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Tenacious Learner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Explanation on the adverbs 'seldom, rarely, and never'

Hi teachers,
Do you agree with this explanation? If not, could you rephrase it?
Even though the adverbs, seldom, rarely, and never, are used with an affirmative verb they can express a positive or a negative idea.

Thanks in advance
  

Top answer

Hi, Please show us what you mean, by posting - a sentence using 'never' with a positive meaning. - a sentence using 'never' with a negative meaning. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, Please show us what you mean, by posting - a sentence using 'never' with a positive meaning.
  • - a sentence using 'never' with a negative meaning.
  • Clive
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12 Answers
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Hi,

Please show us what you mean, by posting
- a sentence using 'never' with a positive meaning.
- a sentence using 'never' with a negative meaning.

Clive
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Hi Clive,
Robert seldon arrives early at work. (negative meaning)
Kate seldon arrives late at work. (positive meaning)

They rarely read books. (negative meaning)
They rarely watch TV. They prefer to read. (positive meaning)

They never do exercise. (negative meaning)
They never overspeed. (positive meaning)
They are never late for class. (positive meaning)
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Hi,
I think you are using 'positive' and 'negative' in terms of how the reader feels about the sentence, instead of in a grammatical sense.

eg He seldom talks to Tom. You could perceive this as negative if you think he should talk to Tom, and positive if you think he should not
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Hi Clive,
Thank you for your reply and recommendation.
Then I should rewrite the explanation and say:
The adverbs, seldom, rarely, and never, are only used with an affirmative verb. Right?

TS
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Hi,

It sounds odd to say eg 'Never' is only used with an affirmative verb.
It sounds like saying 'Not' is only used with an affirmative verb.

Better to speak of 'an affirmative statement',.

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CliveBetter to speak of 'an affirmative statement',.
Hi Clive,
Thank you for your reply.
Instead of 'affirmative statement', can I use 'affirmative sentence'?

Could you tell me if the following is correct?
There are four types of sentences: Statements, Questions, Exclamations, and Comands. Right?
Statements can be affirmative or negati
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Hi,

IA question is a sentence, but it is not considered a statement.

Clive
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Hi Clive,
Thank you for your reply.
I was rewriting it while you were writing your reply.
Instead of 'affirmative statement', can I use 'affirmative sentence'?
Could you tell me if the following is correct?
There are four types of sentences: Statements, Questions, Exclamations, and Comands. Right?
Statements can be affirmative or negative. Right?
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Hi,

Yes, all fine.

Clive
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Hi Clive,
Thank you for all your replies.
Best,
TS
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