否定的な内容を表現する文法

否定的な内容の英文を書く際には、文法に注意しなければなりません。
単純に肯定文に“not” もしくは “no” を入れるだけでは済まない場合が多いのです。
以下に、否定文を作成する際に起こる文法上の変化を見てみましょう。

［複数形の使用］否定文では必ず複数形が使われます。

○: None of the rats exhibited any abnormalities in this experiment.
×:  No rat exhibited an abnormality in this experiment.

○: None of the rat livers showed any evidence of toxicity.
×: No rat liver showed evidence of toxicity.

［or vs and］ 否定文では “and” ではなく“or” が使われます。

○: The level of the compound did not decrease in the blood or tissue.
×: The level of the compound did not decrease in the blood and tissue.

［all vs any］ 否定文では “all” ではなく“any” が使われます。

○: No abnormalities were detected in any animals.
×: No abnormalities were detected in all animals.

［either vs both］否定文では  “both” ではなく“either”  が使われます。

○: The desired results were not obtained with either method.
×: The desired results were not obtained with both methods.

［None vs all］否定文の中では “all” ではなく“none” が使われます。

○: None of the animals were affected.
×: All of the animals were not affected.