Double negative

Question

Hello grammar forum,I have a certain persistent individual that insists that the sentence (loosly defined) "If you're not a &lt;team&gt; fan, you're not s*t.", is not a double negative. Why? Apparently, on the street, "you're not s**t" is slang for "you're s*t".I am trying to make the point that the use of slang merely makes the sentence improper and a double negative. Sorry to bother you with this vulgar question, but apparently I am not seen as an authority on grammar. I’m dealing with a rebellious teenage mentality, but unfortunately the individual is in his mid-twenties. Some people never grow up.Is the sentence, "If you're not a &lt;team&gt; fan, you're not s**t." a double negative? Is there any reason that this sentence would not be a double negative?Thank you in advance for your time.

CSnyder · Accepted Answer

Actually, in this case, "you're not ****," or, to be more colloquially correct, "you ain't ****," is not merely a corruption of "you are ****," as you suggest, but rather is short for a more complicated expression, viz. "you are so low that you do not even rise to the level of ****," so I wouldn't really call it a double negative per se.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I have a certain persistent individual that insists that the sentence (loosly defined) "If you're not a <team> fan, you're not s*t.", is not a double negative. Why? Apparently, on the street, "you're not s**t" is slang for "you're s*t". I guess 'your'e not ****' really is intended to mean 'you are not even ****', ie 'you are less than ****'. However, people who talk like this are not usually fussy about grammar!

I am trying to make the point that the use of slang merely makes the sentence improper and a double negative. Sorry to bother you with this vulgar question, but apparently I am not seen as an authority on grammar. I’m dealing with a rebellious teenage mentality, but unfortunately the individual is in his mid-twenties. Some people never grow up.

Is the sentence, "If you're not a <team> fan, you're not s**t." a double negative? Is there any reason that this sentence would not be a double negative?

A double negative is basically two negatives applied to the same verb.

eg You are not not a team player

eg you ain't no team player.

There is no reason why you can't put two negative clauses in the same sentence.

eg If you are not a Republican, you are not a patriot.

So, technically, your sentence is not a double negative.

However, the fact remains that many people will think that anyone who speaks like this is a foul-mouthed, ill-educated lout.

Finally, lots of people view '****' as an offensive word, although it's increasingly common in this modern age.

Arguing about grammar with people who talk like this is a lost cause.

Good luck,

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

It's not a double negative. A double negative is a case where the two negatives are in the same clause. You have two clauses, and each one has a negative:

1. If you're not a <team> fan

2. you're not s**t.

This doesn't count as a double negative.

_______

These are all sentences of one clause with two negatives, so these count as double negatives:

You're not nobody. / That's not nothing. / You don't know nobody. / I don't like nothing.

CJ

Double negative

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