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Avoiding incorrect double negatives and understanding emphatic forms.
Practice: build the sentences →A double negative occurs when two negative elements occur in the same clause or construction and their interaction produces either a legitimate meaning or an unintended/nonstandard form.
English standard usage distinguishes between grammatical multiple-negative constructions and double negatives that incorrectly express a single negation.
I didn't see anybody.
Я никого не видел.
Standard English uses "anybody" after a negative auxiliary.
I didn't see nobody.
Я никого не видел.
Nonstandard double negative; avoided in formal English.
She didn't say anything.
Она ничего не сказала.
Standard English uses "anything" after a negative auxiliary.
She didn't say nothing.
Она ничего не сказала.
Nonstandard double negative; not used in standard English.
We don't have any money.
У нас нет денег.
Standard English uses "any" after a negative auxiliary.
Standard formal English generally avoids two independent negative elements when they are intended to express a single negative proposition.
For example, I didn't see anybody is standard, while I didn't see nobody normally has a different or nonstandard interpretation.
I didn't see anybody.
Я никого не видел.
Standard formal English uses "not" with "anybody".
I didn't see nobody.
Я никого не видел.
Nonstandard double negative; not standard formal English.
She didn't tell anyone.
Она никому не сказала.
Standard English uses "not" with "anyone".
She didn't tell no one.
Она никому не сказала.
Nonstandard double negative.
We don't need anything.
Нам ничего не нужно.
Standard English uses "not" with "anything".
Standard English normally uses not with any rather than not with another negative determiner when simple negation is intended.
For example, I don't have any money is standard for the intended meaning, rather than I don't have no money.
I don't have any money.
У меня нет денег.
Standard English uses "not ... any".
I don't have no money.
У меня нет денег.
Nonstandard double negative; not standard English.
There isn't any food.
Еды нет.
Standard English uses "not ... any".
There isn't no food.
Еды нет.
Nonstandard double negative.
She doesn't have any friends.
У неё нет друзей.
Standard English uses "not ... any".
Negative clauses normally use not with anyone rather than not with nobody when a single negation is intended.
For example, I didn't tell anyone.
I didn't tell anyone.
Я никому не сказал.
Standard English uses "not ... anyone".
I didn't tell nobody.
Я никому не сказал.
Nonstandard double negative.
She didn't see anyone.
Она никого не видела.
Standard English uses "not ... anyone".
She didn't see nobody.
Она никого не видела.
Nonstandard double negative.
We didn't invite anyone.
Мы никого не пригласили.
Standard English uses "not ... anyone".
Negative clauses normally use not with anything rather than not with nothing when a single negation is intended.
For example, She didn't say anything.
She didn't say anything.
Она ничего не сказала.
Standard English uses "not ... anything".
She didn't say nothing.
Она ничего не сказала.
Nonstandard double negative.
I didn't eat anything.
Я ничего не ел.
Standard English uses "not ... anything".
I didn't eat nothing.
Я ничего не ел.
Nonstandard double negative.
They didn't buy anything.
Они ничего не купили.
Standard English uses "not ... anything".
Negative clauses normally use not with anywhere rather than not with nowhere when a single negation is intended.
For example, We didn't go anywhere.
We didn't go anywhere.
Мы никуда не пошли.
Standard English uses "not ... anywhere".
We didn't go nowhere.
Мы никуда не пошли.
Nonstandard double negative.
She didn't look anywhere.
Она никуда не смотрела.
Standard English uses "not ... anywhere".
She didn't look nowhere.
Она никуда не смотрела.
Nonstandard double negative.
I didn't find it anywhere.
Я нигде это не нашёл.
Standard English uses "not ... anywhere".
Words such as nobody, nothing, nowhere, and neither already express negative meaning and normally do not require another negative marker.
For example, Nobody came, Nothing happened, and We went nowhere.
Nobody came.
Никто не пришёл.
"Nobody" already expresses negation.
Nothing happened.
Ничего не случилось.
"Nothing" already expresses negation.
We went nowhere.
Мы никуда не пошли.
"Nowhere" already expresses negation.
Neither answer is correct.
Ни один из двух ответов не правильный.
"Neither" already expresses negation.
No one called.
Никто не звонил.
"No one" already expresses negation.
Neither ... nor is a grammatical two-part negative construction expressing that both alternatives are excluded.
For example, Neither John nor Mary came.
Neither John nor Mary came.
Ни Джон, ни Мэри не пришли.
"Neither ... nor" excludes both alternatives.
She likes neither tea nor coffee.
Она не любит ни чай, ни кофе.
"Neither ... nor" negates both objects.
Neither the teacher nor the students were happy.
Ни учитель, ни студенты не были счастливы.
"Neither ... nor" coordinates two negative alternatives.
He speaks neither French nor German.
Он не говорит ни по-французски, ни по-немецки.
"Neither ... nor" excludes both languages.
Neither you nor I am responsible.
Ни ты, ни я не ответственны.
"Neither ... nor" with two pronouns.
A clause using neither normally does not also require not when neither itself expresses the negation.
For example, Neither answer is correct, not Neither answer isn't correct when the intended meaning is that both are incorrect.
Neither answer is correct.
Ни один из двух ответов не правильный.
"Neither" already expresses negation; no "not" is needed.
Neither answer isn't correct.
Ни один из двух ответов не правильный.
Incorrect double negative with "neither" and "not".
Neither of them came.
Никто из них не пришёл.
"Neither" already expresses negation.
Neither of them didn't come.
Никто из них не пришёл.
Incorrect double negative.
Neither car is fast.
Ни одна из двух машин не быстрая.
"Neither" already expresses negation.
Nor can introduce a second negative proposition after a negative statement and can trigger auxiliary inversion.
For example, I don't like coffee, nor do I like tea.
I don't like coffee, nor do I like tea.
Я не люблю кофе, и я не люблю чай.
"Nor" introduces a second negative proposition with inversion.
She didn't call, nor did she write.
Она не позвонила, и не написала.
"Nor" triggers auxiliary inversion "did she".
They aren't ready, nor are we.
Они не готовы, и мы тоже.
"Nor" with inversion "are we".
He hasn't finished, nor has she.
Он не закончил, и она тоже.
"Nor" with inversion "has she".
We can't go, nor can they.
Мы не можем пойти, и они тоже.
"Nor" with modal inversion "can they".
Not until expresses that something does not happen before a specified time or event.
For example, We did not leave until midnight.
We did not leave until midnight.
Мы не ушли до полуночи.
"Not ... until" means the action did not happen before midnight.
She did not arrive until 10 p.m.
Она не приехала до 10 вечера.
"Not ... until" specifies the earliest time.
I did not know until yesterday.
Я не знал до вчерашнего дня.
"Not ... until" with a time adverbial.
They did not start until everyone arrived.
Они не начали, пока все не пришли.
"Not ... until" with a clause.
He did not stop until he finished.
Он не остановился, пока не закончил.
"Not ... until" indicates the action continued until completion.
When not until is fronted for emphasis, auxiliary inversion normally occurs in the main clause.
For example, Not until midnight did we leave.
Not until midnight did we leave.
Только в полночь мы ушли.
Initial "Not until" triggers inversion "did we leave".
Not until 10 p.m. did she arrive.
Только в 10 вечера она приехала.
Initial "Not until" triggers inversion "did she arrive".
Not until yesterday did I know.
Только вчера я узнал.
Initial "Not until" triggers inversion "did I know".
Not until everyone arrived did they start.
Только когда все пришли, они начали.
Initial "Not until" triggers inversion "did they start".
Not until he finished did he stop.
Только когда он закончил, он остановился.
Initial "Not until" triggers inversion "did he stop".
Not ... without can form a legitimate construction expressing that an action does not occur in the absence of another condition or that two events are closely linked.
For example, He never leaves without checking the doors and I cannot leave without saying goodbye.
He never leaves without checking the doors.
Он никогда не уходит, не проверив двери.
"Not ... without" expresses a necessary connection.
I cannot leave without saying goodbye.
Я не могу уйти, не попрощавшись.
"Cannot ... without" expresses a necessary condition.
She never goes out without her phone.
Она никогда не выходит без телефона.
"Never ... without" means the phone is always with her.
We cannot finish without your help.
Мы не можем закончить без твоей помощи.
"Cannot ... without" indicates a necessary condition.
He never speaks without thinking.
Он никогда не говорит, не подумав.
"Never ... without" shows a habitual pattern.
Cannot ... without can express a necessary connection rather than an accidental double negative.
For example, I cannot sleep without listening to music.
I cannot sleep without listening to music.
Я не могу спать без музыки.
"Cannot ... without" expresses a necessary connection.
She cannot work without coffee.
Она не может работать без кофе.
"Cannot ... without" indicates a necessary condition.
We cannot go without permission.
Мы не можем пойти без разрешения.
"Cannot ... without" expresses a requirement.
He cannot decide without more information.
Он не может решить без дополнительной информации.
"Cannot ... without" shows a necessary condition.
They cannot leave without paying.
Они не могут уйти, не заплатив.
"Cannot ... without" expresses an obligation.
Not uncommon is a legitimate negative construction often used to mean fairly common or occurring with some frequency.
For example, It is not uncommon to see this error.
It is not uncommon to see this error.
Нередко можно увидеть эту ошибку.
"Not uncommon" means fairly common.
Such mistakes are not uncommon.
Такие ошибки нередки.
"Not uncommon" is a legitimate negative construction.
It is not uncommon for prices to rise in summer.
Нередко цены летом растут.
"Not uncommon" means it happens with some frequency.
Delays are not uncommon in this industry.
Задержки нередки в этой отрасли.
"Not uncommon" means delays happen fairly often.
It is not uncommon for students to feel stressed.
Нередко студенты чувствуют стресс.
"Not uncommon" softens the statement.
Not impossible is a legitimate construction meaning possible, but often with emphasis on uncertainty or lack of certainty.
For example, A recovery is not impossible.
A recovery is not impossible.
Выздоровление не невозможно.
"Not impossible" means possible, with uncertainty.
It is not impossible that he will agree.
Не исключено, что он согласится.
"Not impossible" expresses a possibility.
Success is not impossible.
Успех не невозможен.
"Not impossible" leaves open the chance of success.
It is not impossible to finish on time.
Вполне возможно закончить вовремя.
"Not impossible" means it can be done.
A solution is not impossible.
Решение не невозможно.
"Not impossible" emphasizes remaining possibility.
Not unusual means that something occurs or is found with reasonable frequency and is a legitimate double-negative construction.
For example, It is not unusual for prices to rise in summer.
It is not unusual for prices to rise in summer.
Нередко цены летом растут.
"Not unusual" means fairly frequent.
Such behavior is not unusual.
Такое поведение не редкость.
"Not unusual" is a legitimate double negative.
It is not unusual to feel tired after work.
Нередко после работы чувствуешь усталость.
"Not unusual" softens the statement.
Delays are not unusual at this time of year.
Задержки нередки в это время года.
"Not unusual" means they happen with some frequency.
It is not unusual for him to be late.
Нередко он опаздывает.
"Not unusual" indicates a common occurrence.
Not infrequent is a formal negative construction meaning fairly frequent or not rare.
For example, Such errors are not infrequent.
Such errors are not infrequent.
Такие ошибки нередки.
"Not infrequent" is formal and means fairly frequent.
Complaints are not infrequent.
Жалобы нередки.
"Not infrequent" is a formal negative construction.
It is not infrequent for such cases to occur.
Такие случаи нередки.
"Not infrequent" means occurring with some frequency.
Delays are not infrequent in this process.
Задержки нередки в этом процессе.
"Not infrequent" is formal and understated.
Not infrequent are reports of this nature.
Нередки сообщения такого рода.
"Not infrequent" can be fronted for emphasis.
Cannot help but + base verb is a grammatical construction meaning cannot avoid or cannot stop oneself from doing something.
For example, I couldn't help but laugh.
I couldn't help but laugh.
Я не мог не засмеяться.
"Cannot help but" + base verb means cannot avoid.
She couldn't help but cry.
Она не могла не плакать.
"Cannot help but" expresses inability to stop oneself.
We couldn't help but notice.
Мы не могли не заметить.
"Cannot help but" is a fixed expression.
He couldn't help but agree.
Он не мог не согласиться.
"Cannot help but" + base verb.
They couldn't help but smile.
Они не могли не улыбнуться.
"Cannot help but" is standard.
Cannot help + gerund expresses the same basic inability to avoid an action.
For example, I couldn't help laughing.
I couldn't help laughing.
Я не мог не засмеяться.
"Cannot help" + gerund means cannot avoid.
She couldn't help crying.
Она не могла не плакать.
"Cannot help" + gerund expresses inability to stop.
We couldn't help noticing.
Мы не могли не заметить.
"Cannot help" + gerund is standard.
He couldn't help agreeing.
Он не мог не согласиться.
"Cannot help" + gerund.
They couldn't help smiling.
Они не могли не улыбаться.
"Cannot help" + gerund is common.
Cannot help but + base verb and cannot help + gerund have closely related meanings and are both standard.
For example, I cannot help but smile and I cannot help smiling.
I cannot help but smile.
Я не могу не улыбнуться.
"Cannot help but" + base verb.
I cannot help smiling.
Я не могу не улыбаться.
"Cannot help" + gerund.
She cannot help but laugh.
Она не может не смеяться.
"Cannot help but" + base verb.
She cannot help laughing.
Она не может не смеяться.
"Cannot help" + gerund.
We cannot help but wonder.
Мы не можем не задаваться вопросом.
"Cannot help but" + base verb.
Negative concord uses multiple negative elements to express a single semantic negation and occurs systematically in some varieties and dialects of English.
For example, forms such as I didn't see nothing occur in some dialects, even though standard formal English normally uses I didn't see anything.
I didn't see nothing.
Я никого не видел.
Negative concord: multiple negatives express a single negation in some dialects.
I didn't see anything.
Я никого не видел.
Standard formal English uses a single negative.
She didn't tell nobody.
Она никому не сказала.
Negative concord in some dialects.
She didn't tell anybody.
Она никому не сказала.
Standard formal English uses "anybody".
We don't need no help.
Нам не нужна никакая помощь.
Negative concord in some varieties.
A negative-concord construction can be grammatical within its variety while being inappropriate in standard formal English.
The distinction concerns dialect and register rather than simply intelligence or logical ability.
I didn't see nothing.
Я никого не видел.
Negative concord is grammatical in some dialects.
I didn't see anything.
Я никого не видел.
Standard formal English prefers single negation.
She didn't say nothing.
Она ничего не сказала.
Negative concord in some dialects.
She didn't say anything.
Она ничего не сказала.
Standard formal English uses "anything".
They don't have no money.
У них нет денег.
Negative concord in some varieties.
Two negative elements can sometimes produce a logically positive meaning rather than a single negation.
For example, The claim is not impossible does not mean that the claim is impossible; it means that possibility remains.
The claim is not impossible.
Утверждение не невозможно.
"Not impossible" means possible, not impossible.
It is not uncommon.
Это нередко.
"Not uncommon" means fairly common.
The result is not unlikely.
Результат не невозможен.
"Not unlikely" means somewhat likely.
It is not unusual.
Это не редкость.
"Not unusual" means fairly frequent.
The proposal is not unreasonable.
Предложение не неразумно.
"Not unreasonable" means fairly reasonable.
A word containing a negative prefix does not automatically require or forbid sentence negation.
For example, not uncommon and uncommon are different in meaning, but not uncommon is not an error merely because uncommon already contains negative morphology.
It is not uncommon.
Это нередко.
"Not uncommon" means fairly common.
It is uncommon.
Это редкость.
"Uncommon" means rare.
The task is not impossible.
Задача не невозможна.
"Not impossible" means possible with effort.
The task is impossible.
Задача невозможна.
"Impossible" means not possible.
It is not unusual.
Это не редкость.
"Not unusual" is not an error despite the negative prefix.
No and not can occur together legitimately when they have different scopes or grammatical functions.
For example, There is no reason not to go contains no reason plus the negative infinitive not to go.
There is no reason not to go.
Нет причин не идти.
"No reason" and "not to go" have different scopes.
There is no reason not to try.
Нет причин не пытаться.
"No" and "not" do not cancel each other.
There is no evidence not to believe him.
Нет доказательств, чтобы не верить ему.
"No" and "not" have separate grammatical functions.
There is no need not to tell her.
Нет необходимости не говорить ей.
The two negatives have different scopes.
There is no reason not to accept.
Нет причин не принимать.
"No" and "not" are both legitimate here.
Not and neither can occur in structures where neither belongs to a separate coordinated or echoed negative proposition, but they should not duplicate the same negation accidentally.
For example, I don't like it, and neither does she is standard.
I don't like it, and neither does she.
Мне это не нравится, и ей тоже.
"Not ... neither" is standard when "neither" introduces a separate clause.
She isn't ready, and neither am I.
Она не готова, и я тоже.
"Neither" triggers inversion "am I".
They don't know, and neither do we.
Они не знают, и мы тоже.
"Neither" introduces a second negative proposition.
He hasn't finished, and neither have I.
Он не закончил, и я тоже.
"Neither" with inversion "have I".
We can't go, and neither can they.
Мы не можем пойти, и они тоже.
"Neither" with modal inversion.
Neither ... nor and not ... or can express related negative alternatives, but their syntax and scope differ.
For example, Neither John nor Mary came differs from John or Mary did not come, which can have a different scope.
Neither John nor Mary came.
Ни Джон, ни Мэри не пришли.
"Neither ... nor" excludes both.
John or Mary did not come.
Джон или Мэри не пришли.
"Not ... or" can have a different scope.
Neither tea nor coffee is available.
Ни чай, ни кофе недоступны.
"Neither ... nor" negates both alternatives.
Tea or coffee is not available.
Чай или кофе недоступны.
"Not ... or" may negate only one alternative.
Neither of them agreed.
Никто из них не согласился.
"Neither" excludes both.
Questions containing multiple negative elements can be ambiguous, dialectal, or rhetorically marked.
For example, Didn't nobody tell you? is not the standard formal equivalent of Did nobody tell you?
Didn't nobody tell you?
Разве тебе никто не сказал?
Nonstandard double negative question.
Did nobody tell you?
Разве тебе никто не сказал?
Standard question with single negation.
Didn't you see nothing?
Разве ты ничего не видел?
Nonstandard double negative question.
Did you see nothing?
Ты ничего не видел?
Standard question with single negation.
Didn't they go nowhere?
Разве они никуда не пошли?
Nonstandard double negative question.
Standard formal writing generally prefers explicit single-negation structures unless a legitimate multiple-negative construction is intended.
For example, We did not find anything is clearer in formal writing than We did not find nothing.
We did not find anything.
Мы ничего не нашли.
Standard formal English prefers single negation.
We did not find nothing.
Мы ничего не нашли.
Nonstandard double negative; avoided in formal writing.
She did not say anything.
Она ничего не сказала.
Standard formal English uses "anything".
She did not say nothing.
Она ничего не сказала.
Nonstandard double negative.
They did not see anyone.
Они никого не видели.
Standard formal English uses "anyone".
Multiple negative forms can sometimes be intentionally used for rhetorical emphasis or understatement.
For example, It is not an entirely unreasonable proposal uses negation to soften rather than simply reverse the meaning.
It is not an entirely unreasonable proposal.
Это не совсем неразумное предложение.
Double negative softens the statement.
The result is not unimpressive.
Результат не впечатляет.
Double negative creates understatement.
It is not uncommon.
Это нередко.
"Not uncommon" is a legitimate emphatic form.
The task is not impossible.
Задача не невозможна.
"Not impossible" emphasizes possibility.
It is not unlikely that he will come.
Вполне вероятно, что он придёт.
Double negative expresses a cautious possibility.
The interpretation of multiple negatives depends on their grammatical scope rather than on simply counting the word not.
For example, There is no reason not to leave contains two negative elements with different scopes and does not express a simple contradictory statement.
There is no reason not to leave.
Нет причин не уходить.
"No" and "not" have different scopes.
There is no reason to leave.
Нет причин уходить.
Single negation with "no".
There is not any reason to leave.
Нет никаких причин уходить.
Single negation with "not ... any".
There is no reason not to try.
Нет причин не пытаться.
Two negatives with different scopes.
There is no need not to tell her.
Нет необходимости не говорить ей.
The meaning depends on grammatical scope.
Some apparently negative combinations are established expressions and should be learned as complete patterns.
Examples include cannot help but, not uncommon, not impossible, and not until.
I cannot help but laugh.
Я не могу не смеяться.
"Cannot help but" is a fixed expression.
It is not uncommon.
Это нередко.
"Not uncommon" is a fixed expression.
It is not impossible.
Это не невозможно.
"Not impossible" is a fixed expression.
We did not leave until midnight.
Мы не ушли до полуночи.
"Not ... until" is a fixed pattern.
He cannot help smiling.
Он не может не улыбаться.
"Cannot help" + gerund is a fixed expression.
The grammatical interpretation of multiple negatives cannot always be determined by mathematical-style cancellation.
For example, not uncommon means relatively common rather than simply being treated as a mechanical cancellation of two negatives.
It is not uncommon.
Это нередко.
"Not uncommon" means relatively common, not simply cancellation.
The result is not impossible.
Результат не невозможен.
"Not impossible" means possible, not impossible.
It is not unusual.
Это не редкость.
"Not unusual" means fairly frequent.
The proposal is not unreasonable.
Предложение не неразумно.
"Not unreasonable" means fairly reasonable.
It is not infrequent.
Это нередко.
"Not infrequent" means fairly frequent.
Distinguish incorrect double negatives from legitimate multiple-negative structures and account for scope, dialect, register, and fixed expressions.
Common mistakes include using nobody with didn't, using no with not when a simple negative is intended, rejecting legitimate forms such as not uncommon, and misunderstanding negative-concord varieties.
I didn't see anybody.
Я никого не видел.
Correct: standard English uses "anybody".
I didn't see nobody.
Я никого не видел.
Incorrect: nonstandard double negative.
It is not uncommon.
Это нередко.
Correct: "not uncommon" is a legitimate fixed expression.
Nobody didn't come.
Никто не пришёл.
Incorrect: unnecessary double negative.
Neither answer is correct.
Ни один из двух ответов не правильный.
Correct: "neither" already expresses negation.