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TasmanTiger Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Are these correct?

Hello,

A friend of mine asked if these are correct grammatically.

But I'm not sure of it.

1. I don't watch TV unless I've got nothing else to do.

2. I can hardly believe nothing.

'Nothing' cannot be used with another negative expression, I think.

Both sentences are possible?

Thanks,

Gooday!
  

Top answer

The first is grammatical but the second needs "anything" instead of "nothing". I don't see the first sentence as a double negative because the nothing goes with the 've got part, which is positive.

— Ivanhr

  • The first is grammatical but the second needs "anything" instead of "nothing".
  • I don't see the first sentence as a double negative because the nothing goes with the 've got part, which is positive.
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11 Answers
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The first is grammatical but the second needs "anything" instead of "nothing". I don't see the first sentence as a double negative because the nothing goes with the 've got part, which is positive.
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'Unless" means "if not' , so another one is possible :

I don't watch TV unless I've got nothing else to do.

= ~ if I haven't got nothing else to do.

What do you think about this?
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TasmanTiger'Unless" means "if not' , so another one is possible : I don't watch TV unless I've got nothing else to do. = ~ if I haven't got nothing else to do. What do you think about this?

I think of "unless" as "except when/if".

I don't watch TV except when I've got nothing else to do.
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I think of "unless" as "except when/if".

I don't watch TV except when I've got nothing else to do.

=> If so , is this sentence OK ?

I don't watch TV unless I don't have anything else to do.

According to your opinion, this 'unless-clause' should be grammatical.

Are you sure?

I have learned t
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No, I'd say it's not OK. But I still think that the original is fine. I think it has something to do with a negative verb not being possible after "unless".

If you have a sentence like this

I don't watch TV exept when I don't have anything else to do.

then when substituting "unless" for "except when" you lose the negative (don't)

so th
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I agree with Ivanhr. He gives good advice.
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Oh! I got it!

Thank you for long explanations, I van.

Lovely!
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TasmanTiger 1. I don't watch TV unless I've got nothing else to do.
Correct.
TasmanTiger 2. I can hardly believe nothing.
Not correct. With hardly, you'll need anything at the end.
TasmanTiger'Nothing' cannot be used with another negative expression, I think.
Rig
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TasmanTiger'Unless" means "if not' , so another one is possible :
I don't watch TV unless I've got nothing else to do.
= ~ if I haven't got nothing else to do.
It doesn't matter what you substitute, unless is not a negative word for the purposes of counting the number of negatives in a clause.

I don't watch TV u
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TasmanTigeris this sentence OK ?
I don't watch TV unless I don't have anything else to do.
It's fine.

CJ
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