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Question on double negative

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Latest post Wed, Aug 3 2005 11:45 PM by Anonymous. 12 replies.
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mbyoh  +  77124 Mon, 28 Feb 05 02:56 AM
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?
mbyoh
Joined on Mon, Feb 28 2005
New Member 01
CalifJim  +  77126 Mon, 28 Feb 05 03:13 AM
Welcome to EnglishForums, 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
CalifJim
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member 22,458
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
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just the truth  +  77129 Mon, 28 Feb 05 03:56 AM
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.
just the truth
Joined on Mon, Dec 27 2004
Regular Member 849
CalifJim  +  77161 Mon, 28 Feb 05 06:07 AM
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 soe gud all wut I riites. , no mattterring how i does it.
CalifJim
Guest, 4 yr 271 days ago
"I have no bread" sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
just the truth, 4 yr 271 days ago
What a wonderfully constructive way to address the issues, Jim. I'm impressed!
MrPedantic  +  77184 Mon, 28 Feb 05 09:19 AM
On the contrary, JT. Your protest proves Jim's point.

MrP
MrPedantic
Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004
Veteran Member 12,592
...opella forensis / adducit febris...
just the truth, 4 yr 271 days ago
What protest, Mr P; I was suitably impressed.
Casi  +  77233 Mon, 28 Feb 05 12:06 PM
The difference is one that is clearly recognized by language scientists.


Sounds like a new religion; What do they quantify?
Casi
Joined on Sat, Sep 25 2004
Regular Member 547
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