西区御景:高一英语常见错误:有些句子不能仅从表面理解

来源:百度文库 编辑:偶看新闻 时间:2024/03/29 14:34:02
有些句子的意思,尤其是一些惯用句子的意思,我们是不能单从字面来理解的。下面就是一些常见的容易引起误解的句子:

  1. He is the last person to do such a thing. 他决不会干这种事。

  She is the last woman I want to sit next to at dinner.

  她是我在宴席上最不愿意与之相邻就座的女子。

  That's the last thing I should expect him to do. 那是我最不可能指望他去做的事情。

  注:“ the last + 名词 + 不定式或定语从句”中的 last 作“ least likely / suitable/ willing/ desirable ”解,即常常将 last 译为“最不可能的;最不合适的;最不愿意的;最不希望的”,而不作“最后的”解。

  2. We cannot estimate the value of modern science too much. (= We cannot estimate the value of modern science much enough. = It is impossible to estimate the value of modern science too much/ much enough.) 无论怎么重视现代科学的价值都不为过分。

  We cannot be too careful in doing experiments. (= We cannot be careful enough in doing experiments.) 我们做实验时无论怎样小心都不过分。

  注:“ cannot/ could not…… too + 形容词或副词 = cannot/ could not…… + 形容词或副词 + enough ”。我们不能把第 1 句理解成:“我们不能过分估算现代科学的价值。”也不能把第 2 句理解成:“我们做实验时不能太小心。”

  3. It is a wise man that never makes mistakes. 无论怎样聪明的人也难免要犯错误。

  It is a long lane that has no turning. 无论怎样长的巷子也有弯。

  注:这个句子含有比较储蓄的让步意味。我们不能把第 1 句理解成:“从不犯错误的人是一个聪明的人。”也不能把第 2 句理解成:“那是一个没弯的长巷。”

  4. If the sun were to rise in the west, I would not break my word.

  使太阳从西方出来,我也不会背弃我的诺言。

  Were the danger even greater (= Even if the danger were greater), I should feel compelled to go. 即使危险再大,我也觉得非去不可。

  注:从形式上看上面句子中的从句像是条件状语从句,但实际上却是让步状语从句,因为其中的主句和从句在意义上形成鲜明的对照。若句子含条件状语从句,则从句表示的是条件,主句表示的是结果。下面句子中的从句就是条件状语从句:

  If the sun were to rise in the west, I would break my word.

  如果太阳从西方出来,我就会背弃我的诺言。

  Were the danger even greater, I should not go. 如果危险再大一些,我就不去了。
5. A mountain is not famous because it is high. 山出名不在高。

  I don't believe that he will come tomorrow. 我相信他明天不会来。

  Mary did not leave the office in order to meet Tom. 玛莉离开办公室为的是不见汤姆。

  注:上面这三句话中都包含一个被转移的否定词 not .因此不能把第 1 句理解成:“山不出名是因为高。”也很少将第 2 句转换成:“ I believe that he will not come tomorrow. ”第 3 句可以转换成:“ Mary left the office in order not to meet Tom. ”也可以将其理解成:“玛莉没离开办公室是为了见到汤姆”。为了避免产生上述歧义,我们最好说:“ It was in order to meet Tom that Mary did not leave the office. ”(玛莉没离开办公室是为了见到汤姆。)和“ It was in order not to meet Tom that Mary left the office. ”(玛莉离开办公室为的是不见汤姆。)

  6. Who in the world (on earth) told you that? 那事到底是谁告诉你的?

  注:这里的 in the world (on earth) 是用来加强语气,意思是“到底”,“究竟”,而不是“在世界上”。

  7. He is too ready to talk 他爱说话。

  Men are too apt to forget. 人们往往健忘。

  We are only too pleased to work together with the workers. 我们和工人们一起劳动,太高兴了。

  They are but too glad to do so. 他们非常喜欢这么做。

  注:若 too 后面跟 ready, apt, likely 等形容词,或 only too, but too, all too 和 not too 后面跟一个形容词或副词,则后面的不定式没有否定意义。

  8. No man is so old but he may learn. (= No man is too old to learn.)

  没有人因为太老而不能学(活到老学到老)。

  I never go past my old school but I think (= without thinking)of Mr Wilkins, the headmaster.

  每当我走过我的母校时,都想起校长威尔金斯先生。

  注:这里的 but 是从属连词,本身有否定含义,而不能被理解成“可是”。