难理解的英语句子有多种情形，其中之一是：否定句，尤其是双重或三重否定句。有一些作家十分喜欢这种表达式，因为它有力量。但当句子较长，结构复杂时读者难以立即反应过来。准确理解这类句子的关键是弄清那些是显性或隐性的否定（详细见后面附录），共有几重否定（类似于“负负得正”，双重否定为肯定）。

如下面这句：

 I defy any one to assign an incident wherein reason will not direct us what we are to say or do in company, if we are not misled by pride or ill nature.

这句话有三重否定，注意：

I defy any one to assign an incident wherein reason will not direct us what we are to say or do in company, if we are not misled by pride or ill nature.

defy 1.不服从；藐视 2.违抗,不顾,挑激 3.(公然)违抗，反抗；蔑视 4.向…挑战；蔑视 5.公然蔑视/反抗 6.使不能，公然违抗 7.使成为不可能

参考译文：要不是受到骄傲情绪或或粗暴性情的误导，理智总会指引我们与人交往时谈吐得体，举止适度。我敢断言，没有人能举出一个与此相悖的事例来。（汪义群译）

There would be, therefore, little hope of obtaining the praise of a good companion, were it not to be gained by more compendious methods; but such is the kindness of mankind to all, except those who aspire to real merit and rational dignity, that every understanding may find some way to excite benevolence; and whoever is not envied may learn the art of procuring love.

这句话有三个分句，分别用分号隔开：

There would be, therefore, little hope of obtaining the praise of a good companion, were it not to be gained by more compendious methods;

but such is the kindness of mankind to all, except those who aspire to real merit and rational dignity, that every understanding may find some way to excite benevolence;

and whoever is not envied may learn the art of procuring love.

第一句为双重否定，第二句except也是个否定意义的词，“except：prep.除...之外；conj. 1. 除了 2. 要不是；但是”。

参考译文：为此，如果不另谋更为简便易行的办法，就休想赢得好的伴侣的赞赏。但是，除了那些景仰真正才学品德和理性尊严的人之外，人类对于其他人都是宽大为怀，所以，只要能够善解人意便总能赢得善意的回报，只要不遭人妒忌便能赢得他人喜爱。（聂振雄译）

And I can discover no political evil in suffering bullies, sharpers, and rakes, to rid the world of each other by a method of their own; where the law hath not been able to find an expedient.

该句为双重否定。

And I can discover no political evil in suffering bullies, sharpers, and rakes, to rid the world of each other by a method of their own; where the law hath not been able to find an expedient.

参考译文：并且，在法律尚有效对策的地方面，容忍恃强凌弱者、诈骗者和浪荡子自己采取方法来相互铲除，以求清理世界——我看不出这样做有什么政治祸害。.（汪义群译）

延伸阅读：

英语隐性否定浅析

浅谈英语中的_隐形_否定句

含蓄否定(英文)

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