Negatives done right
Avoiding double negatives, and no/not/none.
The rules
- One negative per clause: "don't … anything", not "don't … nothing".
- "No" + noun: "no traffic". "None" stands alone; "not" negates verbs.
- Standing alone as a pronoun: "None at all".
- "Hardly" is already negative, never combine it with "not" or "can't".
- Adding to a negative: "…not/nothing … either". "Neither" needs inversion: "and neither did I".
- Agreeing with a negative: "Me neither" / "Neither do I".
Examples
- I don't know anything about it.
- There was no traffic this morning, we flew into town.
- "How many tickets are left?" "None at all, sold out."
- I can hardly hear you.
- He said nothing, and I said nothing either.
- Me neither.
Quick check
Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1.Which sentence is standard English?
2.There was _____ traffic this morning, we flew into town.
3."How many tickets are left?" "_____ at all, sold out."
4.Which sentence is correct?
5.He said nothing, and I said nothing _____.