158 Chapter 8 Negation and related phenomena
Exercises1. Are the following clauses grammatically
positive or negative? Give evidence for
your answers.
i Yo u're so negative I want to strangle
you.
ii I disagree with all of you.
iii They're always complaining about
things of no importance at all.
iv I can do nothing to help you.
v Never befo re had they offe red such
good terms.
vi That's absolute nonsense, you brainless
ninny.
vii We finished the job in no time.
viii Everybody hates lying, mealy-mouthed,
pontificating little weasels like you.
ix We can 't just not answer their letter.
x There's hardly any chance of them
changing their mind.- The following examples have non-verbal
clausal negation; construct equivalent
examples with verbal negation.
i He had told neither the boss nor her
secretary.
ii They were impressed by none of the
candidates.
iii We have nowhere to hide.
iv I saw no one on the road.
v We 're taking neither of them with us.- Discuss the difference in meaning between
the following:
i He had read a fe w books on the
subject.
ii He had read fe w books on the subject. - For each of the following words or expres
sions, construct one example where it
behaves as a non-affirmative item and
one where it is not polarity-sensitive:
[i] anything; [ii] kick the bucket; [iii] need
(verb); [iv] whatever; [v] yet.