little
1.little和a little不同(参见a,an 32),但only a little或but a little等于little。
2.little和small略有不同,参见small
3.not a little作“许多的”、“许多”或“很”解,no little作“许多的”解,都跟not a bit(一点儿也不)和not in the least(一点儿也不)大不相同。比较下面各句:
- It has given him not a little trouble. (这给他带来许多麻烦。)
- He spent not a little on books. (他买书用去了许多钱。)
- He was not a little surprised. (他很惊奇。)
- He took no little pains over it. (他在这上面费了很多力。)
4.a little boy和a little water两种表达方式在语法结构上不同。a little cake可能有两个意思:“一个小饼”或“一点儿饼”。a little pain也可能有两个意思:“一个小痛”或“一点儿痛”。
5.注意Little did I think of it等句子里用did I think,不用I thought。