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  4. Double Negatives (e.g. I don’t know nothing)
Sentence Structure & Word Order

Double Negatives (e.g. I don’t know nothing)

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In standard English, you use only one negative word to make a sentence negative. Using two (for example don’t + nothing) is called a double negative, and it is a mistake.

What is a double negative?

A double negative is when two negative words (like not, don’t, nothing, never, no one) are in the same part of a sentence.

  • ❌ I don’t know nothing about it.
  • ✅ I don’t know anything about it.
  • ❌ She didn’t see no one.
  • ✅ She didn’t see anyone.
  • ❌ We can’t find nothing to eat.
  • ✅ We can’t find anything to eat.

Why is it wrong?

You may hear double negatives in songs, films or very casual speech. But in standard English (at work, in writing, in exams) they sound wrong, and some people may even understand the opposite meaning.

What to use instead?

Use only one negative word. After not, don’t, didn’t or never, use an any- word: anything, anyone, anybody, anywhere, ever.

  • I don’t need anything.
  • She didn’t talk to anyone.
  • We haven’t heard from anybody yet.

Or keep the verb positive and use the negative word: I know nothing about it.

💡 Tip

  • Use only one negative word in each part of a sentence.
  • After “don’t,” “can’t,” or “never,” use an any- word (anything, anyone, anywhere, ever).
  • “Nothing,” “no one,” and “nobody” are already negative: don’t use them with “don’t,” “can’t,” etc.

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 8Score: 0/8

I ___ about the problem, sorry.

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