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double negative
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Double Negative
In grammar, a construction that uses two negatives instead of one to convey a negative meaning (for example, ‘I don't want no trouble’). This is not Standard English but is common in some dialects.
Standard English accepts two types of double-negative construction: with an adjective that contains a negation (‘it is not unusual’); and in sentences where the two negatives reinforce each other (‘He would never have done it, not even if his life depended on it’). Sentences of the type ‘I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't the messenger at the door now’ are considered informal.
© Research Machines plc 2008. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of Research Machines plc.
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adjectival phrase
adjective
adverb
adverbial clause
adverbial phrase
affix
agreement
antecedent (grammar)
apposition
article (grammar)
aspect
auxiliary verb
clause
complement (language)
complex sentence
conditional clause
conjugation
conjunction (language)
connective
continuous tense
declarative sentence
demonstrative
determiner
diminutive
direct object
direct speech
double negative
exclamative sentence
finite (grammar)
future in the past
future tense
grammar
grammatical boundary
imperative
indirect object
indirect speech
inflection (grammar)
interrogative
intransitive verb
irregular verb
major sentence
minor sentence
modal verb
mood (grammar)
non-finite verb
noun
noun clause
noun phrase
number (language)
object (grammar)
parsing
part of speech
participle
passive voice
past participle
past tense
perfect tense
person
phrasal verb
phrase (language)
phrase-structure grammar
plural
predicate
prefix
preposition
prepositional phrase
present participle
present tense
pronoun
regular verb
sentence (grammar)
sentence analysis
sentence structure
simple tense
strong verb
subject (grammar)
subordinate clause
syntax
tautology
tense
transitive verb
verb
verb phrase
voice (grammar)
weak verb
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