Thursday Tidbits - Double Negatives...

Double Negatives


A mistake many English learners make  has to do with the use of negatives in a sentence. In English two negatives cancel each other and the sentence becomes positive, which is confusing and considered incorrect.

Some Examples:

I have not never done my work.

Really means: I have done my work.

Intended Meaning: I never do my work.

He doesn’t like nobody.

Really means: He likes some people.

Intended Meaning: He doesn’t like anybody.

She hasn’t been mean to no one.

Really means: She is mean to some people.

Intended Meaning: She is never mean.

Check yourself

Make the sentences correct by removing a negative.

1. She hasn’t never paid her bills late.
2. He is never nice to nobody.
3. The company hasn’t had no problems in years.
4. He isn’t happy because no one likes him.
5. The airplane has never had no wings.
6. The dogs in the street never bite nobody.

 Answers to last week’s Check Yourself

1. It is (probable / probably) that she will forget the appointment.
2. The team will (probably / likely) have a losing season.
3. He will (probable / probably) come to the party later.
4. It seems (likely, probably) that the test will be difficult.
5. The harder he tries, it is more and more (probably / probable) that he will succeed.
6. He is (likely / probably) looking for a new job.
7. I don’t think it is (probably / likely) that there will be a lot of people at the concert.
8. They can (probable / probably) fix the car before 3pm.
9. He is (likely / probable) tired from working too hard.
10. The fact that his cell phone doesn’t work is (probably / probable) due to the fact that the battery is dead.