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Kunal_nitk Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Why do people use double negations in English esp. in American English?

0Hi There02br
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00Can you please help me with the below confusions I have?02br
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00Sentences like : "I don't want no partner" , "It ain't no lie" have double negations02br
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00I think they should be like "I don't want any partner" and "It ain't a lie"02br
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00I don't know why double negations are being used and whether they is correct or incorrect.02br
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00Thanks in advance for your help02br
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00Kunal0-
  

Top answer

02br 02br 00It's non-standard. I don't know why people do it, but it's wrong. Well, I do know why they do it - they seem to think it adds emphasis.

— BarbaraPA

  • 02br 02br 00It's non-standard.
  • I don't know why people do it, but it's wrong.
  • Well, I do know why they do it - they seem to think it adds emphasis.
  • A simple "I don't want a partner" is not very strong.
  • " is pretty emphatic.
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3 Answers
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0Hi Kunal,02br
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00Welcome to the forums!02br
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00It's non-standard. I don't know why people do it, but it's wrong. Well, I do know why they do it - they seem to think it adds emphasis. A simple "I don't want a partner" is not very strong. "I don't want no stinking parner!" is pretty emphatic. To use "I don't want any partner" is not exactly right -
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0Hi02br
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00This sounds good. Thanks for your quick reply.0-
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0 01b01font00I will sometimes use a double negative to be humorous, but only with people who realize that I know better. One of my favorites (for "I don't care") is, "It don't make me no never-mind".02font02b00 0-
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