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

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Kunal_nitk

#333223 Mon, 26 Feb 07 03:53 AM

Hi There

Can you please help me with the below confusions I have?

Sentences like : "I don't want no partner" , "It ain't no lie" have double negations

I think they should be like "I don't want any partner" and "It ain't a lie"

I don't know why double negations are being used and whether they is correct or incorrect.

Thanks in advance for your help

Kunal

Kunal_nitk

Joined on Mon, Feb 26 2007

United States

New Member (02)

Kunal Bhandari

American English, Negations

Grammar Geek

#333230 Mon, 26 Feb 07 04:26 AM

Hi Kunal,

Welcome to the forums!

It'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 - it could sound like there is a specific partner you do want, not just "any partner."

And "It ain't no lie" should be "It isn't a lie" not "It ain't a lie." If we're fixing bad grammar, let's leave "ain't" on the list of things to avoid.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,179)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

American English, Grammar, Negations

Kunal_nitk

#333232 Mon, 26 Feb 07 04:32 AM

This sounds good. Thanks for your quick reply.

Kunal_nitk

American English, Negations

Philip

#333388 Mon, 26 Feb 07 04:44 PM

I 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".

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (5,880)

At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

American English, Negations, Negatives

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