F r e q u e n c y E n g l i s h

Double Negatives

Two grumpy brown bears in a meadow, glaring sideways at each other

Just one negative!

Double negatives: how to spot them and how to fix them

Grammar lesson

How to use this page: open the lesson below if you need a reminder of the rules, then rewrite each sentence correctly. A tick or a cross appears when you finish typing.

The lesson Click to openClick to close

1 · The rule One sentence, one negative.

In standard English, a sentence has only one negative. Two negatives in the same sentence is a mistake, called a double negative.

Two negatives: wrong

I don't know nothing.
She didn't see nobody.

One negative: right

I don't know anything.
She saw nobody.

Many languages use two negative words together, so learners often say I don't know nothing. In English, choose one negative.

2 · Two ways to fix it Keep "not", or keep the negative word.

❌ Double negative✅ Option 1: not + any✅ Option 2: one negative word
I don't know nothing.I don't know anything.I know nothing.
I didn't see nobody.I didn't see anybody.I saw nobody.
I don't go nowhere.I don't go anywhere.I go nowhere.
I don't never eat meat.I don't ever eat meat.I never eat meat.

Option 1 (not + any) is the most natural in everyday speech. Option 2 sounds stronger or more formal, except with never, which is very common: I never eat meat.

3 · Each negative word has a partner Use the partner after not.

Negative wordPartner after notExample
nothinganythingThere isn't anything in the fridge.
nobody / no oneanybody / anyoneI won't tell anyone.
nowhereanywhereI didn't go anywhere.
nevereverHe hasn't ever been to London.
noanyI haven't got any money.
neithereitherI don't like either of them.
no moreany moreIt doesn't work any more.

4 · Watch out! Two traps.

hardly, barely, scarcely

These words are already negative. Don't use them with not:
I can hardly hear you. (not I can't hardly hear you)
She barely slept. (not She didn't barely sleep)

A negative word at the start

When the sentence starts with Nobody or Nothing, the rest stays positive:
Nobody ever tells me anything.
Nothing ever happens here.

Practice time!

Correct the sentences Each sentence has a double negative. Rewrite it correctly. Some sentences have two possible answers.

  1. I don't know nothing about it. .
  2. She didn't say nothing to me. .
  3. We can't see nobody. .
  4. He never goes nowhere at the weekend. .
  5. I haven't got no money. .
  6. They didn't buy nothing at the market. .
  7. Nobody never tells me anything. .
  8. I can't hardly hear you. .
  9. There isn't nothing in the fridge. .
  10. She doesn't want no help. .
  11. I didn't go nowhere last night. .
  12. He hasn't never been to London. .
  13. We don't need no more chairs. .
  14. There wasn't nobody at the office. .
  15. I won't tell nobody. .
  16. She didn't barely sleep last night. .
  17. You don't never listen to me. .
  18. I don't like neither of them. .
  19. The heating doesn't work no more. .
  20. Nothing never happens here. .

Answers

1. I don't know anything about it.  ·  2. She didn't say anything to me.  ·  3. We can't see anybody.  ·  4. He never goes anywhere at the weekend.  ·  5. I haven't got any money.  ·  6. They didn't buy anything at the market.  ·  7. Nobody ever tells me anything.  ·  8. I can hardly hear you.  ·  9. There isn't anything in the fridge.  ·  10. She doesn't want any help.  ·  11. I didn't go anywhere last night.  ·  12. He hasn't ever been to London.  ·  13. We don't need any more chairs.  ·  14. There wasn't anybody at the office.  ·  15. I won't tell anybody.  ·  16. She barely slept last night.  ·  17. You don't ever listen to me.  ·  18. I don't like either of them.  ·  19. The heating doesn't work any more.  ·  20. Nothing ever happens here.