【问】 New Concept English，Book 2，L.52有一道练习题：

I (near) (nearly)missed the bus this morning.

答案为nearly。但我搞不清楚句子的真正意义：到底是“我差点儿没赶上公共汽车”，还是“我差点赶上了公共汽车”呢?

【答】 如同almost一样，nearly放在动词前时表示眼看就要发生而实际上并未发生的事。也就是说，nearly实质上是对动词的否定，尽管是轻微的否定。

1. He was nearly run over by a car. (New Concept English，Book 2，L.52)

他差点儿被一辆汽车压过去。(实际上他未被压着)

2. The ball struck him so hard that he nearly fell into the water. (New Concept English.Book 2，L. 30)

球重重地击在他身上，他差点儿掉进河里去。(实际上他未掉进河里去)

3. I nearly fell off my bike. (PEU)

我差点儿(没)从自行车上摔下来。

4. I nearly stopped and asked what he wanted. (PEU)

我差点儿停下来问他有什么事。

(参见almost，miss)