【问】 I don’t think she knows English.

我们班同学对这个句子有不同的理解。不知哪个理解是正确的。

(A)我不认为她懂英语。

(B)我认为她不懂英语。

【答】 在没有语调的语境中，上面的句子可以作两种理解。这就是说，既可以把not理解为否定主句的，也可以把not理解为否定从句的。后一情况叫做否定的转移：位于主句中的否定词not被转移到宾语从句中去了。I don’t think he is honest. ≈I think he is not honest.只有极少数动词才容许有这种否定的转移：think，suppose，believe，imagine，expect，calculate，reckon，be supposed to，seem，appear，feel as if ，look as if等。此类动词的否定式在很多情况

下都是否定从句的。

1. I don't think it's a good idea. [=“I think it isn't a good idea.”]

我认为那不是一个好主意。

2. I didn't think he was happy. (GCE)

我认为他并不幸福。

3. I don't suppose that it is true.(=I suppose it isn't true.)

我认为那不是真的。

4. I don't suppose that anyone will object to my absence.[= 'I suppose no one will ob-ject...’] (Leech)

我估计没有人会反对我缺席。

5. I don't suppose I'll trouble you again. (Greene)

我认为我不会再打扰你。

6. She didn't imagine that we would say anything.[“She imagined we wouldn't say any-thing.”](CGEL)

她设想我们不会说什么的。