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Questions and Answers
What is a double negative in a sentence?
What is the literal meaning of the sentence 'She does not have no money'?
Why is the use of double negatives considered improper in formal situations?
What is the speaker's intended meaning in the sentence 'She does not have no money'?
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Why is the improper use of double negatives acceptable in familiar conversation within specific regions or social groups?
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Who is responsible for the guideline that declared double negatives unacceptable in English grammar?
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What is the term for an understatement that uses two negatives to express a positive meaning?
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Which phrase is an example of litotes?
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How can a double negative be corrected?
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Which of these adverbs should not be paired with another negative word?
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Study Notes
The History and Proper Use of Double Negatives
- Double negatives were standard in some languages and considered correct in English centuries ago, as evidenced by Chaucer and Shakespeare's writings.
- In 1762, Bishop Robert Lowth's book "A Short Introduction to English Grammar" declared double negatives unacceptable and became the guideline for teaching English grammar.
- When the positive meaning of a double negative is intended, such as in the case of litotes, the double negative is considered correct.
- Litotes is a type of understatement that uses two negatives to express a positive, allowing for subtlety and nuance in language.
- Examples of litotes include phrases like "not unlikely" and "undeserved but not unwelcome," where the double negative forms the intended positive meaning.
- Negative words to avoid in double negatives include "no, not, never, none, nowhere, nobody, no one, nothing, without, neither," and contractions like "can't," "won't," and "aren't."
- Pairing negative words like "not no" or "don't never" creates literal meanings opposite of the intended meanings and should be avoided.
- Adverbs with a negative quality, such as "barely," "hardly," "scarcely," and "rarely," should not be paired with another negative word.
- Examples of sentences containing double negatives to avoid include "It won't do you no harm" and "I did not see nothing," where the intended meanings are opposite of the literal meanings.
- To correct a double negative, replace one of the negative words with a positive word, such as using "any, anybody, ever, or anything" instead of the double negative.
- Double negative questions, like "Jack can't (ever, never) get to work on time," require careful consideration of the intended meaning to choose the correct word.
- Understanding the intended meaning of a double negative is crucial in identifying improper use and avoiding confusion in language.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the history and proper use of double negatives in English with this quiz. Explore the origins of double negatives, learn about litotes, and understand how to avoid common mistakes when using negative words. Sharpen your language skills and gain a deeper understanding of when and how to use double negatives effectively.
