Double Negative

In the vast world of language and grammar, double negatives hold a unique place. They are often misunderstood and misused, leading to confusion and miscommunication. This article aims to demystify double negatives, providing you with downloadable examples and quiz templates to help you master this intriguing grammatical concept. We’ll also guide you through the process of using double negatives correctly, and answer some frequently asked questions on the topic.

What is a Double Negative?

A double negative occurs when two negative words are used in the same clause, leading to a construction that can either contradict itself or create an unintended positive meaning. This linguistic feature is common in some dialects and informal speech, but it is typically considered incorrect in standard English grammar. Understanding double negatives is essential for clear and effective communication.

How Double Negatives Work

In standard English, a single negative is sufficient to negate a statement. When two negatives are used together, they can cancel each other out, resulting in a positive statement, which can cause confusion for the reader or listener. The two negative elements can include negative words like “not,” “no,” “never,” “nothing,” “nowhere,” and negative prefixes like “un-” and “dis-.”

Examples of Double Negatives

1. Incorrect:
   • “I don’t know nothing about it.”
   • Explanation: The double negatives “don’t” and “nothing” cancel each other out, implying that the speaker does know something about it.
   • Corrected:
     • “I don’t know anything about it.”
     • “I know nothing about it.”
2. Incorrect:
   • “She can’t find nowhere to sit.”
   • Explanation: The double negatives “can’t” and “nowhere” imply that she can find somewhere to sit.
   • Corrected:
     • “She can’t find anywhere to sit.”
     • “She can find nowhere to sit.”
3. Incorrect:
   • “We don’t need no education.”
   • Explanation: The double negatives “don’t” and “no” imply that education is needed.
   • Corrected:
     • “We don’t need any education.”
     • “We need no education.”

Purposeful Use of Double Negatives

In some dialects and informal contexts, double negatives are used intentionally for emphasis or stylistic reasons. This usage is often found in certain regional dialects, African American Vernacular English (AAVE), and various forms of artistic expression, such as music and literature.

Example:

• “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”
  • Explanation: This sentence uses a double negative for emphasis, commonly found in informal speech.

Double Negative Examples

1. I don’t know nothing about it.
2. She can’t find nowhere to sit.
3. We don’t need no education.
4. He didn’t say nothing about the meeting.
5. I can’t hardly believe it.
6. They don’t have no time to waste.
7. You shouldn’t do nothing about it.
8. There isn’t nobody who can help.
9. We don’t have no choice.
10. He can’t go nowhere without his phone.

Double Negative Words

no	none	never	nothing
not	nobody	nowhere	neither
can’t	isn’t	doesn’t	didn’t
won’t	couldn’t	wouldn’t	haven’t
shouldn’t	wasn’t	weren’t	hasn’t
ain’t	don’t	hadn’t	rarely

List Double Negative Sentence Examples

1. I can’t find my keys nowhere.
2. She hasn’t done nothing all day.
3. We didn’t get no mail today.
4. He won’t tell nobody his secret.
5. I can’t see nothing in this darkness.
6. They didn’t go nowhere for vacation.
7. You shouldn’t leave nothing on the table.
8. There aren’t no cookies left in the jar.
9. We won’t have no problems if we follow the rules.
10. She couldn’t hear nobody calling her.

1. Simple Double Negative Example

2. Understanding Double Negatives

3. Double Negation and the Pleonastic

4. Sample Double Negative Quiz Example

5. Correcting Double Negatives Example

6. Avoiding Double Negatives Example

7. Double Negatives Line Example

8. Basic Double Negatives Example

9. Editable Double Negative Example

Modern Double Negatives Example

10. Comparing the Weak Positive and Negative Concord

Fixing Double Negatives

1. Identify the Negative Words

• Look for words that indicate negation, such as “no,” “not,” “never,” “nothing,” “nowhere,” “nobody,” “none,” “can’t,” “won’t,” “didn’t,” etc.

2. Determine the Intended Meaning

• Understand what the sentence is trying to convey. Determine if the intent is to negate or affirm something.

3. Remove One of the Negatives

• Choose which negative word to remove based on the intended meaning. Usually, replace one of the negatives with a positive word or its corresponding positive form.

4. Replace with Positive Words (if necessary)

• Replace the second negative word with an appropriate positive word or phrase, such as “anything,” “anyone,” “anywhere,” “something,” etc.

5. Ensure Clarity and Correctness

• Read the revised sentence to ensure it clearly conveys the intended meaning without ambiguity.

Examples

1. Identify the Negative Words:
   • Original: “I can’t find my keys nowhere.”
   • Negatives: “can’t” and “nowhere”
2. Determine the Intended Meaning:
   • Intended meaning: “I can’t find my keys anywhere.”
3. Remove One of the Negatives:
   • Decide to keep “can’t” and replace “nowhere.”
4. Replace with Positive Words (if necessary):
   • Revised: “I can’t find my keys anywhere.”
5. Ensure Clarity and Correctness:
   • Final: “I can’t find my keys anywhere.”

Example Revision Process

Example 1:

• Original: “She hasn’t done nothing all day.”
• Identify Negatives: “hasn’t” and “nothing”
• Intended Meaning: “She hasn’t done anything all day.”
• Remove One Negative: Keep “hasn’t” and replace “nothing.”
• Replace with Positive: “anything”
• Final: “She hasn’t done anything all day.”

Example 2:

• Original: “We didn’t get no mail today.”
• Identify Negatives: “didn’t” and “no”
• Intended Meaning: “We didn’t get any mail today.”
• Remove One Negative: Keep “didn’t” and replace “no.”
• Replace with Positive: “any”
• Final: “We didn’t get any mail today.”

How to Use Double Negatives

Before we delve into the steps, it’s important to understand that double negatives are often used in literature as literary devices to add depth and complexity to the text. They can also be found in everyday speech, particularly in certain dialects and colloquial language.

Step 1: Understand the Purpose

The first step in using double negatives is to understand their purpose. In a Simple Sentence, a double negative can create an ironic or sarcastic tone, or it can be used to emphasize a point. In literature, it can contribute to the theme or element of the story.

Step 2: Identify the Negative Words

Identify the negative words in your sentence. These could be verbs, adverbs, pronouns, or even prefixes. Understanding the text structure can help you identify these words more easily.

Step 3: Construct the Double Negative

Once you’ve identified the negative words, construct your double negative. Remember, in standard English, two negatives make a positive. For example, in the Fused Sentence, “I can’t hardly wait,” the double negative implies that the speaker can indeed wait.

Step 4: Check for Clarity

Finally, check your sentence for clarity. Make sure the tone is clear and the double negative doesn’t confuse the reader. If you’re using it as a direct object, ensure it doesn’t disrupt the flow of the sentence.

Double negatives, while often misunderstood, can be a powerful tool in both literature and everyday language. By understanding their purpose, identifying negative words, constructing the double negative, and checking for clarity, you can master the use of double negatives. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to download our examples and quiz templates for further practice.