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Everyday Grammar: Double Negatives

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In this weeks episode of Everyday Grammar,


weregoing to talk about two common types of doublenegatives.
A double negative is when you use twonegative words in the same clause of a sentence.
Lets take a real-world example. In
2012, PresidentObama spoke at United Nations about the Iran nuclearissue.
America wants to resolve this issue throughdiplomacy, and
we believe that there is still time andspace to do so. But that time is not unlimited.
What did the president mean when he said notunlimited? Mr. Obamas double negative sta
tementconfused many people.
English teachers do not like double negatives because they can be confusingand illogical.
Starting in elementary school, teachers tell students to avoidthem.
But many native English speakers still use double negatives.
There are two types of double negatives.
The first kind of double negative is when two negative words form a positivestatement. Whe
n President Obama said, Time is not unlimited, the negativenot and
the negative prefix un cancel each other out. What Mr. Obamameant is
that time is limited for Iran. Politicians,
lawyers and diplomatssometimes use this type of double negative in sensitive situations.
The second type of double negative is when two negatives form a strongernegative.
For example, I dont know nothing. When you place a verbbetween two negative words,
the result is usually a stronger negative.
But, if you told an English teacher, I dont know nothing,
the teacher wouldprobably correct you with, I dont know anything.
This kind of doublenegative is taboo in professional and academic situations. Some people
see it as a sign of being poorly educated.
But English speakers have been using double negatives for centuries.
Thefirst English translation of
the Bible by King James used double negatives.William Shakespeare even used a triple ne
gative in his play Richard III.Shakespeare wrote, I never was nor never will be.
Was Shakespeare wrong?

Robert Lowth

It was Robert Lowth who decided the double negativehad


no place in English grammar. Robert Lowth was aleader in the Church of England. In 1762,
he wrote abook called A Short Introduction to English Grammar.Mr. Lowth proposed many r
estrictions on Englishgrammar, many of them inspired by Latin. Over theyears, his rules be
came the standard for teachinggrammar all over the English-speaking world.
But the double negative is alive and well, especially ininformal speech. In fact, some of
the richness of theEnglish language comes from ignoring the rules. Listenfor
the double negative in the song Satisfaction by theRolling Stones.
"I cant get no satisfaction
I cant get no satisfaction
Cause I try and I try"
Would the song have the same effect if Rolling Stones singer Mick Jaggerhad said,
I cannot get any satisfaction?
And surely Robert Lowth would not approve of pop star Rihannas use of
thedouble negative in her song called Numb.
I dont care, cant tell me nothing ...
The double negative is just one example of
the difference between howEnglish is taught in school and how it is sometimes spoken.
So next time you get frustrated with English grammar,
dont blame yourteacher. Blame Robert Lowth.
Im Jonathan Evans.
Adam Brock wrote and produced this story for VOA Learning English. AshleyThompson was
the editor.
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Reference
Double Negative Type 1:
Negative + negative = weak positive
Examples:
She is not incorrect. (She IS correct)
The plan is not without risk. (The plan HAS risk)
Time is not unlimited. (Time IS limited)
TIP: This type of negative is grammatically acceptable, but should be avoided. It
is used when the speakers want to be indirect and avoid offendingsomeone.
Double Negative Type 2:
Negative + verb + negative = strong negative
Examples:
I havent seen nobody. (I havent seen anybody.)
I cant get no satisfaction. (I cant get any satisfaction.)
Dont tell me nothing. (Dont tell me anything.)
TIP:
This type of double negative is sometimes used in informal spokenEnglish. One should avoi
d using it in academic and professional situations
especially in TOEFL, IELTS, college or job application letters.
______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story


double negative n. a grammatical construction in which two negative wordsare used in
the same clause to express a single negation.
clause n. a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb
illogical adj. not showing good judgment : not thinking about things in
areasonable or sensible way : not logical

taboo n. not acceptable to do


William Shakespeare n. English poet, playwright, and actor, widelyregarded as
the greatest writer in the English language.
propose v. to suggest (something, such as a plan or theory) to
a person orgroup of people to consider
inspire v. having a particular cause or influence
informal adj. relaxed in tone : not suited for serious or official speech andwriting

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