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否定词+比较级”用法 “否定词+比较级”是英语中一个比较有用的表达，它的字面意思是“不更”“不比……更”。如： He is not richer than before. 他并不比以前富有。
I decided to go with them， mainly because I had nothing better to do. 我决定同他们一起去，这主要是因为我没有更好的事情可做。
Have you got nothing better to do than sit there playing that silly game？ 你光坐着玩那个破游戏，就找不到更好的事来做吗？
但是在许多情况下，“否定词+比较级”不能按字面意思来理解，而是要根据具体的语境进行灵活处理（尤其是当句子中省略了隐含的than短语时更要注意）。如：
I have never drunk better beer.
这句话的字面意思是：我从未喝过更好的啤酒。其实就是说：这是我喝过的最好的啤酒。可视为句子末尾省略了than this，即：
I have never drunk better beer than this. 我从来没喝过比这更好的啤酒。
下面我们根据其中否定词的不同类型，为同学们归纳了五种常见结构：
一、 否定词为not
这类句子的基本义为“没有更……”“不会更……”“不比……更”，根据不同的语境可以译为“再……不过”“非常……”“……得不得了”“最……”等。如：
I couldn？蒺t wish for a better husband. 我丈夫已经再好不过了。
The news couldn’t have come at a better time. 这消息来得再及时不过了。
I was so nervous， but she couldn’t have been nicer to me. 我很紧张，但她对我非常好。
We got fantastic support—we couldn’t have asked for more. 我们得到了极大的支持，可以说是最大的支持了。
二、 否定词为never
这类句子的基本义为“从未更……”，根据不同的语境可以译为“从未如此……”“最……”等。如：
I’ve never found a better job. 这是我找到的最好的工作。
He had never spent a more worrying day. 他从来没有度过这样烦恼的日子。
Relations between the two countries have never been better. 两国关系从来没有这样好过。
I’ve never had a worse morning than today. 我哪一天早上也不像今天早上这样倒霉。
Ruth？蒺s a little charmer—you’ll never meet a more likeable child. 露斯是个迷人的小家伙——你绝不会遇到比她更讨人喜欢的孩子。
三、 否定词为nothing
这类句子的基本义为“没有什么更……”，根据不同的语境有时可以直译，有时也译为“最……”“再……不过了”等。如：
A cup of tea？ There’s nothing I’d like better！ 来杯茶吗？那最好不过了。
I’d like nothing better than to join you girls. 我最喜欢加入你们女孩子了。
There’s nothing better than beating someone who’s playing well. 没有什么比打败高手更畅快的了。
She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. 她最喜欢的莫过于在沙滩上久久地散步。
四、 否定词为little
这类句子的little主要修饰两个比较级，一个是better，另一个是more。
1. little better 的意思是“不比……好”（强调其“不好”的一面）。如：
His second suggestion was little （=not much） better than his first. 他的第二个建议比第一个好不了多少。
His legs were in little better shape than they had been the year before. 他的双腿与前一年相比没有多少好转。
2. little more 的意思是“只”“仅仅”（强调其“少”的一面）。如：
The wait was very brief， little more than an hour. 等待的时间很短，不过个把小时。
He left school with little more than a basic education. 他只接受了点基础教育就退学了。
Aid to the Third World is at present little more than a drop in the ocean. 目前对第三世界的援助不过是杯水车薪。
除上面提到的两个搭配外，little偶尔也修饰其他比较级。如：
The new model is little faster than the old one. 新型号比老型号快不了多少。
五、 否定词为no
这类句子的基本义为“没有……更……”，根据不同的语境有时可以直译，有时也译为“最……”“非常”“再……不过了”等。如： No news could be more delightful to me. 这消息最令我高兴。
No job has more influence on the future of the world. 这项工作对世界的未来影响非常大。
No writer is more adventurous than Mark Twain. 马克·吐温是最富有探索精神的作家。
顺便说一句，英语中的“no+比较级+than”是一个很有用的结构，除上面各例中no与比较级连用表示最高级的意思外，还有以下用法：
1. 强调比较级形容词的反面。如：
He’s no richer than a beggar. 他同乞丐一样穷（即穷如乞丐）。
She looks no older than her daughter. 她看起来跟她女儿一样年轻。
No fewer than five hundred delegates attended the conference. 参加这次会议的代表多达500人。
If the penalty for a more serious offence is no greater than that for a less serious one， one might as well continue to commit the more serious one. 若重罪不重罚，则犯轻罪者索性犯重罪。
2. 表示一般意义的否定，通常译为“不更”“不比……更”。如：
I’m afraid the weather’s no better than yesterday. 今天的天气恐怕不比昨天强。
If you’re no better by tomorrow I’ll call the doctor. 你明天若再不好，我就请大夫。
This hotel is better than the other one and it’s no more expensive. 这家旅馆比那家好，且并不比那家贵。
In my opinion the new manager is no better than the previous one. 在我看来，这位新经理并不比前任强。
注：该用法中的no与not意思比较接近，有时甚至可以互换（如not later than=no later than）。如：
Completed entry forms should arrive no [not] later than 31st July. 填写好的参赛表格须于7月31日前递交。
3. 表示“实际上”“简直就是”。如：
He’s no better than a common thief. 他简直就是小偷。
You’re no better than a Hitler. 你简直就是个希特勒。
I’m no better than a servant in this house. 我在这个家里与仆人无异。
People who don’t pay their bus fares are no better than common criminals. 乘车逃票的人无异于作奸犯科。
4. 用于否定两者，意为“不……也不……”“……和……都不”。如：
Tom is no more rich than Jack is. 杰克不是有钱人，汤姆也不是。
I know no more Spanish than I know Greek. 我对西班牙语和希腊语同样都不懂。
He is no more an artist than you are a mathematician. 就像你不是数学家一样，他也不是艺术家。
5. 表示“远非”。如：
We are no closer to the truth. 我们还远没有找到真理。
另外，还有no longer， no sooner...than...等习语。如：
I’m sorry Mr Smith no longer lives here. 对不起，史密斯先生已不再住在这儿了。
No sooner had he reached the airport than the plane took off. 他刚到机场，飞机就起飞了。
【边学边练】
1. —What do you think of the service here？
—Oh， wonderful. We couldn’t have found ______ place.
A. best B. the best
C. better D. a better
2. —How was your recent trip to Sichuan？
—I’ve never had one before.
A. a pleasant B. a more pleasant
C. a most pleasant D. the most pleasant
3. —How’s your new babysitter？
—We couldn’t ask for one. All our kids love her so much.
A. a best B. the best
C. a better D. the better 4. This bird is really lovely， and I’ve never seen_____ one.
A. a finer B. a finest
C. the finer D. the finest
5. How beautifully the singer sings! I have never heard _______voice. A. a better B. a best C. the better D. the best
6. Sophia has brains. In fact， I doubt whether anyone in the class has IQ.
A. a high B. a higher
C. the higher D. the highest
7. It’s the nicest present I’ve ever had — I couldn’t ask for_____one.
A. a better B. a best
C. the better D. the best
8. Walking exercise may be boring at times but early on a clear sunny morning there can be nothing_______ .
A. finer B. finest C. the finer D. the finest
9. Steven ran the 100 meters in 9.91 seconds， and I have not seen _____this year.
A. the best B. better C. the most D. more
10. Mr Chambers is great to work for—I really couldn’t ask for a____ boss.
A. better B. good C. best D. still better
【参考答案】
1—5 DBCAA 6—10 BAABA
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