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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Double negative?

Hello, would you please help me with this sentence: No, there was nothing left.
Is it correct? Why can I use a double negative here?
  

Top answer

It is really two sentences, and is just fine. No. There was nothing left.

— AlpheccaStars

  • It is really two sentences, and is just fine.
  • No.
  • There was nothing left.
  • Consider the difference in a true double negative: * There wasn't nothing left.
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3 Answers
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It is really two sentences, and is just fine.
No. There was nothing left.

Consider the difference in a true double negative:

* There wasn't nothing left.
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Thank you, I would make it two sentences too. But is it ok to leave it as it is?
And can I say: Yes, there was nothing left? Or we may only use NO in negative sentences? There was a song "Yes, there are no bananas"...
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Anonymous But is it ok to leave it as it is?
Yes.
AnonymousAnd can I say: Yes, there was nothing left?
Yes.

It all depends on the context. Consider these two situations:

Did he leave anything at all?
No, there was nothing left.

I heard that he ate everything!
Yes, there was nothing left.
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