眾所周知，英語中的形容詞和副詞有比較級和級兩種形式。這兩種形式除了分別表示兩者之間和兩者以上之間的比較外，還可用來表示否定意義。這種用法主要有以下幾種：
1. “know better than +to do” 結構意為“曉得不應該做；不至于蠢到去做”。
如： She knows better than to go alone on such a night. 在這樣的夜晚，她不至于連不宜單獨外出也不知道。
注意下列三句有類似意義：
I am wiser than to belive that. 我不至于蠢到去相信這件事。
You have a better command of French than to make such mistakes. 你的法語較好，不至于犯這樣的錯誤。
He is more experienced than to do such a thing. 他比較有經驗，不至于做這樣的事。
2. “more than…can” 這種句型形式上是肯定的，實際上有否定含義。
如： The boys in the street have become very insolent and it is more than flesh and blood can bear. 街上的男孩們變得非常無禮，到了人所不能忍受的地步。
The beauty of the place is more than I can describe. 那地方美得無法形容。
This is more than I can tell. 這我簡直不懂。
He has bitten off more than he can chew. 他承擔了力所不能及的事。
3. 用 the last ， the least 等級形式表示強烈的否定意義。
如： He is the last man to tell a lie. 他是最不可能說謊的人。
This is the last place where I expected to meet you. 我萬萬沒有想到會在這兒碰上你。
That was the least of his worries. 那可是他最不擔心的事情。
1. “know better than +to do” 結構意為“曉得不應該做；不至于蠢到去做”。
如： She knows better than to go alone on such a night. 在這樣的夜晚，她不至于連不宜單獨外出也不知道。
注意下列三句有類似意義：
I am wiser than to belive that. 我不至于蠢到去相信這件事。
You have a better command of French than to make such mistakes. 你的法語較好，不至于犯這樣的錯誤。
He is more experienced than to do such a thing. 他比較有經驗，不至于做這樣的事。
2. “more than…can” 這種句型形式上是肯定的，實際上有否定含義。
如： The boys in the street have become very insolent and it is more than flesh and blood can bear. 街上的男孩們變得非常無禮，到了人所不能忍受的地步。
The beauty of the place is more than I can describe. 那地方美得無法形容。
This is more than I can tell. 這我簡直不懂。
He has bitten off more than he can chew. 他承擔了力所不能及的事。
3. 用 the last ， the least 等級形式表示強烈的否定意義。
如： He is the last man to tell a lie. 他是最不可能說謊的人。
This is the last place where I expected to meet you. 我萬萬沒有想到會在這兒碰上你。
That was the least of his worries. 那可是他最不擔心的事情。