Difference between revisions of "Expressing "double negation""

 
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== See also ==
 
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
 
=== Books ===
 
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
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{{Basic Grammar|不|B1|Subj. + 不是 + 不 / 没 + Predicate|我 <em>不</em> 是 <em>不</em> 知道 怎么 做 。|grammar point|ASGEEA2D}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|不|B1|Subj. + 不是 + 不 / 没 + Predicate|我 <em>不</em> 是 <em>不</em> 知道 怎么 做 。|grammar point|ASGEEA2D}}
 
{{Rel char|没}}
 
{{Rel char|没}}

Latest revision as of 08:46, 24 April 2019

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There are two main methods for double negation. The simpler method is to use a double negative with modal verbs like 会 or 能. The more complicated method is to negate both the subject and the predicate.

Negation Before a Negative Word

Structure

This pattern just uses 不是 right before a negated predicate:

Subj. + 不是 + 不 / 没 + Predicate

This pattern uses modal verbs like 会, 能, or 可能, which are negated before a negated predicate:

Subj. + 不 + 会 / 能 / 可能 + 不 / 没 + Predicate

The predicate part of either pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

  • 来 的 。 huì lái de.There is no way he's not coming.
  • 可能 知道 。 kěnéng zhīdào.There is no way she doesn't know about this.
  • 她 太 害羞 了 ,不是 礼貌 。Tā tài hàixiū le, bù shì lǐmào.She's too shy; It's not that she's not polite.
  • 不是 没有 钱 ,是 不 想 乱 花 钱 。bù shì méiyǒu qián, shì bù xiǎng luàn huā qián.It's not that he doesn't have money; it's just he doesn't want to spend it recklessly.
  • 我 知道 你 想 减肥 ,但是 吃 早饭 。Wǒ zhīdào nǐ xiǎng jiǎnféi, dànshì néng chī zǎofàn.I know you want to lose weight, but you can't not eat breakfast.

Negation Before a Singular Noun

This structure is used for saying things like "not a single one," often with topic comments. 没有一个人 ("not a single person") is equivalent to 没有谁 ("not anyone").

Structure

(Topic +) 没有 + [Singular Noun] + 不 / 没 + Predicate + 的

Examples

  • 没有 一 个 人 讨厌 他 Méiyǒu yī gè rén tǎoyàn tā de.There is not one person who doesn't dislike him.
  • 这些 菜 没有 一 个 Zhèxiē cài méiyǒu yī gè de.There is no single one that is not spicy among these dishes.
  • 我们 公司 的 员工 没有 一 个 会 说 英语 Wǒmen gōngsī de yuángōng méiyǒu yī gè huì shuō Yīngyǔ de.Our company doesn't have a single employee who can't speak English.
  • 他 的 女朋友 没有 一 个 漂亮 Tā de nǚpéngyou méiyǒu yī gè piàoliang de.None of his girlfriends were not beautiful.
  • 我们 学校 的 学生 没有 一 个 参加 高考 Wǒmen xuéxiào de xuéshēng méiyǒu yī gè méi cānjiā gāokǎo de.In our school there wasn't a single student who didn't take the national college entrance exam.