6 Answers

Bob/PKB

Karma: 945575

Best answer!

When teaching, a student would often come to me and say, "Teacher, I don't got no pencil". To explain the double negative, which ends up making what you mean to say the opposite (in this case, the student doesn't have a pencil), I directed a little show. The student held out both hands, palms up. In one, I placed a pencil and named that hand "a pencil". The empty hand was dubbed "no pencil". Since the student didn't have "no pencil", that hand was lowered to his side. So, he must have "a pencil", and should go sit down and do the assignment.

The visual helped the whole class not to use "double negative" together. They didn't not get it no more, neither!

9 years ago. Rating: 4
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Ducky

Karma: 1032550

Example: The design of this vehicle is "not unlike" the 2012 model.

9 years ago. Rating: 8
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ROMOS

It is not unnecessary to tell the truth all the time.

commented 9 years ago

Ducky

Oh no!!!! Have I started something that I can't finish? lol

commented 9 years ago

zorro

Karma: 182125

Double negative is an important figure of speech wherein two negatives unite to make one affirmative sentence. In English, two negatives are understood to resolve into a positive, which is exactly why double negation is widely used when making backhanded compliments.