Home/Grammar exercises/Punctuation and sentence mechanics/Avoiding double negatives 2

AVOIDING DOUBLE NEGATIVES — EXERCISE 2 (ESL)

B1–B2 · Intermediate
Standard English only uses one negative element per clause. After a negative verb, use any- words rather than no- words. Make the right choice in short conversations.


READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!

Choose the correct word or phrase to complete each short conversation. Remember: standard English only allows one negative element per clause.

1. Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters? A: No, I _____________ none.
2. Q: Did he tell you when he'd be back? A: No, _____________ told me anything.
3. Q: Did you see the teacher in the parking lot? A: No, I didn't see _____________.
4. Q: Can I borrow some sugar from you? A: I'm sorry, I don't have _____________.
5. Q: Are you going to be around for the next hour? A: I am. I'm not going _____________.
6. Q: Would you like something to drink? A: No, I don't want _____________.
7. Q: Can you spare some change? A: Sorry, I can't. I hardly have _____________ myself.
8. Q: Did she say where she was going this weekend? A: No, she _____________ nothing.
9. Q: Where are you going on vacation? A: _____________. I'm staying home and relaxing.
10. Q: What's Rebecca like? A: I wish I could tell you, but I _____________ know her.
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KEEP PRACTICING — MORE EXERCISES FOR YOU:
Avoiding double negatives is a sign of polished written English — these exercises target other common writing errors too.

More negation & writing exercises:
Avoiding double negatives 1 (B1/B2)
Sentence negation 1 (A1/A2)
Sentence negation 2 (A1/A2)
Sentence negation 3 (negative questions) (A2/B1)
Comma splices 1 (B2/C1)
Comma splices 2 (C1/C2)
Dangling modifiers 1 (B2/C1)
Dangling modifiers 2 (C1/C2)

Browse all grammar exercises →
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