both not 的部分否定问题

题目

both not 的部分否定问题
选择] The two brave fighters gave their lives for freedom of the motherland._______were not afraid of death.
A.Both of them B.They both C.All of them D.They all
They both
我查阅了一些语法书,都说both与not连用是部分否定,但是这里They both were not afraid of death是完全否定,Both of them were not afraid of death 是部分否定.那么,也就是说both 与not 连用不一定是部分否定,也有可能是完全否定了?那么什么样的情况下,它是完全否定?有没有什么规律?

答案

both和not搭配,一般是部分否定,neither才是完全否定,两者都不,例如：
Both of the sentences aren't correct.
Both of my students didn't get an A.
Neither of the sentences is correct.
Neither of my students got an A.
但是如果both放在了be动词、助动词之后,一般动词之前,或者主语之后,作了同位语,则both not表示完全否定,如
They both didn't get an A.
希望我能帮助你解疑释惑.