（1）“Do you travel much?”
“Not more than I can help by sea.”(《灵格风英语教程》, p. 79)
(2) Don't tell him more than you can help. (Mis)
这里 can 和 help 的含义很不好理解。
can't (couldn't) help 的含义想必你已经很熟悉了(参见 can't help)。这里的 can help 就等于 can't help(不能避免,没有办法避免)。这样说,一定令你很惊讶,但这是事实! as little as you can help 的意思恰好是 as little as you can't help。这种用肯定形式表示否定内容的用法,虽然曾遭到过某些语法学家的指责(他们认为这种用法是不合逻辑的),但现已固定下来,并被广泛使用。下面是一些实例及其汉译:
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I shan't stay longer than I can help. (Mis) 我停留的时间将尽量少。
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He never does more work than he can help. (LDCE) 他从不多做工作。
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Don't spend more money than you can help. 能不花的钱, 就不要花。
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I shall not work any harder than I can help. 我不会工作得过分辛苦。
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She made as little noise as she could help, but she still woke up the baby. (RWRT) 她尽量不出响声，但是，她还是把婴儿吵醒了。
611 help sb. do sth./help sb. to do sth.
不难看出,上面各句中的 can (could) help = can't (could't) help。more than you can help = more than you have to = more than is necessary。