谈几个含有否定意义的特殊词(组)
NMET2001阅读理解B篇中有这样一句话： The popularity of the igloo is beyond doubt．．．其中beyond doubt的意思是“毫无疑问”、“不容置疑”，这里是用介词beyond表示否定。英语中表示否定意义的词(组)很多，除了最常用的not, never, hardly, seldom, without，instead of等，还有其它一些可以表示否定意义的特殊词(组)。现归纳如下，以便同学们在阅读中正确理解。
1.above不做；不为；不屑；对……太困难；超越……(之能力)
This book is above me． 这本书我看不懂。
His bravery is above(=beyond)praise． 他的勇敢赞美不尽。
This problem is above my head． 这个问题我无法理解。
It is above criticism． 这没有什么可以批评的。
He ought to be above cheating in the exam． 在考试中他不该作弊。
2.against反对；不要
I advised him against wearing long hair。我劝他不要留长发。
3.beyond超出；出乎；为……所不能及
We succeeded beyond our hopes． 我们获得了成功，这是我们始料不及的。
Illness and age had changed him beyond recognition．由于疾病和衰老，他变得认不出来了。
He lived beyond his income． 他的生活入不敷出。
The beauty of the lake is beyond description.这个湖的美景无法描绘。
His honesty is beyond doubt. 他的诚实不容置疑。
The number of the sheep on the hillside was beyond counting． 山坡上的羊不计其数。
It is beyond my power to help you． 我无法帮助你。
4.past超出
The o1d man is past work.这老人不能再工作了。
The pain was almost past bearing. 疼得几乎受不了。
She is past caring what happens． 她对一切都不在乎了。
His disease is past hope．他的病痊愈无望。
5.too…to… 太……以至于不……
The little boy is too young to go to schoo1．这个小孩年龄太小不能上学。
This text is too difficult for me to read．这篇课文太难我读不了。
但是应注意此结构也有不表否定的时候；
(1) too+ ready／anxious／eager／easy／wililng etc．+ to do表示肯定意义。如：
He is too ready to help others.她非常乐于助人.
They were too eager to leave．他们急着要离开。
I'm too willing to study English．我非常愿意学习英语。
(2)only／but／all +too +glad／p1eased／willing／happy／good ect．+to do表示肯定意义.如：
l am only too glad to go with you．我极愿意跟你去。
She is a11 too happy to be a teacher． 她为自己能当一名教师而感到非常幸福。
(3)not／never + too…to…表示肯定意义。如：
lt's never too old to learn．活到老,学到老。
She is not too young to marry．她不算太年轻，可以结婚了。
(4)too…not to do…表示肯定意义
He was too careful not to notice it.他非常细心，不会注意不到这—点。
He is too honest not to keep his word.他非常诚实，不会不遵守自己的诺言。
6.rather than(rather…than…) 是……而不……；宁愿……而不……；而不…… 此结构前后多用相同的词性。
I'd prefer to go in August rather than in July.我宁愿八月份去，而不在七月份去.
He is a teacher rather than a student．他是教师，而不是学生。
I would rather go to see the film than stay at home. 我宁愿去看电影而不愿呆在家里.
7.other than不同于；非；除了
The truth is quite other than what you think. 事实真相同你想的完全不同.
I borrowed some books other than novels.我借了几本书，但都不是小说.
other than一般不能分开用,否定的是后面的部分.如果两词分开用,一般表示"除了"的意思,相当于except.如:
Have you got any other English books than the one you are reading?
除了你读的那本外，你还有别的英语书吗?
8.more…than…与其说……倒不如说……
It's more blue than green．与其说是绿的，不如说是蓝的。
The soldier is more brave than wise．这个士兵有勇无谋。
It is more a poem than a picture．与其说这是—幅画倒不如说是一首诗。
9.anything but决不是；并不
She can do anything but sing.她就是不会唱歌。
He is anything but a doctor．他决不是医生。
I will do anything but that．我决不去干那事。
10.be far from非常不；远远不，后面可接名词、形容词、副词、过去分词、-ing形式等。
Our work is far from perfect.我们的工作还非常不完善。
He is far from well．她根本谈不上健康。
I was sti11 far from satisfied．我还是—点也不满意。
11.be out of没有；缺乏；不
Out of sight , out of mind．眼不见，心不烦。
This book is out of print．这本书不再印刷了。
Rest was now out of the question．现在休息是不可能的。
He is out of the office．她不在办公室。
The fire was out of control.大火无法控制。
Put the bottle of medicine out of the reach of the children.把这瓶药放在孩子们够不着的地方。
She was out of patience. 她忍不住了。
12.be the last最不可能的；最不……的。
He is the last person to tell a lie．他绝不会撒谎。
He's the last person I want to see．他是我最不愿见的人。
That is the last thing I should expect him to do．那是我最不希望他干的事。
13.free from (of)没有……的；免于……的。
The room is free from noise．这房间里没有噪声。
Our town is free from (of) thieves．我们这个镇里没有小偷。
14.but for… 要不是因为……；如果没有…… 此结构所在的主句要用虚拟语气。如：
But for the rain we would have had a nice holiday.要不是因为下雨，我们的假日一定过得很惬意。
But for the safety-belt I wouldn’t be alive today.假若没有安全带，我就活不到今天了。