趙際紅
否定轉(zhuǎn)移在英語(yǔ)中屢見(jiàn)不鮮,為幫助同學(xué)們理解和翻譯,現(xiàn)將常見(jiàn)的用法歸納如下:
一、主從復(fù)合句中的否定轉(zhuǎn)移
1. 否定賓語(yǔ)從句的謂語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)為否定主句的謂語(yǔ)。當(dāng)主句中的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞think, believe, expect, suppose, imagine, assume (假定), reckon (估計(jì)), fancy (料想)等后跟賓語(yǔ)從句時(shí),常把否定賓語(yǔ)從句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的not轉(zhuǎn)移到否定主句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞上。例如:
I dont believe he knows it.
我認(rèn)為他不知道這件事。
I dont suppose hell come to the party.
我猜他不會(huì)來(lái)參加聚會(huì)。
2. 否定狀語(yǔ)從句轉(zhuǎn)為否定主句。例如:
The mountain is not valuable because it is high.
那座山之所以有價(jià)值并非因?yàn)樗摺?/p>
The engine did not stop because the fuel was finished.
發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)并非因?yàn)槿剂嫌猛炅硕V罐D(zhuǎn)動(dòng)。
二、同位語(yǔ)從句中的否定轉(zhuǎn)移
在含有同位語(yǔ)從句的復(fù)合句中,如果主句中被否定的詞是hope, opinion, view, thought,
wish等,通常轉(zhuǎn)為否定同位語(yǔ)從句的謂語(yǔ)。例如:
It is not my opinion that his contribution to the revolutionary cause can be overestimated.
= It is my opinion that his contribution to the revolutionary cause can not be overestimated.
我的看法是他對(duì)革命事業(yè)的貢獻(xiàn)怎么估計(jì)也不過(guò)分。
(cannot... over do與cannot... too + adj./ adv.都是形式否定而意義肯定的固定句式,意為:怎么……也不過(guò)分,越……越……)
It is not his thought that you should buy that car at all.
= It is his thought that you should not buy that car at all.
他認(rèn)為你完全沒(méi)必要買那輛車。
三、詞類方面的否定轉(zhuǎn)移
1. 否定謂語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)為否定主語(yǔ)。例如:
No news comes. 沒(méi)有聽(tīng)到任何消息。
2. 否定動(dòng)詞不定式轉(zhuǎn)為否定謂語(yǔ)。例如:
We eat to live, but we dont live to eat.
我們吃飯是為了活著,但是我們活著不是為了吃飯。
3. 否定謂語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)為否定賓語(yǔ)。例如:
He listened carefully, but could hear nothing.
他仔細(xì)聽(tīng),可是什么也沒(méi)有聽(tīng)到。
4. 否定介詞短語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)為否定謂語(yǔ)。例如:
We dont read this novel for amusement.
我們讀這篇小說(shuō)不是為了消遣。
5. 否定賓語(yǔ)補(bǔ)足語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)為否定謂語(yǔ)。例如:
I dont think the problem difficult.
我認(rèn)為這個(gè)問(wèn)題不難。
6. 在某些否定句中,否定不定代詞或形容詞(every, each, all, both)轉(zhuǎn)為否定謂語(yǔ),這就是所謂的部分否定。例如:
Everybody can not get there on time. = Not everybody can get there on time.
并不是每一個(gè)人都能按時(shí)到達(dá)那里。
Both of them are not from English. = Not both of them are from English.
他們兩個(gè)并非都是英格蘭人。(他們兩個(gè)人中只有一個(gè)是英格蘭人)
從以上數(shù)例可以看出,英語(yǔ)漢譯或表達(dá)否定時(shí)不能生硬地對(duì)號(hào)入座,要注意英語(yǔ)中的否定轉(zhuǎn)移,只有這樣才能正確地理解作者的意圖,地道地表達(dá)我們的意思。endprint