问
Until lately, not even the best pigeons would fly at night. (RL, 111B, Book 2, p. 55)
如何理解句中的 not even?
答
not even 放在主语之前,会使主语成为信息焦点(语意重心),但 not 不是否定主语的,而是否定全句的。
- Not even he protested.
甚至他也没有反对(连他也没有反对)。
- To his immense credit, not even I realized that something was wrong. (Hillary, Living History)
由于对他的完全信任,甚至我也没有意识到出了差错。
你提问的句子似可译为：
直到不久之前，甚至最优良的鸽子也不能在夜间飞行。
not even 有时也可以否定某个句子成分：
The baby couldn't walk, not even crawl. (CGEL)
这个婴儿不会走路，甚至连爬还不会呢。
练习
The teacher explained the point a second time, but ____ everyone understand.