double negative

double negative
a syntactic construction in which two negative words are used in the same clause to express a single negation.
[1820-30]
Usage. Double or multiple negation was standard in English through the time of Shakespeare. An oft-quoted line from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (c1390) exemplifies the practice in earlier English: "He never yet no vileynye ne sayde" (He never said anything discourteous). Similar uses of double or multiple negation to reinforce or strengthen a negative are universally considered nonstandard in modern English: They never paid me no money. He didn't have nothing to do with it. They do not occur in educated speech or writing, where any and anything would be substituted for no and nothing in such examples.
Other uses of double negatives are fully standard. Occasionally a double negative strongly suggests an affirmative alternative: We cannot just say nothing about the problem (We must say something about the problem). The use of a negative before an adjective or adverb having a negative sense or with a negative prefix is also standard and is the figure of speech known as litotes, in which something is affirmed by denying its opposite: In the not unlikely event that the bill passes, prices will certainly rise. St. Paul said that he was "a citizen of no mean city" (Tarsus in Cilicia; Acts 21:39), meaning that the city was important. See also hardly.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Double Negative — may refer to: Double negative, concept in linguistics Double negative elimination, logic theory Double negation, logic theory p = p; when extended to infinite collections it is disallowed in intuitionistic logic; also considered by some to be one …   Wikipedia

  • double negative — 1. • He never did no harm to no one The Archers (radio broadcast), 1987. This, and other double negative constructions, can easily be found in all varieties of English used throughout the world. It is commonly associated with poorly educated East …   Modern English usage

  • double negative — ► NOUN Grammar 1) a negative statement containing two negative elements (e.g. didn t say nothing), regarded as incorrect in standard English. 2) a positive statement in which two negative elements are used to produce the positive force, e.g.… …   English terms dictionary

  • double negative — n two negative words used in one sentence when only one is needed in correct English grammar, for example in the sentence I don t want nobody to help me! …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • double negative — noun count a sentence in which two negative words such as not, don t, or no one are used when only one would be correct, for example in the sentence I don t want no dinner …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • double negative — n. the use of two negatives in a single statement having a negative force (Ex.: “I didn t hear nothing”): now generally regarded as nonstandard …   English World dictionary

  • Double negative — This article is about the linguistic construct. For other uses, see Double Negative (disambiguation). A double negative occurs when two forms of negation are used in the same sentence. Multiple negation is the more general term referring to the… …   Wikipedia

  • double negative — noun 1. an affirmative constructed from two negatives A not unwelcome outcome • Hypernyms: ↑affirmative 2. a grammatically substandard but emphatic negative I don t never go • Hypernyms: ↑negative * * * noun, pl ⋯ tives [count …   Useful english dictionary

  • double negative — noun Grammar 1》 a negative statement containing two negative elements (e.g. he didn t say nothing), regarded as incorrect in standard English. 2》 a positive statement in which two negative elements are used to produce the positive force, e.g.… …   English new terms dictionary

  • double negative — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms double negative : singular double negative plural double negatives a sentence in which two negative words such as not , don t , or no one are used when only one would be correct, for example in the sentence I… …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”