Double Negatives — use, repair, and exceptions
one negative per clause (standard English)
any-words after negatives
dialect & stylistic notes
What counts as a double negative?
Two negative words in the same clause. In standard English we normally use only one negative word; the extra negative should be replaced by an any- word or removed.
- ✘ I don’t know nothing. → ✔ I don’t know anything. / ✔ I know nothing.
- ✘ She didn’t go nowhere. → ✔ She didn’t go anywhere. / ✔ She went nowhere.
- ✘ He can’t hardly hear. → ✔ He can hardly hear.
Why? Words like no, never, nobody, nothing, hardly, scarcely, barely already make the clause negative.
Common negative words
| Adverbs | not, never, hardly, scarcely, barely, seldom, rarely, nowhere |
|---|---|
| Pronouns & determiners | no, none, nobody, no one, nothing, neither (…nor) |
| Auxiliaries | don’t/doesn’t/didn’t, isn’t/aren’t/wasn’t/weren’t, can’t, shouldn’t |
| Non-standard | ain’t (dialectal/very informal; avoid in standard writing) |
Repair map: swap the second negative for a positive-polarity item
| Double negative | Standard option A | Standard option B |
|---|---|---|
| never | ever after a negative: I haven’t ever tried it. | Use only never: I never tried it. |
| nobody/no one/nothing/nowhere | anybody/anyone/anything/anywhere with a negative verb | Keep the no- word and make the verb positive |
| no/none/neither | any/any of/either with a negative verb | or keep no/none/neither and use a positive verb |
| hardly/scarcely/barely + extra negative | remove the extra negative | e.g. ✔ I can hardly breathe. |
neither / none and verb agreement
- neither + singular noun ✔ Neither candidate is suitable.
- neither of + plural noun/pronoun ✔ Neither of the answers is / are correct. Singular is more formal; plural is common in speech.
- none of can take singular or plural: None of the students is/are here.
With no one / nobody we usually use singular verbs, and they/them for a neutral pronoun: No one has arrived; they texted me.
Polarity items after negatives
After a negative, prefer any- words and certain adverbs:
- any, anybody, anywhere, anything
- ever, at all, yet, either (for alternatives)
✔ We don’t have any time left yet. ✘ We don’t have no time.
Scope: where does the negation apply?
- Standard I don’t think he has anything. (=My opinion is negative.)
- Different meaning I think he has nothing. (=I believe he has zero.)
Avoid mixing two negatives across the same clause when you mean only one negative idea.
When two negatives are acceptable (style, not grammar mistakes)
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| not + negative adjective/adverb (litotes) | softens to “quite/partly” | It’s not impossible (= possible). Her answer was not unreasonable. |
| can’t / couldn’t + not + V | “impossible not to” → moral/strong obligation | I can’t not help him. |
| not without + noun/V-ing | “only with…” | We can’t finish not without your notes. |
| Dialectal “negative concord” | used in some varieties for emphasis | I ain’t got no time. Acceptable in lyrics/dialogue; avoid in standard writing/exams. |
Quick reference
| Goal | Use | Model |
|---|---|---|
| Make a clause negative | one negative word | We don’t need any help. |
| Negative subject | no- word + positive verb | Nobody came. |
| After negative verbs | any/ever/at all/either | She hasn’t met anyone ever. |
| With hardly/scarcely/barely | no extra not | They could barely move. |
- No double negatives in standard English: keep one negative per clause.
- Stylistic exceptions (litotes like not bad) are polite understatement, not errors.
- Alternatives to show time change: no longer / not … any more (avoid ✘ don’t … no more in standard English).
Exercises:
Double Negatives: Use & Pitfalls
Choose the correct options to complete the sentences below.
1
I didn’t see
at the station.
2
She hasn’t told
about the surprise.
3
We hardly did
work yesterday.
4
There isn’t
reason to worry.
5
We didn’t go
last night.
6
my brother nor my sister likes spicy food.
7
He hasn’t finished his homework
.
8
She left without saying
.
9
You don’t need to do
— I’ve already handled it.
10
The company said
about costs during the briefing.
Double Negatives: Use & Pitfalls
Choose the correct options to answer these questions.
1
Choose the correct sentence.
A.
B.
C.
2
Choose the best sentence for standard English.
A.
B.
C.
3
Complete the idea correctly: There ____ any reason to worry.
A.
B.
C.
4
Choose the correct sentence.
A.
B.
C.
5
Pick the standard form.
A.
B.
C.
6
Choose the correct sentence.
A.
B.
C.
7
Choose the correct sentence about tonight.
A.
B.
C.
8
Which sentence is correct?
A.
B.
C.
9
Choose the correct way to say “both answers are wrong”.
A.
B.
C.
10
Choose the correct sentence about last night.
A.
B.
C.
Double Negatives: Use & Pitfalls
Rewrite these sentences to avoid using double negatives.
1
Original: “I do not want no trouble.” ⇒ I any trouble.
2
Original: “She did not say nothing about the change.” ⇒ She anything about the change.
3
Original: “We cannot find no seats.” ⇒ We any seats.
4
Original: “There is not nobody at the desk.” ⇒ There anybody at the desk.
5
Original: “He never said nothing to me.” ⇒ He to me.
6
Original: “I cannot hardly hear you.” ⇒ I hear you.
7
Original: “They will not do nothing unless you ask.” ⇒ They unless you ask.
8
Original: “No one did not call me back.” ⇒ No one back.
9
Original: “You do not need no help.” ⇒ You help.
10
Original: “We did not go nowhere on holiday.” ⇒ We on holiday.