We know that two negative forms cannot appear in a sentence in English (except for negative affixes). The double negative or even multiple negative phenomena that occur in dialects and non-standard English (although common in daily life) will not be discussed here.
lets you see what's going on.
"Longwen English Grammar" (edited by L. G. Alexander, English) Page 554 16.14 Comparison of negative forms:
The position of the negative word also has a great influence on the meaning of "adjective or noun + infinitive":
I wasn't sorry to go. I don't regret leaving. (= I went)
I was sorry not to go. I regret not leaving. (= I didn’t go)
It wasn’t a surprise to hear from him.
I was not surprised. (= I heard from him)
It was a surprise not to hear from him.
I didn't receive his messaging to surprise me. (= I didn’t hear from him)
Sometimes both parts of the sentence have negative expressions, such as: I can’t promise not to be late. My car is very unreliable.
I can’t guarantee not to be late. My car is very unreliable.
but can usually be expressed simply as follows: I can’t promise to be on time. I can’t guarantee on time.
"University English Grammar - Lectures and Tests" fifth edition page 834:
While I admit that the problem is difficult, I don’t think that they can’t be solved.
Although I admit that this problem is difficult, I don’t think it cannot be solved.
[equivalent to I think that they can be solved, but it does not have the strong tone of the original sentence]
"Oxford English Usage Guide" (third edition) Page 5493
Double Negation and Multiple Negation and Their Meaning
Two or more negative words can be used in a sentence, but each negative word usually must have practical meaning. Try comparing:
Say nothing. (= Be silent.) Don't talk.
Don’t just say nothing. Tell us what the problem is. (Don’t be silent…)
Don’t say nothing. Tell us what's wrong.
In order to achieve a special rhetorical effect, multiple negations are sometimes used instead of simple affirmation structures. This usage is very literary and will appear outdated or unnatural in spoken English.
Not a day passes when I don’t regret not having studied music in my youth.
Not a day I don’t regret not learning music when I was young.
(A more natural statement is: Every day I regret not having studied music when I was younger. or I wish I had studied music when I was younger.)
is not recommended for students in the middle school entrance examination to refer to the above entries.
October 12, 2016Diary
