cannot...too
- As for the time of the attack, Hitler told his reluctant generals, “the start cannot take place
too early. It is to take place in all circumstances (if at all possible) this autumn."
[原译]……“不能开始得太早。但是只要有可能，无论如何必须在今秋发动。”（《第三帝国的兴亡》）
- Young scientists cannot realize too soon that existing scientific knowledge is not nearly so complete, certain and unalterable as many textbooks seem to imply. [《新英语教程》(英语阅读)第三册, p. 413]
[原译]年轻科学家不能很快地就认识到现有的科学知识远不像许多教科书似乎所暗示的那样全面、那样肯定、那样一成不变。[《新英语教程》(英语阅读)《教师参考书B》第三册，p.135]
- "Let it deceive them, then, a little longer; it can not deceive them too much."
[原译]“那么,就让他们再受一会儿骗吧;不过骗他们也不能太过分。”(《双城记》,p.178)上面的译文似乎有误,请分析。
cannot...too 这个结构并不是表示“不可能太……”，而是表示“怎样……也不过分”“应尽量……”“越……越好”。cannot...too≈it is impossible to over + 动词原形。例如：
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We cannot estimate the value of modern science too much. (= It is impossible to overestimate the value of modern science.) 现代科学的价值,无论如何重视也不算过分。
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It cannot be too strongly emphasized that mathematics is the basis of science.
数学是科学的基础,这一点无论怎样强调都不算过分。
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'And a woman can't have too many hats,' she answered. (New Concept English, Book 2, p. 103) 她回答说：“女人买多多的帽子，也不能算多。”
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The young housewife cannot be too economical if she is to help her husband in his career. 年青的家庭主妇如果想支持丈夫的事业，无论怎样节俭都是不会过分的。
我们有许多学生虽然弄懂了 cannot...too 的含义和用法,但是仍弄不懂下面的句子。其实 can never...too 与 cannot...too 是同义的:
[ 'I find it beautiful,' I said. ] 'A man can never have too many ties.' (New Concept English, Book 2, p. 103)
我说：“……男人买多么多的领带，也不能算多。”
试译……“进攻越早开始越好。只要有可能，无论如何必须在今年秋天发动。”
试译年青的科学工作者应尽快认识到现有的科学知识绝不像许多教科书所暗示的那样全面、肯定、一成不变。
试译……无论怎么骗他们都不会过分的。
请做下面的英语试题：
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You cannot be ____ careful when you drive a car. A. very B. so C. too D. enough(全国四级,97.6-32)
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Jack is good, kind, hard-working and intelligent; ____, I can't speak too highly of him. A. as a result B. in a word C. by the way D. on the contrary(全国四级)
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You can't be ____ careful in making the decision as it was such a critical case. A. very B. quite C. too D. so(全国六级,90.1-54)