Among the many challenges learning English as second language poses, an all time classic is a double negative. Since double negatives do exist and in fact are quite correct in other languages, for instance Spanish, many ESL students have to face the fact that in English they are not correct and therefore should not be used. What is a double negative, you might ask. It is is the nonstandard usage of two negatives used in the same construction. In a double negative sentence, they cancel each other and create a positive. Today, they are considered grammar mistakes.

The standard use of negatives in English can be understood from a mathematical concept. If you have two positives, for example + + = +, the result will be another positive. Now take a look at this. If we have two negatives, - - = +, they will equal another positive. In math in order to have a negative you would need to do this - + = - or + - = -. In other words you need a combination of a positive and negative to have a negative. Sounds a bit technical, right? Look at these examples that illustrate this concept. Remembering that two negatives form a positive will help you to avoid the "double negative" grammar problem:

I don't want no coffee.

So, don't is clearly negative and so is the word no. Here we have a double negative. The solution to this would be to say something like: I don't want any coffee.

Since the word any is not negative, your problem is solved. Here is a list that has words that are considered negative. Use them once in your sentences and your statements will be negative.

no, not, none, nothing, nowhere, nobody, no one, hardly, scarcely, barely, neither

Here are some more examples.

I didn't see nothing. - wrong!; I didn't see anything. - right!

There wasn't no one there. - wrong!; There wasn't anyone there. - right!

I don't hardly have time. - wrong!; I hardly have any time. - right!

There isn't nowhere to park. - wrong!; There isn't anywhere to park. - right!

We didn't have nobody to help us. - wrong!; We didn't have anybody to help us. - right!

He can't barely move. - wrong!; He can barely move. - right!

She didn't scarcely have anything to eat. - wrong!; She scarcely had anything to eat. - right!

Just keep in mind that nothing is impossible. By learning and practising the correct use of these words in your ESL programs you can avoid problems in the future. And no matter how many times you hear them in rock songs, remember: just say no to the double negative!

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Susan Thomason has written numerous articles for LCI English Center, an ESL school in Denver, Colorado. LCI offers the best English training through experienced teachers and high quality programs. Check out more ESL articles at www.englishlci.com/blog