慣用語法:any not還是not any
請看下麪一題:
It is so difficult a problem that _________ student in this class _________ work it out.
A. any, can't B. no, can C. every, can D. no, can't
【分析】此題很容易誤選A,因爲從句意上看,選A可將此句理解爲“這個問題是如此之難,這個班任何一個學生都不可能做出來”。但按英語習慣,any(任何一個)作爲非肯定句,它衹能出現在否定詞 not 之後,而不能在其前,即可說 not any, 但不說 any not。所以正確答案應選B。又如:
這工作太難了,恐怕誰也乾不了。
正:The work is too difficult. I'm afraid no one can do it.
誤:The work is too difficult. I'm afraid any one can't do it.
什麽也阻礙不了我同她結婚。
正:Nothing can prevent me from marrying her.
誤:Anything can't prevent me from marrying her.
類似地,either (兩者中的任意一個)作爲非肯定詞,它也應出現在否定詞之後,而不能出現在否定詞之前。如:
這兩兄弟都不聰明。
正:Neither of the brothers is clever.
誤:Either of the brothers is not clever.