africa. 你只有在非洲才能看到这种动物。

　　None but a fool would do such a thing.只有傻瓜才会干这样的事。

　　4. 否定词+比较级

　　这种结构相当于最高级，表达肯定意义。

　　I couldn't find a better one. =This is the best one I can find. 我再也找不到比这更好的了。

　　There is nothing he likes more than music. =He likes music most. 没有什么可以比得上他对音乐的喜爱了。

　　5. 否定词+without

　　There is no smoke without fire. 有烟必有火。

　　6. 否定词+until / unless

　　You'll never succeed unless you work hard. 只有努力你才能成功。

　　7. 否定疑问句

　　Who does not know it? 谁不知道这事儿啊？

　　Didn't I tell you to close it? 我跟你说过要关上它吗？

　　二、肯定形式表否定意义

　　1. more than...can

　　This is more than I can tell. 这件事我是不能讲的。

　　He has bitten off more than he can chew. 他承担了力所不能及的事。

　　2. more...than

　　He is more angry than frightened. 他不是害怕，而是生气。

　　3. anything but 意为“根本不……，决不……”

　　The bridge is anything but safe. =The bridge is not safe at all. 这座桥一点都不安全。

　　4. before也可表否定，意为“不等……就，尚未……就，宁愿……也不”

　　Someone called me up in the middle of night，but they hang up before I could answer it. 有人在午夜的时候给我打电话，但我还没接，他就挂断了。

　　He would die before give in. 他宁愿死也不屈服。

　　5. 在疑问句中，有时肯定形式表示强烈否定

　　Who knows? =Nobody knows. 谁知道啊？

　　Who would have thought of that? 谁会想到那去啊？

　　相关练习：翻译下列句子。

　　1. He is anything but a professor.

　　2. She never does more work than she can help.

　　3. Don't get off the bus until it stops.

　　4. A man can never have too many friends.

　　5. She fell into the river before she knew it.

　　6. I never see you but I think of my mother.

　　7. Nothing is more valuable than health.

　　8. He is more hardworking than clever.

　　(文/汪花； 英语辅导报新课标高一版 04~05学年度第21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。)