By Negatives, American English

Hi,I have a big problem! I am not sure how to use (for) long in questions and negative sentences. Should I leave out for in American English?Don't worry. I haven't waited (for) long.Don't worry. I haven't been waiting (for) long.I'm not tired yet. I haven't written (for)...

Usage Note: A traditional usage rule draws a distinction between comparisons using as . . . as and comparisons using so . . . as. The rule states the so . . . as construction is required in negative sentences (as in Shakespeare's "'tis not so deep as a well"), in questions (as...

This is what the American Heritage Dictionary has to say (in part) on the subject:"A traditional usage rule draws a distinction between comparisons using as . . . as and comparisons using so . . . as. The rule states the so . . . as construction is required in negative sentences (as in...

There may be alternate ways to say it, but in American English it would be on. on a person (or group) is used in many expressions besides commit a foul on a person, many (but not all) of them with a similar negative meaning. an attack on someone an assault on someone inflict harm on...

That is written as one word. In American English it is typically used in a negative sentence and means the same thing as 'at all'. It stresses the idea of 'none':He doesn't get any respect whatsoever. His employees only laugh at him.(He doesn't get any respect at all.)

Wow, I found it. But it is a book, "The American Language" by H.L. Mencken, written in 1921. That wasn't real American English, I mean, in 1921 they didn't even say "Dude", how could that be American English? Seriously, here's what he says: The adjectives in English are inflected only for...

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...

Technically quite means completely. This meaning applies more to the negative, where I'm not quite finished means I'm not completely finished, but neither one of these means *I'm not rather finished. In fact, rather isn't used in the negative. In the affirmative, quite can be used nearly...

Pucca wrote:What about "ain't I?" Is it in an informal way?HI Pucca,yes, it's an informal (some people also say nonstandard) contraction. I've usually seen it as a contraction of the verb "to be" in negative forms (are not, is not), but my dictionaries say it's also used for the verd "to have"...

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".