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What Is a Double Negative?
When two negative markers or two negative structures are used in the same clause, a double negative is formed. Sentences with double negatives are not grammatically correct.
What Are Negative Markers?
Here is a list of common words that negate a sentence:
Common Negative Pronouns
Negative pronouns indicate the absence of people or things. When these pronouns are used in a clause, the verb remains affirmative and no negative adverb can be used. Here are some of the most common negative pronouns:
Common Negative Adverbs
Negative adverbs negate the whole clause and the verbs that follows them most be affirmative.
"Not" is one of the most commonly used negative adverbs that comes after auxiliary and modal verbs to negate the sentence.
not
never
barely
scarcely
hardly
Common Negative Determiners
Negative determiners come before nouns to negate them. Like the other negative markers, they cannot be used with another negative structure, for example a negative verb or adverb, in the same clause.
no
neither
none of
Double Negation
If two negative words, for example a negative noun or pronoun and a negative verb are used in the same clause, a double negative is formed, which is not grammatically acceptable. Look at the examples:
I don't want nothing from you!
The correct sentence would be 'I want nothing from you,' or 'I don't want anything from you.'
I can't hardly wait for the waiter to bring my order.
The correct sentence would be 'I can hardly wait for the waiter to bring my order.'
Spoken English
In some dialects of English, you might hear double or even triple negatives. Remember that they are not considered acceptable in standard English speech or writing.
We couldn't never work with nobody like that.
He never says nothing interesting to no one.
What is Not a double Negative?
In some cases, "not" can be used with a negative adjective or adverb. In such cases, although the adjective or adverb is semantically negative, it does not have a grammatical negative marker; rather, it is morphologically negative. As a result, the result is not a double negative and is grammatically acceptable.
It's not uncommon to see deer in this area.
He was not unhappy with the results.
This sentence basically means "he was happy" but the use of this structure conveys a weaker sense that the adjective "happy".
When is a Double Negative Acceptable?
A special case where two negative structures are allowed in the same sentence can be seen in the following examples where a negative auxiliary or modal verb is followed by the adverb "not" and the main verb. These emphatic double negatives are grammatically acceptable.
I can't just not think about it.
I won't not try this time.
Review
English grammar does not allow use of two negative markers in the same sentence. Common negative markers are
Negative Pronouns | Nobody | Nothing | No one | None | Nowhere |
|---|
Negative Adverbs | Not | Never | Hardly | Barely |
|---|
Negative Determienrs | No | None of | Neither |
|---|
Quiz:
Which of the following sentences contains a double negative and is grammatically incorrect?
I don't have anything to eat.
She has no money to buy a gift.
They didn't ever understand.
It wasn't nothing to worry about.
Which sentence does not contain a double negative and is grammatically correct?
He doesn't want nothing from me.
She has never seen nobody at the store.
I can't not tell him the truth.
They can't hardly hear the music.
Sort the words to make a sentence.
Match each sentence with the correct explanation that shows why it is a double negative.
Correct the double negative in each sentence.
She didn’t tell nobody about the secret. → She
about the secret.
He won't never change his mind.→ He
his mind.
I don't need no help with this project. → I
with this project.
We couldn't find nothing at the store. → We
at the store.
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