Double NegativesA mistake someone should never make!

Double negatives are two negative words used in a sentence.

This combination gives the clause a positive meaning

rather than the intended negative meaning.

Incorrect I have not seen no evidence of employee theft. Correct I have seen no evidence of employee theft. I have not seen any evidence of employee theft.

Double Negatives

Incorrect I couldn’t hardly believe that the computer was missing. Correct I could hardly believe that the computer was missing. I could not believe that the computer was missing.

Incorrect I can’t go nowhere until I help these customers.

Correct I can go nowhere until I help these customers. I cannot go anywhere until I help these customers.

Double Negatives

Replace one of the negative words with a positive word.

For Example: Instead of saying, “I don't have none," you would

correct it to say "I don't have any”.

In this instance, a negative + negative construction becomes a negative + positive construction

Correcting Double Negatives

Copy the sentences and make corrections to the double negatives found in each sentence. 1. I hardly got no money.

2. I ain’t got nothing to eat.

3. The pilot could not find nowhere to land.

Now, Let’s Practice…