Double Negatives Lesson

Avoiding Double Negatives

This is an exercise to check your understanding on how to avoid double negatives in your sentences.

What is double negatives?

• A negative word is used to deny, refuse or disagree with something for example 'no', 'don't', 'never' and 'none'.

• Double negatives are two negative words used in the same sentence. Using two negatives usually turns the sentence into a positive one. 

• Double negatives are generally discouraged in English because they are considered to be poor grammar and they can be confusing.

Example:

"She never goes with nobody."

Never and nobody are negative words or double negatives. The sentence means she goes out alone.

It can be quite confusing. That is why double negatives must be avoided.

How to avoid double negatives?

1. Remove one of the negative words

Example: She never goes with nobody - She goes out with nobody

2. Replace it with affirmative for example 'any', 'ever' etc.

Example: She never goes with nobody - She never goes out with anybody

Test your understanding!

Make sure you understand well before you answer the questions.

Avoid using double negatives in one sentence.

Multiple Choice

Ms. Gill doesn't have _________ patience for interruptions.

• no

• any

Multiple Choice

I didn't see __________ in the gym at that time.

• anybody

• nobody

Multiple Choice

His poor study habits _________ get him any scholarships.

• will

• won't

Multiple Choice

Until she took off her hat, there _________ no one who thought she would have purple hair!

• was

• wasn't

Multiple Choice

There ________ no excuse for that type of behavior.

• is

• isn't

Multiple Choice

John says he __________ seen either Alice or Susan all day.

• hasn't

• has

Multiple Choice

I can't find my keys ______________.

• nowhere

• anywhere

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct? Avoid double negatives.

• We hadn't barely started the project when the teacher called us back to class.

• We barely started the project when the teacher called us back to class.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• She can't hear you when you're whispering.

• She can't hardly hear you when you're whispering.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• Amanda doesn't rarely take out the trash.

• Amanda rarely takes out the trash.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• Kids don't hardly have time for homework on the weekend.

• Kids don't have time for homework on the weekend.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• I have never met a dog that I don't like!

• I haven't never met a dog that I don't like!

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• All the witnesses claimed that they didn't see nothing.

• All the witnesses claimed that they see nothing.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• He doesn't have anything but the clothes on his back.

• He doesn't have nothing but the clothes on his back.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• There aren't no presents left to be unopened.

• There aren't presents left to open.

THAT IS THE END OF THE QUESTIONS.

Hope you learn something new today.

Well done and thank you for participating.

Bye! See you next year!