Class 23-2: Avoiding Double Negatives
“I am not very good with using chainsaws.”
Rules: You cannot have two negative words within the same clause. | Examples: Incorrect: I’m not going to no party. Correct: I’m not going to the party. Incorrect: I don’t have no money. Correct: I don’t have any money. |
You can have two negative words within the same sentence but in two different clauses. | Correct: I can’t think of why he isn’t here. |
Exercise
Exercise 1: Underline the sentence that is grammatically correct?
1. A. I can’t go to no game. | B. I can’t go to any game.
2. A. I won’t have any money. | B. I won’t have no money.
3. A. I don’t have no change | B. I have no change.
4. A. She isn’t going to take no shower. | B. She isn’t going to take a shower.
5. A. They didn’t read no books over the summer. | B. They didn’t read any books over the summer.
6. A. Tom doesn’t have no paper; you must buy your own. | B. Tom doesn’t have any paper; you must buy your own.
7. A. She doesn’t have any money. | B. She hasn’t got no money.
8. A. Mike can’t get no sicker. | B. Mike can’t get any sicker.
9. A. Ashley and Mike aren’t not dating anymore. | B. Ashley and Mike are not dating anymore.
10. A. I can’t get no rest. | B. I can’t get any rest.
Tag:Negatives
