(a)I don't like it a bit.
(b) I don't like it a little.
句(a)和句(b)意思是否相同?
句(a)和句(b)的意思完全不同。前者表示“我一点儿也不喜欢它。”(I don't like it at all.),后者则表示“我很喜欢它。”(I like it a lot)。这是因为a bit不能成为否定的中心(请参见not a little/not a bit, slightly/in the slightest),而a little却可以成为否定的中心,I don't like it a little. 可以直译为:“我并不是喜欢它一点点。”(请参见slightly, focus of negation)
A. a bit, in the least, in the slightest 不在否定范围之内:
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It didn't hurt a bit when my tooth was pulled out. (LDCE) 我的一颗牙拔掉时一点儿也没痛。
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I didn't enjoy it in the least. (CGEL) 我一点儿也不喜欢它。
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We don't mind in the slightest. (CGEL) 我们一点儿也不介意。
B. a little 和 slightly 可在否定范围之内, 并成为否定中心:
They didn't praise him slightly. ("They praised him a lot.") (CGEL) 他们对他大加赞扬。
a bouquet of 见 a wide range of
a further + 复数名词 见 a good , another
a good + 复数名词 见 a good
a good deal/a good many 见 a great deal/a great many