AVOIDING DOUBLE NEGATIVES 1
Grammar review
Standard English allows only one negative per clause. Once a sentence already has a negative word (don't, didn't, isn't, hardly), pair it with the any- series (anything, anyone, anybody, any), not a second negative word like nothing, no one, nobody, or none.
✗ I don't want nothing. (two negatives: don't + nothing)
✓ I don't want anything.
Watch out for near-negatives too: words like hardly, barely, and scarcely act like negatives even though they don't look like one, and they follow the same rule:
I hardly have any. (not "hardly have none")
✗ I don't want nothing. (two negatives: don't + nothing)
✓ I don't want anything.
Watch out for near-negatives too: words like hardly, barely, and scarcely act like negatives even though they don't look like one, and they follow the same rule:
I hardly have any. (not "hardly have none")
Complete each of the answers, making sure you don't use double negatives.
EXAMPLE: He said nothing about the concert. (nothing/anything)
1. A: No, I don't want _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
2. A: No, I _____________ none.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
3. A: No, I didn't see _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
4. A: No, I don't have _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
5. A: No, _____________ told me anything.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
6. A: Not much. I hardly have _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
7. A: _____________. I'm staying right here.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
8. A: That's right. I'm not going _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
9. A: No, I _____________ know him.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
10. A: No, he _____________ nothing.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
11. A: No, I didn't see _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
12. A: Sorry, I _____________ none.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
13. A: No, I didn't see _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
14. A: No, she doesn't have _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
15. A: No, you didn't tell me _____________ of the sort.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
16. A: Well, to be honest, I hardly have _____________ myself.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
17. A: _____________. She's staying in tonight.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
18. A: No, I'm not going _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
19. A: It's terrible. I _____________ understand anything.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
20. A: No, he didn't mention _____________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
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 writing & advanced exercises:
Comma splices 1 (B2/C1)
Comma splices 2 (B2/C1)
Dangling modifiers 1 (B2/C1)
Dangling modifiers 2 (B2/C1)
Misplaced modifiers 1 (B2/C1)
Redundant words and phrases 1 (B2/C1)
Apostrophe usage 1 (B2/C1)
Commonly confused words 1 (B1/B2)
Browse all grammar exercises →
Avoiding double negatives is a sign of polished written English. These exercises target other common writing errors too.
More writing & advanced exercises:
Comma splices 1 (B2/C1)
Comma splices 2 (B2/C1)
Dangling modifiers 1 (B2/C1)
Dangling modifiers 2 (B2/C1)
Misplaced modifiers 1 (B2/C1)
Redundant words and phrases 1 (B2/C1)
Apostrophe usage 1 (B2/C1)
Commonly confused words 1 (B1/B2)
Browse all grammar exercises →
