My friend came to visit me and asked If I wanted something. I wanted to tell him to not bring anything. In this context what is the the right sentence to tell him among two of the following:
a) Don't bring nothing!
b) Don't bring anything!
asked Mar 13, 2016 at 20:04
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1 Answer
Don't bring anything is the right choice. Don't bring nothing is a double negative sentence which actually translates to a positive.
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The incorrect use of "Don't bring nothing" is a relatively common, as is "I didn't do nothing" where the intended meaning "I am innocent" Mar 13, 2016 at 20:22
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1Note that if you're going to a birthday party and didn't intend to purchase the birthday boy/girl a gift, your friend saying "don't bring nothing" probably isn't a double negative. :P Mar 13, 2016 at 20:37
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@John Clifford: it is a double negative, but it's an intentional double negative. Mar 13, 2016 at 21:12
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1@MAKZ: Double negatives have been a part of the English language since long before America had its current name: Chaucer (1342-1400) used them. Mar 13, 2016 at 21:26