否定结构
1 关于 not 是否多余的几个问题
1 关于 not 是否多余的几个问题
有一读者问：
(1)The British Prime Minister asked if a new Polish government might not be formed at Yalta.
(2)Matthew began to wonder if he hadn't better vote Grit at the next election.
(3)I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't try to blackmail you.
(4)I shouldn't wonder if the whole thing didn't seem rummy to you.
(5)If it isn't my old friend Bob Thomson—what a coincidence!
(6)Shucks! If that man ain't always showing up like a bad cold.
(7)What have we not suffered?
(8)How often have we not seen him?
这些句子中 if 之后的 not 是多余的吗？
有人可能将例（1）与例（2）之类的句子里 if 后的否定词 not 看作是多余的，但这里的 not 并非可有可无。实际上有无 not 在意义上有很大的不同。有 not 则全句表示肯定，没有 not 则全句表示疑问。试比较：
(9)She asked whether he couldn't help.（实质上意谓：她认为他能帮忙）
(10)She asked whether he could help.（表疑问，句末可加 or not, 全句意谓：她问他是否能帮忙）
请注意在例（9）与例（10）之类的句子中除常可用谓语动词 ask, wonder, doubt 等外，还可用 see, consider, discover 等，如：
(11)I just thought I would come to you to see if you couldn't （或 could）help find Joyce.
(12)He considered whether it wouldn't （或 would）be wiser to go to his room and look himself in.
(13)Let's catch them and discover if there aren't （或 are）more of them.
例（3）与例（4）属于一类。在这一类句型中， if 从句中的 not 的确是一种所谓的 “多余否定”，或是一个虚词，可以省去而意义不变。曾经有人反对这里用 not，但由于已积重难返，所以仍不鲜见，但迄今似乎仍不能登大雅之堂，只用在非正式的口语中。
读者可能会问：这种多余的 not 是如何产生的呢？有的语法家认为它源自形式上否定实义上肯定的否定疑问句，如：
(14)Are you not Mr. Smith? （实义= Are you Mr. Smith?）
我们认为这种看法是很有道理的。许多用否定形式表肯定的语言现象皆源于此。它之所以为人们所爱用，想是由于否定形式的语气更强于肯定形式的缘故。但也有人认为 not 在此表示一种但愿不是如此的愿望。
例（5）与例（6）共用一种句型，这种句型也只用于非正式的口语中。这里的否定也表示肯定，但都不可省去否定词 not。 这里的 not 实际上是表示一种较强烈的感情。例（5）的实义是：原来是我的老朋友鲍勃·汤姆森——多么巧啊!例（6）的实义是：真讨厌，那个人总是像重感冒一样缠着我。
请注意，这种句型皆用一般时态，如用虚拟时态，则其意义就大不相同了。比如若将例（5）改为：
(15)If it hadn't been my old friand Bob Thom son...
其意就变作：如果不是我的老友 Bob Thomson 的话……
例（7）与例（8）属于否定疑问感叹句。这种句子可以省去否定词 not 而意义不变。但似乎不能说 not 在此是多余的。因为用了 not 与不用 not 的语气并不相同，否定结构的语气显然要更强一些。这种否定结构比较常见，下面一些句子皆属此类：
(16)Who doesn't know that?
(17)Isn't he stupid?
(18)What wasn't my surprise!
(19)How many times had she not sat there, in white frocks, her hair hanging down as now!
关于上面所述的修辞性疑问句的来源，据一位美国著名语法家说，是由一个感叹句与一个疑问句混合而成。具体到例（19），他认为即是由感叹句：
(20)How many times she had sat there!
和疑问句：
(21)Had she not sat there many times?
混合而成的。
最后，请看几个有争议的句子：
(22)He couldn't sleep, not even with a sedative.
(23)I wouldn't let you touch me, not if I was starving.
(24)I didn't like to, not after what happened.
这种句子中的两个否定词可能是我们常说的双重否定 （double negative)，也可能是这种句子的后一部分是一种省略结构（如例[22]的 not even with a sedative = I could not even sleep with a sedative）; 也可能是多余否定，即 not 在此是多余的（如也可以说 He's never creative, even by mistake）。
2 a lot of不可用在否定结构中吗？
有一读者问： 有人说a lot of不可用在否定结构中，对吗？
a lot of多用于肯定结构，但在当代英语中，也可用于疑问句和否定结构，如：
(1)Were there a lot of questions after the lecture?
(2)I haven't got a lot of patience with hypochondriacs!
但有一位英国语法家说，a lot of虽可用在否定结构中，但多用于强调否定或否认的场合。另外，我们也常遇见这样的对话：
(3)— Do you smoke?
— Not a lot .
顺便说一下，a lot of现在在英语中虽然极为普通，但仍常用在非正式文体中。在正式文体中，我们则应避免使用。
3 关于否定词not的位置
有一读者问：高级中学课本英语第二册上有一句 She had not been married many weeks when that man's younger brother saw her and was struck by her beauty. 译文大意为：“她结婚不到几个星期，那个人的弟弟就见到了她，为她的美貌所打动。”显然not是否定状语many weeks的。是否可把句子改写为she had been married not many weeks when...?
英语中否定结构里的not，即使表示部分否定，习惯上也可置于谓语之中。据一位语言大师说，这是由于人们早想知道你说的话是肯定还是否定的缘故。not放在many之前也不算错，但不甚合乎习惯。
4 一些否定结构之比较
有一些否定结构值得比较一下：
1. 试比较：
(1)He is not better.
(2)He is not any better.
(3)He's no better.
句（1）的意思是“他不见好”或“他并不比较好”。句（2）与句（1）同义，但语气较强。句（3）的含义是“他一样不好”。
2. 试比较：
(4)Why aren't you careful?
(5)Why don't you be careful?
句（4）表经常，句（5）表一时。
3. 试比较：
(6)She isn't happy.
(7)She is unhappy.
句（7）的语气强于句（6）。
4. 试比较：
(8)I have no books on agriculture.
(9)I haven't any books on agriculture.
句（8）中 no 的语气不及句（9）强。
5. 试比较：
(10)He did not speak a word.
(11)He spoke not a word.
(12)He spoke never a word.
句（10）一般是中性说法，无强调意义。句（11）的 not a word 的语气较强。句（12）中的 never=not，是口语用法，其语气并不比 not 强。
6. 试比较：
(13)Don't talk.
(14)Don't be talking.
句（13）的意思只是单纯的命令“不要讲话”，句（14）则有持续的含义，意味着“不要再讲话了”。
5 再谈否定结构的几个问题
从一些读者的来信中，我们获悉他们常常对英语中的一些否定结构感到困惑。我们认为这是可以理解的，也是很自然的。其原因至少有二：一是英语中表达否定的方式往往与汉语不同；二是我国出版的英语课本和语法书对否定问题一般都似乎语焉不详，有些问题甚至没有涉及。由于篇幅的限制，我们在这里只谈几个较为普遍的问题。
第一个问题比较简单，但并非微不足道，即下面两个句子中的两种不同的否定形式有何不同：
(1)He isn't working.
(2)He's not working.
上述两句中的否定形式都是正式英语 is not 的缩略式。例（1）缩略了 not，例（2）缩略了 is。这两种否定形式都为人们所用，但一般说来，例（1）中的否定式 isn't 要比例（2）中的否定式 's not 普遍，但后者的语气要比前者强。有些地方的人更多用例（2）中的否定式，这里就不细说它了。
第二个问题是关于副词 not 的位置的。具体地说，为什么下面一句中用 know not 而不用 do not know:
(3)I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.
我们现今所用的 “do + not + 行为动词（原形）”否定结构并非自古而然。它是自14 世纪以来才逐渐为人们所用。在这种否定结构占有统治地位之前，在相当长的一段历史时期内，和 be 与 have 一样，行为动词也大都用的是“动词 + not” 否定结构。直到18世纪以后，这种“行为动词 + not”否定结构才完全让位于“do not + 行为动词”结构。上述例（3）乃是摘自美国著名政治家帕特里克·亨利（Patrick Henry 1736-1799）一篇演说中的名句。这篇演说发表在美国革命时期，那时“行为动词 + not”结构还较普遍。当今，这种结构则只用在古雅的诗文中，再如：
(4)I doubt not but that some day you too will read it.
(5)The sun sank lower and lower; and still Sandy stirred not .
(6)They heeded not the largest and longest of the oaths that were thrown at them from all directions.
(7)Oh, what know they of harbours that sail not on the sea?（know they 也是较古的用法，= do they know）
但 seem not 仍在当今英语中使用，并不古旧，如：
(8)He seemed not to mind.
然而，如细加辨别，它还是较下一句中的 did not seem 文气：
(9)He didn't seem to mind.
第三个问题也是关于 not 的位置的：
(10)Does not your daughter intend to favor us with her society?
在这一句中，为什么将 not 置于主语部分 your daughter 之前，而不是按语法规则置于其后？
疑问句中的“do + not + 主语”结构现今也有点古旧，不大常用了。在当代英语中，它多被“do + 主语 + not”或“don't + 主语”结构所代替。和上面讲过的“行为动词 + not”一样，它也是一种历史遗留下来的东西。原来正式英语结构“do + 主语 + not”并不是一下子缩略为非正式英语结构“don't + 主语”的，其间有一个过渡。“do + not + 主语”即是这种书面上的过渡形式。再如：
(11)And what about “the hundred best books”: does not “the” belong to “books” here?
同样，也可以用“be + not + 主语”结构，如：
(12)Is not the latter both ambiguous and impertinent — and just a little cheap?
(13)Is not Bagarag really the discoverer, the scientific man, the philosopher with a great desire to benefit other men, ...?
第四个问题是否定词 not 到底否定什么？它否定全句，还是否定句子中的一部分？有时是否会有歧义？
这个问题较大，但很重要，有普遍性。请先看下面两个句子：
(14)Many of us didn't want the war.
(15)Not many of us wanted the war.
例（14）中的 not 所否定的是什么呢？它显然不是仅仅否定谓语动词 want，而是否定 Many of us wanted the war 这一全句。例（15）中的 not 否定的是什么呢？它显然不是否定一个全句，而是否定 many of us 这一特定部分。
从上述两个例子中，读者可能会觉得：这个问题很简单，如将 not 置于助动词 do 之后，not 即是否定全句，如将 not 置于特定部分之前，即是否定句子中的特定部分，这有什么难呢!
将否定词置于特定部分之前来进行否定，诚然比较简单，再如：
(16)Not everyone likes this book. （not 否定 everyone）
(17)He paid not a penny. （not a = not even a, not 否定 a penny）
(18)I found myself not very well. （not 否定 very well）
但如将否定词置于谓语动词中的 be, have, do 等词之后就不简单了。先请看下面一例：
(19)It's not a cat, but a dog.
在这个例子中，否定词被置于谓语动词 is 之后，但它显然并不否定全句（即 It's a cat）， 而是否定特定部分 a cat。 再如下面一些句子中的 not 一般也表部分的否定：
(20)He didn't walk across the park. （not 否定 across the park）
(21)Li Chong （a storekeeper）did not stand between the whiskey and the customer without reason. (not 否定 without reason)
(22)I won't say more than I know. （not 否定 more than I know）
(23)You can't be too careful. （not 否定 too careful）
位于谓语动词中的 be, have，助动词（包括情态助动词在内）之后的 not 既然又可否定全句，又可否定句子中的一部分，那么，二者岂不容易混淆起来，产生歧义？是的，确实可能有歧义，尤其在书面语中，如：
(24)I didn't go because I was afraid.
这句话显然可能有两个不同的意思：第一个意思是：“我没有去，因为我害怕”；第二个意思是：“我并非因为害怕而去”。如属第一义，否定词 not 即否定全句；如属第二义，否定词 not 即否定特定部分 because I was afraid。 在口语中，一般倒是不会产生歧义的。因为如属第一义，说话人就会在 I didn't go 之后有一停顿；如属第二义，说话人就会把整个句子一口气说下去，中间没有停顿。但如在书面语中遇到即使从上下文也弄不清的这样的句子，那就要看作者的写作态度了。如果作者的态度不够严谨，那么这种句子就会产生歧义。如果作者的态度是严谨的，一丝不苟的，那么这种句子就应该属于第二义。因为，如属于第一义，一位严谨的作者就会在 I didn't go 之后标上一个表示停顿的逗号，全句即应变为：
(25)I didn't go, because I was afraid.
这里，让我们引用一个与上述例子相仿的例句：
(26)I did not go out, because of rain.
这个例句是摘自一著名英语学者的一本有关词汇语法的书，如果否定词 not 是否定主句而不是否定从句的话，说明严谨的作者是不会忘记在 I did not go out 之后标一逗号的。
从上述例句可以看出，否定特定部分的否定词都是置于特定部分之前的。但说来也很有趣，否定词偶尔却也可以置于其所否定的特定部分之后，如：
(27)Indoors, we couldn't hear ourselves speak.
你看，在这里否定词 not 不显然是否定 indoors 吗？
最后，你可能会问，否定特定部分的否定词为什么可以放在句子前头即 be, have 以及助动词之后呢？对此问题，有一位语法大师回答道：这是因为听者或读者要尽早地明确知道一个句子是肯定还是否定的缘故。
6 谈 other than 在否定结构中
不定代词 other 是一比较形式，所以常可后接连词 than，构成一固定词组 other than。这个固定词组常用于否定结构，如 no other than, none other than, nothing other than, not...other than 等。这些说法都似乎比较文气。
no other than 的意思是“正是，就是”，常用来表示惊讶，可后接一人的名称，如：
(1)It was no other than the King.
(2)The thief was no other than his own son.
亦可后接一非人的名称，如：
(3)It is no other than this.
(4)It is very plain to me that this country of Vinland, as they called it, was no other than a part of the northern coast of China or Japan.
no other与than 之间有时可有一名词，这时 than 就相当于“除去”，如：
(5)I have no other friend than you. （在古体中可用 but 代替 than）
(6)They reread every page with no other purpose than to pass the time.
no other 亦可单独使用，但似乎有点古旧，如：
(7)Yes, my child. I wanted a tender word, and could think of no other .
(8)She was like no other ; more than ever like no other .
none other than 的意思和 no other than 一样，也表示惊讶，但更常后接一表人的名称，而且据一位美国语法家说，是较为精美的语言，如：
(9)He had no son. His heir was none other than William Pitt, then Prime Minister and Chancellor of Exchequer.
(10)The man who had sent the flowers was none other than the man she had spoken to the night before.
none other than 有时亦可后接一非人的名称，如：
(11)The purpose of these bases can be none other than a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere.
注意下面句中用 but 也是古体：
(12)Sir, this is none other but the hand of God.
none other 和 no other 一样，亦可单独使用，如：
(13)— It's none other than Tom! We thought you were in Africa! Can it really be you?
— None other !
nothing other than 与 nothing but （仅仅）同义，只是较为文气而已。它自然常后接一非人的名称，如：
(14)The signal could mean nothing other than a halt to the advance.
(15)The FBI man's miraculous return to the top step could have been attributed to nothing other than sheer levitation.
other than 作“除外”解时可与否定词 not, no, nothing, never, hardly 等连用，但不常紧连在一起。这种结构比较普通，其中的 other than 可后接名词、副词、带 to 或不带 to 的不定式等，如：
(16)I don't have a thing with me other than this coat. （other than 与 not 连用，后接名词）
(17)No one other than the minister arrived. （other than 与 no 连用，后接名词）
(18)There was nothing we could do other than wait. （other than 与 nothing 连用，后接不带 to 的不定式）
(19)I have no time to read the books other than cursorily. （other than 与 no 连用，后接副词）
(20)She never discussed it with anyone other than Derek. （other than 与 never 连用，后接名词）
(21)There's no choice other than to reopen his case. （other than 与 no 连用，后接带 to 的不定式）
最后，请注意下面一些句子中的 other，与其说它是不定代词，不如说它是副词，等于 otherwise:
(22)I can do no other than smile.
(23)She seldom appears other than happy.
(24)She can hardly be other than annoyed about it.
(25)We cannot pretend to be other than we are.
(26)They couldn't have done other than we did.
7 not 与数量词连用时的含义
否定词 not 与数量词连用时有种种不同的含义，现分别述说如下。
not 与数量词连用时常等于 less than （不足，不到），如：
(1)The hill is not two hundred feet high.
(2)The taxi was not five yards away.
(3)Father brought the paper home from Bright River not ten minutes ago.
not 与数量词连用时有时却等于 more than （多于，不止），如：
(4)The old lady was not eighty years old, but ninety when she died.
(5)— How often have you been here before?
— Not once or twice. （= several times）
由于 not 与数量词连用时具有不同的含义，所以当它与同一数量词连用时亦可能有不同含义，试比较：
(6)He doesn't spend ￡200 a year.
(7)He doesn't live on ￡200 a year.
句（6）中的 not 显然意味着“不到”，因为 not 在此否定 ￡200。句（7）中的 not 则意味着“多于”，因为 not 在此否定 live，全句的意思显然是“他只靠一年 200 英镑是生活不了的”。下面一句与句（7）相似，not 亦否定动词：
(8)Rome was not built in one day.
上面所说的数量词皆表一定的数。not 与表不定数量的数量词连用时也可表“不足”与“多于”。表“不足”者如：
(9)Not many people die of TB now.
(10)He tried not to drink much wine.
(11)She hasn't enough sense to realize her mistakes.
但当 not 与 a few 或 a little 连用时，情况则较为特殊。它不仅表“多于”，而且表“远多于”或“绝非”，如：
(12)Not a few people came to the concert even though it was a stormy night. （not a few = a good few 或 quite a few [相当多]）
(13)He lost not a little money in gambling. （not a little = almost much [相当多]）
试比较：
(14)He drank not a little of the wine.他将那酒喝了许多。
(15)He drank not a bit of the wine.那酒他一点儿也没有喝。
not 与 half 连用时也比较特殊。它可以表示 not at all （一点也不，根本不），如：
(16)You can't half swim.你根本就不会游泳。
(17)It wasn't half cold there in the night. （not half cold = 一点也不冷）
(18)I don't half like it. （not half like = 一点也不喜欢，或压根儿就不喜欢）
但 not half as...as...则意谓“不及……的一半”，如：
(19)Tom is not half as hardworking as Mary.
然而在英国俚语中，not half 却可意谓 extremely （非常），如：
(20)I wasn't half glad to see him.
(21)She did not half cry. 她嚎啕大哭。
(22)— Do you like beer?
— Oh, not half ! 啊，太喜欢了!
在上述情况中，总的说 not 不是意谓“不足”，就是意谓“多于”，那么，是不是有 not 既不等于“不足”亦不等于“多于”的情况呢？答案是肯定的，如：
(23)The train doesn't start at seven. （not = either before or after）
(24)— When is dinner?
— Not for two hours. 还得两个小时
最后，我们谈一下 not one 或 not a （a 在此是一古老的等于 one 的数量词）。not 在此并不意谓“不足”或“多于”，而是相当于 not even， 其语气较 no 强，如：
(25)Not a word was spoken. （not a word 的语气强于no word）
(26)Not a man answered. （not a man 的语气强于 no man）
(27)— How much did this cost?
— Not a penny! （= Nothing）(not a penny 的语气强于 nothing)
not even a 的语气自然更强，如：
(28)They had no Western products, not even a gun.
用样也可用 single 加强语气，如：
(29)Not a single house was left standing after the earthquake.
not one 与 not a 同义，但稍有不同，前者一般须用在一定的范围之内，如：
(30)Not one of them can do it.
not one 可单独使用，not a 则不可，如：
(31)Not an original house remained, not one .
顺便提及，not = not even 的情况在英语里是相当普通的，除 not a 与 not one 之外，还有如：
(32)I haven't the remotest idea.
(33)She isn't remotely interested in what you're saying.
注意下一句中的 not...a dog 也等于 not...even a dog，但 a 在此是不定冠词，不是数量词：
(34)It's not a night to turn a dog from the door.
8 not 不可置于动词原形之前吗？
有一读者问： not 不可置于不带 to 的不定式之前吗？
not 不可置于不带 to 的不定式（或简称作动词原形）之前，对初学者来说，也许不失为一条规则。但如笼统地不加区别地这样说，就不符合事实了。请先看下列句中的分裂不定式：
(1)There can be nothing to not talk about between you and me, dear mother.
(2)I always figured somebody would come along with the brains to not leave education to a lot of bookworms.
(3)He can order the most god-awful atomic strike, but he cannot order a local cop to not make an arrest.
宾语从句中的现在虚拟式（即动词原形）之前用 not 的情况更是屡见不鲜，如：
(4)They insisted that we not eat meat.
(5)It is essential that this mission not fail .
(6)A US official, speaking on condition he not be identified, said Balaoui took note of Pelletreau's views and told him he would pass them on to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. （但亦可说 be not）
当然，在英国英语中，上述三例中的 not 之前是常用 should 的。
此外，还有一些其他类似的情况，如：
(7)Let's not speak any more. （当然更常说 Don't let's speak any more.）
(8)I can't not go.
9 否定词只可置于现在分词短语之前吗？
有一读者问：在现在分词短语的否定结构中，否定词只可置于现在分词形式之前吗？
按照语法规则，不论是现在分词一般式引导的短语，或是其完成式引导的短语，如是否定结构，皆须将 not 置于整个现在分词短语之前，如：
(1)Not knowing what to do, she applied to me for advice.
（not 置于现在分词一般式 knowing 引导的短语之前）
(2)Not having done it right, I tried again. （not 置于现在分词完成式 having done 引导的短语之前）
几乎所有的英语语法书都是这样规定的。一般说来，这样规定无疑是正确的。但是，正如我们常说的，没有规则是没有例外的 (There is no rule without exception)， 因而上述规则也有例外情况。例如我就看到过这样一个句子：
(3)There he stood looking after the vanishing carriage and knowing not what to do.
你看，这里的分词短语 knowing not what to do 中的 not 就不是位于现在分词 knowing 之前，而是位于其后。你可能认为那么如何解释 knowing not...呢？我们在本书题为《再谈否定结构的几个问题》一文中的第二个问题中曾举过一例如下：
(4)I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.
这里的 know not 就是可以用 knowing not...的依据。当然，正如 know not 现在只用于较为古雅的英语中一样，knowing not...也同样如此。
如果说上面所引的 knowing not what to do 这样的分词短语是较为个别的话，“having not + 过去分词”所引导的分词短语就不是个别的了，现举几例如下：
(5)Malina Patel went softly away, having not spoken a word.
(6)“Having not finished his coaching programme,” said his wife, “he would rather work on in hunger.”
在英国名著《佩皮斯日记》（Samuel Pepys' Diary ）中也有“having not + 过去分词”引导的短语，如：
(7)This morning...I rose, put on my suit with great skirts, having not lately worn any other clothes but them.
可见“having not + 过去分词”引导的现在分词短语是客观存在，是抹煞不了的。所以我们应当承认现在分词完成式引导的短语中，not 既可置于 having 之前，亦可置于 having 之后，只是前者更为常见，后者有点古旧罢了。
与 not 基本上一样， never 也可置于having 之前或其后，如既可说：
(8)Never having seen him before, I, of course, didn't recognize him.
也可说：
(9)Having never seen him before, I, of course, didn't recognize him.
但根据美国著名语法学家乔治·寇姆 （George O. Curme)的巨著《英语句法》 （Syntax ）说，例（9）要比例（8）普通。不过，也有人爱用“never having + 过去分词”结构，因而这也似乎是一个个人偏爱的问题。也有人认为 never 如出现在 having 之前，则是强调 having，如出现在 having 之后，则是强调 never。还有人说 never 置于 having 之前，其语气要强于其置于 having 之后。这真是仁者见仁，智者见智。但 never 和 not 确是并不完全一样。比如说，“having not + 过去分词”引导的分词短语就远不及“having never + 过去分词”引导的分词短语普通，而且后者也没有古旧的色彩。
10 not he 是什么结构？
有一读者问：有这样一段对话：
(1)— Will he come?
— Not he.
问 Not he 是什么结构？
Not he 在此是一种省略结构，其原本结构是 No, he won't。但其语气较强，可以意谓“他才不来哩”。再如：not 可用于许多省略结构。另如：
(2)— Will he come?
— I think not . （= I think he won't）
或答以：
(3)I hope not . （= I hope he won't）
(4)I'm afraid not . （= I'm afraid he won't）
也可以答以：
(5)Perhaps not . （= Perhaps he won't）
或答以：
(6)Certainly not . （= Certainly he won't）
(7)Absolutely not . （= Absolutely he won't）
(8)Of course not . （= Of course he won't）
再如常见的 “not + 状语”结构：
(9)— Would you mind shutting the door?
— Not at all . （= I don't mind at all）
(10)— Will you go for a swim?
— Not today. （= No, I won't go for a swim today）
(11)I don't want her to come here. Not with me like this. （= I don't want her to come here with me like this）
以 not that 开头的省略结构也是比较常见的。这种结构相当于 I don't mean that...或 I don't say that...，常译作“我并不是说……”或“这并不是说……”，如：
(12)Where were you last night? Not that I care, of course.
(13)She ignored the common forms of behaviour. Not that she was rude.
not that 结构并不一定是一独立句，它也可位于一破折号之后或夹在两个破折号之间，如：
(14)If you don't pay us, we could take you to court — not that I would do such a thing, of course.
(15)If he stole the money — not that I think he did — it was a terrible crime.
not that 有时可意谓“虽然……不……”，如：
(16)She hasn't written to me yet — not that she ever said she would.
(17)Not that it matters, but how did you spend the money?
但也有人说 Not that...是 It is not that...的省略结构，如：
(18)Not that I want it. （= It is not that I want it）
(19)Not that I care. （= It is not that I care）
这里的 that 就有 because 的意味了。这种 not that 常与 but that 连用，最有名的例句就是引自莎士比亚著的《恺撒大将》中的名句：
(20)Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
再如：
(21)Not that I dislike the task, but that I am unequal to it.
但请注意下面一常用句中的 that 却意谓 as far as：
(22)Not that I know of. （其意为：就我所知不是这样）
11 not another bill 是什么意思？
有一读者问：有这样一句话：
(1)For the love of God, not another bill!
not another bill 是什么意思？是否意为“这个账单收到了没有”?
not another bill 字面上的意思是“可不要再来一张账单了啊!”表示一种愿望。而实际上却表示一种反感，转义为“怎么又来了一张账单!”
再如：
(2)—I bought a new hat.
— Not another one!
请注意这种含有感情色彩的 not another...之后须用感叹号。如用问号，则纯粹是一种疑问了。
12 There is no love lost between them. 是何意？
有一读者问：有一本英汉词典说 There's no love lost between them.的意思是“他们之间并无什么爱情”。对吗？
不怎么对。There is no love lost between them. 的本义是“他们互相爱慕”。作此讲时，no love lost 自成一个意群，= love that is not to be lost 或 love that cannot be lost。实例如：
(1)I love him well, and there's no love lost between us.
(2)We grumble a little now and then...But there's no love lost between us.
但此义已属古旧，不再或很少为人所用。现今人们都用其反义，意谓“他们互相憎恨”。这里的 love 一词一般并无“爱情”之意。全句 = There is no love, which is to be lost （或 can be lost）。实例如：
(2)There was no love lost between the two ladies.
(3)Bob and Dick both wanted to be elected captain of the team, and there was no love lost between them. （这里 there was no love lost between them 不但有“互相憎恨”而且有“相互攻击”之意）
(4)We need not be surprised that there is no love lost between Her Imperial Majesty and Kang Youwei. （前者指“慈禧太后”，后者为“康有为”）
There is no love lost between...这一固定结构的用法并不限于两个个人之间，亦可用于两个集体之间，如：
(5)There was no love lost between the sales and the accounting departments.
(6)There is no great love lost between the English Conservative Cabinet and the Bulgarian Government.
请注意 no 之后可用 great （如上例）或 much, no 亦可代之以 little。
13 谈谈反话及其他
英语，和汉语一样，也有不少反话。在这篇短文中，我们只谈形式上肯定而其实义则是否定的反话，以及其它一些常见的形式肯定实义则为否定的现象。
首先，让我们列举几句由整个句子构成的反话：
(1)I should worry. （其实义是：我才不放在心上哩）
(2)A fat lot you know. （其实义是：你屁也不懂）
(3)You are telling me. （其实义是：不用你说，我早已知道）
(4)— He said you were fat.
— I like that! （其实义是：真讨厌，我不爱听）
(5)Catch me doing that again! （= You won't catch me doing that again!）
(6)Much I care. （其实义是：我才不在乎哩）
(7)— I forgot to bring your money.
— Oh, thanks a lot! （其实义恰恰相反）
(8)— Is the wind staying where it is?
— She's coming to meet us, I think. (she 指 the wind)
— Jesus, that's all I need. （其实义是：真倒霉）
其次，英语中常用发誓、诅咒等表示否定，如：
(9)The man has gone God knows where. （God knows = nobody knows）
(10)The devil he is.（其实义是：他绝对不是）
(11)— Did you go?
— Like hell I did. （其实义是：我才不去哩）
(12)I am damned if it is true. （其实义是：绝没有这回事）
(13)I'll be hanged if I obey him. （其实义是：我死也不服从他）
第三，有许多形容语形式是肯定的，具有褒义，但其实义则相反，具有贬义，如：
(14)Who told you I wasn't straight? My loving brother-in-law. And you believe him.（loving有贬意）
(15)Imperialists are our “respectful teachers”, who teach us lessons by negative example.（respectful有贬意）
(16)— But how did it go? What happened?
— You're a fine one to ask me how it went!（fine有贬意）
注意下面两句中的 blessed 与 blooming 已变成咒骂语：
(17)There is that blessed dog again, barking at me like that!
(18)I wish this blooming rain would stop so that we could go on a picnic. （blooming = bloody）
用作定语的 some 也常被用作反语，如：
(19)That's some consolation, I must say! （some 实际上 = no kind of）
副词亦可被用作反语，如下面句中的 splendidly:
(20)Mr.Hughes, you are a fine fellow, and you have deceived me splendidly .
第四，may (might)as well 常被用作反语，暗示“还不如”，如：
(21)— What is it you're writing?
— A novel, I think.
— A novel? Well, may as well aim your sights high, I suppose.
might (just)as well 似乎更为常见，如：
(22)You never listen —— I might as well talk to a brick wall.
(23)— What a slow bus this is!
— Yes, we might just as well walk.
第五，有一些比较形式具有否定的意思，如：
(24)Fools may believe you, but I know better. （I know better 在此意谓“我可不相信你的话”）
(25)Robbie seemed to enjoy the danger, which was more than could be said of Polly or Mrs. Angus. （which 从句的意思是：Polly 和 Mrs. Angus 可不喜欢那危险的事）
(26)He is the last man that I want to see. （其实义是：他是我最不愿见的人）
(27)I was as surprised as anyone when they offered me the job.
(I was surprised as anyone = No one was more surprised than me)
(28)A nod is as good as a wink to the blind horse. （其实义是：根本不必点头）
还有我们很熟悉的 too...to 结构（意谓“太……因而不能”），如：
(29)The news is too good to be true.
第六，在连词 since （作“自从”解）所引导的状语从句中，谓语动词如是持续动词或连系动词的肯定形式，则其实义却是否定的，如：
(30)It has been a long time since I lived here. （其实义是：我不住在这里已有好久了）
(31)It has been ten years since I was a teacher. （其实义是：我已有10年不教书了）
上述两例句中的 lived 与 was 之所以具有否定意义乃是由于它们都表示其动作已结束的缘故。
最后，让我们谈谈一些由“It is a + 形容词 + 名词 + that...”变成具有反面意义的谚语或格言。请注意这里的 that 从句并不是修饰其前的名词的定语从句，而实际上是一主语从句，句首的 it 只是一个引词而已。如：
(32)It is a poor heart that never rejoices.
这句话从语法结构上讲 = The heart that never rejoices is poor.。 它的字面意义是：从未快乐过的才是可怜的人。其实义则是：世上没有从未快乐过的可怜的人。其汉译常为：即使可怜的人也有快乐的时候。再如：
(33)It's an ill wind that blows nobody good. （其实义是：没有使人人遭殃的恶风。可以译为：此失则彼得）
(34)It is a good divine that follows his own instructions. （其实义是：没有将自己的说教付诸实践的好牧师。可以译为：能言者未必能行）
(35)It is a long lane that has no turning. （其实义是：没有无拐弯的长路。可以译为：天无绝人之路）
(36)It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest. （其实义是：没有自毁其巢的恶鸟。可以译为：家丑不可外扬）
(37)It is a good workman that never blunders. （其实义是：没有不犯错误的好工人。可以译为：智者千虑，必有一失）
(38)It is a wise father that knows his own child. （其实义是：没有了解其子的聪明父亲。可以译为：无论怎样聪明的父亲也未必了解自己的孩子）
(39)It is a small flock that has not a black sheep. （其实义是：没有无害群者的小羊群。可以译为：无论羊群怎样小（或即使小羊群）也有害群者；或：家家有败家子）
如果 that 从句之前是人的名称，如上述例（34）、（37）、（38），it 有时也可以代之以 he。从翻译的角度来看，上述结构似乎都可以用“无论怎样……，也不会……”或“即使……的……也不……”等句型来译。
14 谈谈几个形式上否定、意义上肯定的比较形式
有一些比较形式字面上是否定的，但其实义则是肯定的，或者说它们已转义为肯定的。最明显的恐怕莫过于 as often as not 和 more often than not 了。
前者的本义是“经常与不经常各一半”，但其实义则是 quite often 或 fairly often （时常;往往），实例如：
(1)As often as not , he's late for work. （as likely as not 亦属此类）
more often than not 的本义是“经常多于不经常”，但其实义则是 usually （经常）（有的词典将 as often as not 和 more often than not 看作完全无区别的同义语），实例如：
(2)More often than not she misses the bus.
否定结构 no sooner than 的实义是“一……就……”，实例如：
(3)No sooner had we sat down than we found it was time to go.
否定结构 no more than 的实义是“只，仅仅”，实例如：
(4)He could no more than stammer at the window.（could no more than 的实义是“只能”）
否定结构 no less than 的实义是“同样”，实例如：
(5)She is no less beautiful than her sister.
“no less+名词+than”则意谓“正是”，实例如：
(6)He is no less a person than the king.
上例中的 no less a person 显然指大人物，下面一例中的 no less 则意谓“甚至”，有“了不起”的含义：
(7)He had married discreetly above him, a daughter of one of the City's most successful solicitors, who could number an Attorney-General, no less , among his not-too-distant ancestors. （注意 no less 的位置）
couldn't 与比较级连用时，也可具有肯定的实义，实例如：
(8)I couldn't agree more .
（其实义为：我非常同意）
最后，最高级 least 与否定词 not 连用时也可以用来表示一种形式上否定，实义上肯定的情况。一种形式是 not the least （least 相当于名词），可译作“最大的，尤其”等，如：
(9)They were devided by too many things. Not the least was the difference in their ages.
not the least 也常后接一 of 短语（或唤作 of 属格），如：
(10)He was fluent in several languages, not the least of which was Spanish.
(11)Perhaps not the least of her resentments was that she had taken especial pains with her toilet that morning, and he had not paid her any compliment.
还有一种较常见的形式是 not least，常用作状语，意谓 partly, quite importantly （可译作“尤其”、“很重要的是”等），如：
(12)America naturally has an enormous influence on Canada, not least in language.
(13)The trade had been bad, not least because of the increased cost of rubber.
但有时 not least 则与 not the least 无甚区别，如：
(14)Not least among the matters pleasing him was that his frequency of urination seemed definitely less.
15 这种看法对吗？
有一读者问： 有人说只可说：
(1)I don't think he will come.
而不可说：
(2)I think he won't come.
这种看法对吗？
的确有人抱有这种看法。但在英语中像例（2）这样的说法并不罕见，再如：
(3)I think it is not so.
(4)I thought they weren't admissible.
(5)I think he is not honest.
(6)I think you won't misunderstand me when I say that I want to be alone.
那么例（1）与例（2）有什么区别呢？从其本身意义来讲，在许多情况下二者并没有什么区别。但有时二者的侧重点则有所不同。例（1）着重向对方表示一种否定意见，例（2）着重提出一种自己的看法。也有人说例（1）的把握不及例（2）大。
顺便提及，上述结构中的谓语动词并不限于通常所说的 think, belief, suppose, espect, imagine 等，与主语连用的 seem 和 appear 也应属于这一类，如：
(7)It doesn't seem that he is ill. （或It seems that he isn't ill）
(8)It appeared that he was not very rich. （或 It didn't appear that he was very rich）
下面含有谓语动词 know 的句子结构似乎也可属于这一类：
(9)I don't know he's here. （=I know he's not here）
不消说，有许多动词不可用上述例（1）句型，只可用于例（2）句型，如 hope, 实例：
(10)I hope you won't go. （不可说 I don't hope you will go）
16 not exactly 在此不意谓“不完全如此”
有一读者问： 据《新英汉词典》说， not exactly 意谓“不完全如此”，如：
(1)— Do you mean to say that he will possibly consent?
— Not exactly.
但这一释义似乎并不适用于下一句中的 not exactly:
(2)That's not exactly what I said.
问应作如何解释？
《新英汉词典》对 not exactly 的解释只适用于对话中，它的确意谓 That's not altogether true （不完全如此，不完全对），再如：
(3)— So you missed the meeting.
— Not exactly . I got there five minutes before it finished.
(4)— Are you tired?
— Not exactly . I just sometimes get kind of keyed-up.
但如果 not exactly 出现在非对话的行文中，它的意思就不是“不完全如此”，而是“不确实是” (not really), 如：
(5)We weren't exactly driving fast. （not exactly 在此可译为“并不确实”）
(6)He is not exactly learned, but he has read widely. （not exactly 在此可译为“未必”）
(7)He was ineffective, not exactly a weakling, but ineffective. （not exactly在此可译为“并非”）
not exactly 有时还可用在幽默文体中，表示“才不（是）”，如：
(8)His father was not exactly poor: he left 10 million pounds.
17 not one of them 可与none of them 互换吗？
有一读者问： 《新概念英语》第二册中有一句：
So far, not one of them has been struck down by sudden death.
句中 not one of them 可否改为 none of them?
not one of them 可以与 none of them 互换。但 not one of them 语气较 none of them 稍强，并须用单数动词，而 none of them 之后则多用复数动词。
18 no question 一词何时表疑问，何时表可能？
有一读者问： there is no question...结构中的 question 一词何时意谓“疑问”?何时意谓“可能性”?
there is no question 之后可接介词 of 或 about, 也可接 that 从句。 question 后接 that 从句时，问题比较简单，它只意谓“疑问”，如：
(1)There is no question that he will succeed.
他无疑会成功。
(2)There is no question that he was involved in this affair.
他无疑与此事有瓜葛。
但当 there is no question 后接 of （有时亦可后接 about）时，问题就有点复杂了。这时， question 可能意谓“疑问”，也可能意谓“可能性”。到底意指什么，要由上下文来决定。如下列一些句子中的 question 显然意指“疑问”：
(3)There is no question about his honesty.
(4)There is no question of his guilt.
(5)You've got to tell them the exact truth. There's really no question about it.
(6)There was absolutely no question about the diagnosis: she had lung cancer.
而下面几个句子中的 question 则显然指“可能性”而言：
(7)There is no question of escape.
(8)There's no question of accidents or suicides. It's definitely murder.
(9)He had always told himself there would be no question of marriage until he was established in practice.
但注意，如果 there is no question 后接“ of+动名词”时，则 question 只能意谓“可能性”，如：
(10)There is no question of saving him.
(11)The hotel was so noisy that there was no question of getting a full night's sleep.
注意下面一句中的动名词否定式：
(12)Gandhi told reporters that there was no question of not having trade with China.
甘地对记者们说不与中国贸易是不可能的。
动名词之前当然也可用物主代词，如：
(13)There is no question of his succeeding.
(14)There is no question of our dismissing you.
(15)There was no question of his working the paddocks， for his brothers didn't want him, nor did he want a kind of life he had always hated.
19 little在此是一否定词
有一读者问： 有这样一道选择题：
(1)Mr. Baker knows little German and_________Mrs. Baker.
A. so does B. neither does
C. so doesn't D. nor doesn't
不知应用A还是B?
应选B。little 是一否定词，意为“很少的，没有多少的”。再如：
(2)She ate little and neither did I.
20 这里的not much是什么意思？
有一读者问： 我懂得下面对话中的Not much:
(1)— Have you done any reading those days?
— Not much, if anything.
但下面对话中的Not much做何解释呢:
(2)— He doesn't want to cheat you.
— Not much!
例（1）中的Not much具有其通常的意义，即“不多”。但例（2）中的Not much（请注意其后有感叹号）就不具有其通常的意义了。它是一种反语，意谓“他肯定是想骗我”。这是形为否定、意为肯定的又一例。
21 not可置于seem之前，也可置于seem之后
有一读者问： 有人说只可说：
(1)He doesn't seem to have read the book.
而不可说：
(2)He seems not to have read the book.
我则认为句（2）也对，对吗？
你是对的，上述句（1）与句（2）都是正确语，但句（2）似乎比较正式。
22 如何理解No, sir?
有一读者问：高中英语第二册有这样接连的两句话：
He was not going to the end of the line. No, sir. Tom walked up to the front of the line.
问如何理解No, sir?
sir在此只起一种加强语气的作用。No, sir意在加强否定的语气。同样，为了加强肯定的语气，也可以说Yes, sir。
23 till之前为何用not?
有一读者问：
(1)It was not till 2000.
这句话的意思是“直到2000年”，为什么till之前要用否定词not?
till或until之前用否定结构表示否定，即动作在till短语或从句所表的时间之前未发生。但在till短语或从句所表的时间却发生了。这是一常用英语说法，与汉语不同。例如：
(2)He did not come till ten o'clock. （表示ten o'clock之前他没有来，10点钟时他来了。汉语常译作： 他直到10点钟才来。）
请注意上述句（1）是一省略句，其后省去了that...，再如：
(3)It was not till yesterday that I got the news.
其实，till（直到……为止）之前亦可用肯定结构，如：
(4)He talked till he became hoarse.
(5)Goodbye till next week.
24 为何要用not...so much as?
有一读者问： 有这样一道选择题：
(1)— That trumpet player was certainly loud.
— I wasn't bothered by his loudness_________by his lack of talent.
A. so much as B. rather than
答案是A，为何不选B?
not so much...as或not...so much as可看做一关联连词，是一种固定说法，不可改动，其义为“与其说是……倒不如说是……”。上述选择题（1）中的I wasn't bothered by his loudness之后应填so much as，其原因就在此。这种关联连词不乏其例，再如：
(2)It was a reaction not so much of strength as of weakness and desperation.
(3)He is not so much a scholar as a writer.
(4)The question is not so much what it is as how it looks.
(5)It is not the story so much as the author's unconscious revelation ofhimself that charms us.
(6)He did not so much walk as trot.
但请注意not so much as的其他用法与含义，如：
(7)He cannot so much as write his own name.
他甚至连自己的名字都不会写。
(8)We haven't so much money as they have.
我们没有他们那么多钱。
上述not so much as的几种不同的含义与用法，切不可混淆。
25 关于 not much of 与much less of
有一读者问：下面两句话的意义有何不同：
(1)He is not much of an oculist.
(2)He is much less of an oculist.
上述句（1）与句（2）的区别在于：句（1）相当于：
(3)He is not a good oculist.他不是一个了不起的眼科医生。
句（2）相当于：
(4)He is by far less of an oculist as...作为眼科医生他远不及……