Triple negative
By laglen
@laglen (19759)
United States
December 16, 2010 5:13pm CST
"I dont owe nobody nothing"
So.... does this mean you owe somebody something?
This phrase always cracks me up. Do you ever hear double/triple negatives and have to stop and think about whether it is a positive and if the person speaking meant it that way?
Ahh the things I ponder....
2 people like this
5 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
16 Dec 10
I do not know what they teach for English in schools as I have tried to explain many time to my family members (great grand children) just how double negatives work. I am amazed that they still do not "get" it.
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
17 Dec 10
I think the uneducated version of English spoken by modern students who weren't properly taught, should be considered a brand new dialect. LOL. Not a proper one, just a new one.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
19 Dec 10
pft..i let loose with an accidental five fold negative in 3rd grade "ain't never no nothing nohow" and gave my english teacher the screaming blue fits.
on the upside,she said it was the worst example of negatives she'd ever heard.
LOL hey,i accomplished something!
really tho..i was only 8 or so at the time..she made a bigger deal than was necessary.
on the upside,she said it was the worst example of negatives she'd ever heard.
LOL hey,i accomplished something!
really tho..i was only 8 or so at the time..she made a bigger deal than was necessary.1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
22 Dec 10
they didn't know what to do with me anyway.when i started school,half of my speech was dated thanks to my much older grandma.
"why is this kid using 1920s expressions?" LMAO
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
17 Dec 10
An odd number of negatives = a positive, and even number of a negative.
I don't owe nobody = I owe somebody.
I don't owe nobody nothing = I owe nothing to a certain person, or group.
Think of it like order of operations, in match.
(I don't + owe nobody) + nothing =
I owe somebody/everybody + nothing =
I owe somebody/everybody nothing.
Make sense, or am I just acting like a grammar geek?
1 person likes this
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
17 Dec 10
I'm forever hearing people say "I haven't got no money" and I reply.."Lucky you" because clearly, if the haven't got no money, they must have some
Also, I've been told at work "You'll have to help him because he hasnt got no legs" ...wouldn't it be better if I helped the man who HAS got no legs???
1 person likes this
@buggles64 (2709)
• United States
19 Dec 10
Well, I have two sets of double negatives. They are twins....Double trouble and filthy dirty! My kids laugh at me when they hear this one.
1 person likes this
