"let alone" 是一个否定语境下的递进连词短语,用于强调“前一件事已经不可能/做不到,后一件事更不可能/更不用提”,中文常译为:
"let alone" 的核心逻辑是:先提出一个“较低程度的否定事实”,再用 "let alone" 引出“更高程度/更极端的情况”,且前后两部分需保持结构平行(如均为动词、名词、形容词等)。
否定句(前半部分:较易/较低程度的否定) + let alone + 后半部分(更难/更极端的情况)
例如:
He can't read let alone write.
(他连读都不会,更不用说写了。)
I don't have money for rent let alone a vacation.
(我连房租都付不起,更别说度假了。)
① 连接动词(短语):
She doesn't speak French let alone teach it.
(她连法语都不会说,更不用说教了。)
We can't walk to the station let alone run.
(我们连走到车站都不行,更别说跑了。)
② 连接名词(短语):
Even a child can't lift this box let alone an adult.
(连小孩都搬不动这个箱子,更别说大人了。)
I don't need a new phone let alone the latest model.
(我连新手机都不需要,更别说最新款了。)
③ 连接形容词/副词:
The coffee isn't warm let alone hot.
(这咖啡连温的都不是,更别说热的了。)
He didn't run fast let alone win the race.
(他连跑快都做不到,更别说赢比赛了。)
④ 连接不定式/从句:
I don't have time to eat lunch let alone go shopping.
(我连吃午饭的时间都没有,更别说逛街了。)
I don't know his name let alone where he lives.
(我连他名字都不知道,更别说他住哪儿了。)
必须用于否定语境:前半部分必须是“否定句”(含 can't, don't, isn't 等否定词),否则逻辑不通。
✖ 错误:He can run fast let alone jump high.(肯定句不能用)
✔ 正确:He can't run fast let alone jump high.(他连跑快都不行,更别说跳高了。)
保持结构平行:前后两部分的语法结构要一致(如前面是“动词原形”,后面也用“动词原形”;前面是“名词”,后面也用“名词”)。
✖ 错误:I can't cook let alone baking a cake.(cook 是原形,baking 是动名词,不平行)
✔ 正确:I can't cook let alone bake a cake.(均为动词原形)
注意不要和 let sb. alone 混淆:
let alone:更不用说(连词短语,连接两个成分)
let sb. alone:别打扰某人;让某人独处(动词短语,后接人)
例如:
Don't let him alone — he's scared of the dark.(别让他一个人——他怕黑。)
He can't tie his shoes let alone dress himself.(他连鞋带都不会系,更别说自己穿衣服了。)
"let alone" 是否定句中的“递进否定”工具,核心是“前易后难,前否后更否”,只要记住“否定语境+平行结构”,就能正确使用啦!