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Mbyoh Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Question on double negative

At dinner this evening, a guest said, "I have no bread". Another guest said that was incorrect, this statement presented a double negative. The correct statement should be, " I don't have any bread". I argued that "I have no bread" is correct and proper, to me, even preferred over I don't have any bread. Who is right?
  

Top answer

Welcome to EnglishForward, mbyoh! Both "I have no bread" and "I don't have any bread" are correct. Neither one contains a double negative.

— CalifJim

  • Welcome to EnglishForward, mbyoh!
  • Both "I have no bread" and "I don't have any bread" are correct.
  • Neither one contains a double negative.
  • Neither one is necessarily preferred.
  • The form with the (incorrect) double negative is "I don't have no bread".
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12 Answers
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Welcome to EnglishForward, mbyoh!

Both "I have no bread" and "I don't have any bread" are correct. Neither one contains a double negative. Neither one is necessarily preferred. The form with the (incorrect) double negative is "I don't have no bread".

California Jim
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Jim:
The form with the (incorrect) double negative is "I don't have no bread".


Double negatives are not "incorrect". They are merely nonstandard. The difference is one that is clearly recognized by language scientists.
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I is truly graitfull 4 ur konteebyushin. you is reely a good helpor 4 all are studints. wunze day lissins 2 U -- denn dayz gonna have real gud ingritch. I duzn't hardley blames U tho' cuz U obeeyussley not having had no much larning wut wiff diss heer eingltich.

I don't spose U got no objekshins 2 thiss heer non-standizashin-tipe stuff. Glldd to heer i kin rite how i wants & U like
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"I have no bread" sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
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What a wonderfully constructive way to address the issues, Jim. I'm impressed!
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On the contrary, JT. Your protest proves Jim's point.

MrP
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What protest, Mr P; I was suitably impressed.
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The difference is one that is clearly recognized by language scientists.


Sounds like a new religion; What do they quantify?
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Mbyoh, I agree with CJ. It's not a double negative; although, with regards to semantics, or meaning, the question arises as to whether it's possible to own something that doesn't exists: "have no bread". Now that is a great dinner topic!
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What protest, Mr P; I was suitably impressed.

Zen irony, JT. It's like the sound of one hand clapping.

MrP
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