核心问题
Look at these dusty tables and chairs! You may have not cleaned them for long. [《高中英语教科书》第二册(下),人教社,p.82] 上句中的 may have not cleaned 的说法是否正确?
词典解答
在规范的英语中,在对 may(might, should, can) + have done 结构进行否定时,否定词 not 应放在情态动词之后,不定式的完成式之前:
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You might not have met my grandfather. 你也许没有见过我的祖父。
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They shouldn't have come. 他们本不该来的。
由此看来,高中英语教科书中的那句话应当改为:
You may not have cleaned them for a long time.
还应补充指出,原书中的 for long 也用错了,应当改为 for a long time, 见 for long/for a long time。