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#2 (permalink) Mon Aug 11, 2008 14:08 pm ways of expressing negation |
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. I don't think they have been counted, yanoss. Here are some negative words, which can be combined in various ways in sentences:
no not never neither nor nobody nothing nowhere hardly seldom . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13014
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#3 (permalink) Mon Aug 11, 2008 14:34 pm re :negation |
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Thank you for the answer! Is it correct to say that there are two ways of expressing negation in English? I mean negative doubling and negative polarity (NPI). |
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Yanoss New Member

Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Bulgaria
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 14999 Location: EU
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#5 (permalink) Sat Aug 16, 2008 14:37 pm ways of expressing negation |
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Hi Torsten! I've been trying to answer the question" How many ways of expressing 'negation'are there in English? " It's a part of the list of questions that i have to prepare to set on an exam of english morphology and syntax But now i supose (after reading some pappers) that one of the ways of expressing 'negation ' in English is by using 'negative polarity items" (NPI) / as Mister Micawber suggest above/ but "negative doubling": I" don't know nobody "- it's not commanly allowed to use in Standard English but in dialect and spoken English But may be I'm wrong?! Regards |
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Yanoss New Member

Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Bulgaria
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#6 (permalink) Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:38 am ways of expressing negation |
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. Yes, that's right, yanoss-- double negatives are frowned upon in careful English. We do have one anomaly, which is often discussed:
I cannot answer no questions.
This is a questionable but possible form meaning 'I am unable to avoid answering questions / I must answer at least question'. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13014
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#7 (permalink) Sun Aug 17, 2008 14:40 pm ways of expressing negation |
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Mister Micawber, Thank you for the help! Regards, yanoss |
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Yanoss New Member

Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Bulgaria
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