By using thc example sentences, the author stresses on the relationship between negative words and all the other elements within the scope of negation, and analyzes the focus of formal negation and semantic negation.

This paper mainly discusses one of the special expressions of negative meaning in the English language, i.

It can express many different negative meanings.

The explanation of the negative meaning and syntax of the structure “No a No b” are analyzed,and it is pointed out that the populaity of the structure “No a No b” is closely related with Chinese people s dialectical mind.

Affirmative set structures such as ”but” clause or phrase, ”than/rather than”phrase, ”from/off/out of”phrases, ”too…to” phrase, ”the last”+ infinitive phrases and ”could/might/should/ought to/would”+perfect-aspect infinitives are used to express indirect negative meanings.

This thesis studies ambiguity in negation in Mandarin Chinese and English and aims at establishing a linguistic model for the depression of ambiguity in discussion through the interplay of syntax, semantics and pragmatics.

Firstly, why does a time expression have to occur before a verb in this pattern? Secondly, why isn’t there a corresponding affirmative pattern? Thirdly, why can “mei (you)” occur with “le” in this pattern? There are two types of negation, namely quantitative negation and negative negation.