Grammar and Language Workbook

Unit 6, Adverbs 143

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Grammar

Lesson 40

Avoiding Double Negatives

Negative wordsexpress the idea of not or no. The adverb not often appears in the

form of a contraction.

is + not = isn’t do + not = don’t will + not = won’t

was + not = wasn’t did + not = didn’t have + not = haven’t

were + not = weren’t can + not = can’t could + not = couldn’t

Negative words are the opposite of affirmative words. Affirmative wordsshow

the idea of yes. Each negative will have several opposite affirmatives.

NEGATIVE AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE AFFIRMATIVE

never ever, always nobody somebody, anybody

nothing something, anything nowhere somewhere, anywhere

Using two negatives in a sentence creates a double negative. Avoid using more

than one negative in a sentence. Correct a double negative by using an affirmative

word in place of one of the negative words.

Incorrect: The teacher didn’t grade no papers.

Correct: The teacher graded no papers. The teacher didn’t grade any papers.

Exercise 1 Underline the word in parentheses that best completes each sentence.

We didn’t see (none, any).

1. My father doesn’t (never, ever) want to vacation in Florida.


2. Bill doesn’t think (nothing, anything) is as much fun as mountain climbing.


3. My mother says she isn’t (no, a) swimmer.


4. There weren’t (no, any) apples on the tree.


5. There isn’t (no, any) easy way to decide where to go.


6. Aaron wasn’t (never, ever) able to keep up with the older boys.


7. We didn’t see (nothing, anything) interesting at the flea market.


8. The book can’t be kept (no, any) longer.


9. My brother didn’t break (no, any) windows.


10. The band didn’t play (nowhere, anywhere) last week.