有些句子的意思,尤其是一些慣用句子的意思,我們是不能單從字面來理解的。下面就是一些常見的容易引起誤解的句子: 1. He is the last person to do such a thing. 他決不會干這種事。 She is the last woman I want to sit next to at dinner. 她是我在宴席上不愿意與之相鄰就座的女子。 That's the last thing I should expect him to do. 那是我不可能指望他去做的事情。 注:“ the last + 名詞 + 不定式或定語從句”中的 last 作“l(fā)east likely / suitable/ willing/ desirable”解,即常常將 last 譯為“不可能的;不合適的;不愿意的;不希望的”,而不作“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.) 無論怎么重視現(xiàn)代科學(xué)的價值都不為過分。 We cannot be too careful in doing experiments. (= We cannot be careful enough in doing experiments.) 我們做實驗時無論怎樣小心都不過分。 注:“ cannot/ could not…… too + 形容詞或副詞 = cannot/ could not…… + 形容詞或副詞 + enough ”。我們不能把第 1 句理解成:“我們不能過分估算現(xiàn)代科學(xué)的價值?!币膊荒馨训?2 句理解成:“我們做實驗時不能太小心?!?/span> 3. It is a wise man that never makes mistakes. 無論怎樣聰明的人也難免要犯錯誤。 It is a long lane that has no turning. 無論怎樣長的巷子也有彎。 注:這個句子含有比較儲蓄的讓步意味。我們不能把第 1 句理解成:“從不犯錯誤的人是一個聰明的人?!币膊荒馨训?2 句理解成:“那是一個沒彎的長巷?!?/span> 4. If the sun were to rise in the west, I would not break my word. 即使太陽從西方出來,我也不會背棄我的諾言。 Were the danger even greater (= Even if the danger were greater), I should feel compelled to go. 即使危險再大,我也覺得非去不可。 注:從形式上看上面句子中的從句像是條件狀語從句,但實際上卻是讓步狀語從句,因為其中的主句和從句在意義上形成鮮明的對照。若句子含條件狀語從句,則從句表示的是條件,主句表示的是結(jié)果。下面句子中的從句就是條件狀語從句: If the sun were to rise in the west, I would break my word. 如果太陽從西方出來,我就會背棄我的諾言。 Were the danger even greater, I should not go. 如果危險再大一些,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. 我相信他明天不會來。 Mary did not leave the office in order to meet Tom. 瑪莉離開辦公室為的是不見湯姆。 注:上面這三句話中都包含一個被轉(zhuǎn)移的否定詞 not . 因此不能把第 1 句理解成:“山不出名是因為高。”也很少將第 2 句轉(zhuǎn)換成:“ I believe that he will not come tomorrow. ”第 3 句可以轉(zhuǎn)換成:“Mary left the office in order not to meet Tom. ”也可以將其理解成:“瑪莉沒離開辦公室是為了見到湯姆”。為了避免產(chǎn)生上述歧義,我們好說:“It was in order to meet Tom that Mary did not leave the office.”(瑪莉沒離開辦公室是為了見到湯姆。)和“ It was in order not to meet Tom that Mary left the of