核心问题
She thought she had done fairly well, but she didn't think she had won. 我从英语教科书中学到 think 的否定式 + (that) 宾语从句, 否定要转移到从句中去。上句中的 didn't think 是否也把否定转移到宾语从句中去呢?
词典解答
think 等动词的一般现在时的否定式(don't think)通常把否定转移到宾语从句中去,见 transferred negation。但是,think 的一般过去时的否定式(didn't think)有时是表示“没有料到”的意思。这时并不发生否定的转移,而是否定 think 本身的:
-
We didn't think we'd be this late. 我们没有料到我们会来得这么晚。
-
Little did he think that I would be there as well. 他一点儿也没有料到我也去了那里。
-
He didn't think my appointment would generate such intense political fallout. (Hillary, Living History) 他没有料到对我的任命会引发那么剧烈的政治反应。
有时则是表示否定的转移,尤其是主语为第一人称时:
… and he asked me what I thought. I did not think he should run and told him so. (Hillary, Living History) ……我认为他不应当参选,我便坦白地告诉了他。
[句意]她认为她表演得相当好,但没有料到她会获胜。