慣用語法:any not還是not any
請看下面一題:
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,因為從句意上看,選A可將此句理解為“這個問題是如此之難,這個班任何一個學(xué)生都不可能做出來”。但按英語習(xí)慣,any(任何一個)作為非肯定句,它只能出現(xiàn)在否定詞 not 之后,而不能在其前,即可說 not any, 但不說 any not。所以正確答案應(yīng)選B。又如:
這工作太難了,恐怕誰也干不了。
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.
什么也阻礙不了我同她結(jié)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)作為非肯定詞,它也應(yīng)出現(xiàn)在否定詞之后,而不能出現(xiàn)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.