几种可以译为肯定的常见否定结构
1.回答否定疑问句时,答句中的no可以译为肯定,例如:
——Didn't you go to the cinema last night?你昨晚没去看电影吗?
——No,I didn't.是的,我没去。
2.反意疑问句中的疑问部分,如果是否定,可以译为肯定,例如:
They are workers,aren't they?他们是工人,是吗?
3.回答由mind(介意,反对)组成的疑问句,答句中的否定可以译为肯定,例如:
——Would you mind opening the window?请你打开窗户好吗?
——Certainly not.当然好。
4.由 not…until组成的句子可以译为肯定,例如:
He didn't go to bed until his father came back.他直到父亲回来才睡。
5.not a few和not在 a little 相当于 many或 much的意思,也可译为肯定,例如:
There are not a few good sentences in his composition.他的作文里有许多佳句。
There is not a little water in the jar.罐子里有很多水。
6.某些含有cannot的结构,也可译成肯定,例如:
You can't be too careful when you do your homework.你做作业时,越仔细越好。
I can't but agree with you.我只好同意你的意见了。
7.nothing(no,nobody)…but这类结构可以译为肯定,例如:
There is nothing but an old machine in the room.房间里只有一台旧机器。
Nobody but Tom can do this work.只有汤姆才能做这项工作。
8.否定疑问句用来表示感叹或鄙夷时,可以译为肯定,例如:
Look at those flowers!Aren't they beautiful?看那些花儿,多美啊!
9.no sooner有时可以译为肯定语气,与 as soon as的含义相近,例如:
No sooner had they got there than it began to rain.他们一到那儿,天就开始下雨了。
10.not half表示“相当”、“颇”或“非常”、“很”的意思,自然译为肯定,例如:
It wasn't half hot there.那儿非常热。
11.含有双重否定的结构可以译为肯定,例如:
We can't live without air and water.有了空气和水,我们才能生存。
