Objectives

• define double negatives

• spot and correct sentences with double negatives

• appreciate how negative words could contribute to a positive views in life

Marissa M. Rongcales

 Boys Girls

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Write as many negative words as you could. The group with the most number of posted words wins!

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 If we follow the multiplication rules, a

negative X negative = positive

Therefore,

-3(-6) = 18​

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 Apparently, double negatives are okay in Math but not in English

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Double Negatives: Concept and Definition

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• Double negatives use two negatives in one sentence.

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• When this happens, it changes the meaning back to positive; the two negatives cancel each other out.

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Examples

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• I don’ t want no spinach.

• I don't have nothing to read

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How to Correct Double Negatives

1. Remove one of the negatives

   I don’t want no spinach.

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How to Correct Double Negatives

1. Remove one of the negatives

   I don’t want no spinach.

By MARISSA RONGCALES

How to Correct Double Negatives

1. Remove one of the negatives

   ​

   I don't have nothing to read.

By MARISSA RONGCALES

How to Correct Double Negatives

1. Remove one of the negatives

   ​

   I don't have nothing to read.

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How to Correct Double Negatives

2. Replace with an affirmative (ever, always, something, any, all, one, some)

1. ​

   I don't have nothing to read.

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How to Correct Double Negatives

2. Replace with an affirmative (ever, always, something, any, all, one, some)

1. ​

   I don't have anything to read.

By MARISSA RONGCALES

How to Correct Double Negatives

2. Replace with an affirmative (ever, always, something, any, all, one, some)

1. ​

   I don't want no spinach.

By MARISSA RONGCALES

How to Correct Double Negatives

2. Replace with an affirmative (ever, always, something, any, all, one, some)

1. ​

   I don't want any spinach.

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• Sometimes , it’s okay to use double negatives .

• One instance is when the negatives are in different clauses .

Exemptions

Marissa M. Rongcales

No, I don't like spinach

Sometimes , i t ’ s okay to use double negatives . One instance is when the negatives are in different clauses .

Exemptions

Marissa M. Rongcales

John won’t go nowhere on that bus.

Double negatives may happen with the use of a negative contraction:

Let's Analyze...

Marissa M. Rongcales

Wearing a seat belt is not unnecessary.

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(If wearing a seat belt is not unnecessary, then wearing a seat belt is necessary.)

Double negatives may involve the use of prefixes

Let's Analyze...

Marissa M. Rongcales

I couldn’t hardly understand his point.

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(If I could not hardly understand his point, then I could understand his point.)

Double negatives may involve the use of adverbs that are considered negative, such as scarcely, barely, hardly, seldom and rarely:

Let's Analyze...

Marissa M. Rongcales

I couldn’t hardly understand his point.

​

(If I could not hardly understand his point, then I could understand his point.)

Double negatives may involve the use of adverbs that are considered negative, such as scarcely, barely, hardly, seldom and rarely:

Let's Analyze...

Marissa M. Rongcales

The use of a double negative grammatical construction is sometimes intentional. Sometimes a double negative is used simply to produce a poetic effect. Sometimes a double negative is used to make a subtle point–using the negation of a negative statement to emphasize the affirmation of the positive of the statement. This is called a litotes:

Did you know?

Marissa M. Rongcales

They are not unhappy.

​Example:

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• They are unclear and confusing to the reader because their meanings are not straightforward.

• There are some literary techniques, however, that makes use of two negatives in a sentence. These are known as litotes.

• The definition of a double negative is a type of construction that uses two negatives.

• Most double negatives are considered grammatical errors.

Summary

Marissa M. Rongcales

Let's Reflect!

Share some negative words that had been thrown on you in the past and how were you able to turn those unpleasant words into achieving a positive views in life. 

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