I don't give nothing to nobody.

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Anonymous  #374063  Sat, 02 Jun 07 05:04 PM

1-Sayid - You gave two bottles to the Koreans.
Jack - I don't give nothing to nobody.

From the TV show Lost.

Why do you think does Jack say nothing and nobody both in the same sentence? Is it acceptable in AmE or BrE?

2- A: I didn't see Jack.   B: Me (n)either.

Would "Me either" be correct? Is there a difference between AmE and BrE on this point? Thanks.

  
Peaceblinkfriend  #374071  Sat, 02 Jun 07 05:23 PM
 Anonymous wrote:

1-Sayid - You gave two bottles to the Koreans.
Jack - I don't give nothing to nobody.

From the TV show Lost.

Why do you think does Jack say nothing and nobody both in the same sentence? Is it acceptable in AmE or BrE?



Hi,

Based on what I know, I don't think that the expression 'I don't give nothing to nobody' is acceptable in either AmE or BrE. I consider it as very informal English or 'bad' English. What Jack meant is that he doesn't give anything to anybody. You might want to want for the native speakers to varify this.

Best wishes,
Peaceblinkfriend
  
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Kooyeen  #374076  Sat, 02 Jun 07 05:34 PM
Hi,

I don't give nothing to nobody - Double, triple, etc. negatives are a feature of some dialects. That's pretty common, but I'm not sure if it is the standard form in those dialects or if it is just a possible structure. In other words, I'm not sure if in those dialects "I don't give anything to anybody" or "I don't know anything" would be uncommon compared to "I didn't give nothing to nobody" or "I don't know nothing".
Those forms are only acceptable and used in certain dialects.

Me neither / Me either - Both should be used in American English, but I think "Me either" is not very common compared to "Me neither". Not sure about this, though. It depends.

Now wait for someone else's reply. Smile [:)]
  
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Anonymous  #374080  Sat, 02 Jun 07 05:46 PM
It was not Jack. Sorry. It was Sawyer. Smile [:)]
  
khoff  #374124  Sat, 02 Jun 07 10:30 PM
Right -- using sub-standard English is part of Sawyer's "bad boy" image.  He probably knows better, but thinks it makes him sound tough.
  
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Bokeh  #374128  Sat, 02 Jun 07 11:05 PM
 Anonymous wrote:

1, Jack - I don't give nothing to nobody.

2- A: I didn't see Jack.   B: Me (n)either.

1) This is normal everyday colloquial language spoken by many native speakers. Most educated people know it is grammatically wrong but language doesn't always have to wear a tie and lace-up shoes.

2) It should be "me neither", "me either" is clearly wrong.
  
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Yoong Liat  #374263  Sun, 03 Jun 07 11:01 AM
You might want to want for the native speakers to varify this.

Hi Peaceblinkfriend

verify
  
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Peaceblinkfriend  #374265  Sun, 03 Jun 07 11:06 AM
Thanks for reminding me that, Yoong Liat. Smile [:)]

I reckon I should have said 'You might want to wait for the native speakers to verify this'.

Best wishes,
Peaceblinkfriend
  
Yoong Liat  #374267  Sun, 03 Jun 07 11:14 AM
 Peaceblinkfriend wrote:
Thanks for reminding me that, Yoong Liat. Smile [:)]

I reckon I should have said 'You might want to wait for the native speakers to verify this'.

Peaceblinkfriend

Welcome. The above sentence is fine.
  
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