“not so much as”是英语中一个多功能短语,核心含义围绕“否定程度”或“比较侧重”,具体可分为两大常用用法,以下结合结构、示例和易错点详细说明:
这是最常见的用法,突出“完全没有做/拥有某件最基本的事”,相当于“not even”(甚至不),但语气更正式、强调。
接名词:主语 + 助动词(do/did/does)/be动词 + not so much as + 名词
He didn’t so much as a penny to the charity.(他连一分钱都没捐给慈善机构。)
She is not so much as a casual acquaintance to me.(对我来说,她连泛泛之交都算不上。)
接动词原形(需与前面的助动词搭配):主语 + 助动词 + not so much as + 动词原形
I didn’t so much as get a chance to speak.(我连说话的机会都没有。)
He didn’t so much as lift a finger to help.(他连帮忙的手指头都没动一下。)
倒装结构(强调否定,更正式):Not so much as + 名词/动词 + 助动词 + 主语
Not so much as a hello did he say.(他连“你好”都没说。)
Not so much as think about it did she.(她连想都没想过。)
此时短语用于对比两个事物,强调“后者(B)比前者(A)更准确/符合实际”,结构为“not so much A as B”(A和B需保持词性/结构平行,如均为名词、形容词、从句等)。
接名词:It’s not so much a hobby as an obsession.(与其说这是爱好,不如说这是痴迷。)
接形容词:He’s not so much angry as disappointed.(他与其说生气,不如说失望。)
接从句:It’s not so much that I hate math as that I find it confusing.(与其说我讨厌数学,不如说我觉得它难理解。)
接介词短语:She chose the job not so much for the money as for the experience.(她选这份工作与其说是为了钱,不如说是为了经验。)
1、 两种用法的核心差异:
用法1是否定“最基本的行为/存在”(连…都不);
用法2是比较“两个事物的侧重”(与其…不如)。
2、 平行结构要求(用法2):
A和B必须词性/结构一致,否则会出现语法错误。
错误:The movie is not so much boring as a waste of time.(boring是形容词,a waste of time是名词,不平行)
正确:The movie is not so much boring as a waste of time. → 调整为:The movie is not so much boring as wasteful of time.(均为形容词性)或 It’s not so much a boring movie as a waste of time.(均为名词短语)
若句子强调“完全没做/没有”→ 用用法1(甚至不);
若句子在“对比两个事物的侧重”→ 用用法2(与其…不如)。
通过以上分析,结合示例练习,就能熟练掌握“not so much as”的两种核心用法啦!