little

[beachboy]

I´ve learned that in English we hardly ever use two negative words in the same sentence, unless both have a full meaning (Michael Swan - Don´t just say nothing). If I like drinking water, but somebody asks me if I drink little water, can I say: No, I don´t drink little water, I drinks lots of it.?

[colloquium]

I´ve learned that in English we hardly ever use two negative words in the same sentence, unless both have a full meaning (Michael Swan - Don´t just say nothing). If I like drinking water, but somebody asks me if I drink little water, can I say: No, I don´t drink little water, I drinks lots of it.?

No, we don't use "little" in such a manner. Something like this is more likely:

You don't drink much water, do you?

Yes, I drink lots of water.

Furthermore, I don't think (in your example) "little" would be classed as a negative word. It is merely describing an amount.

[BobK]

No, we don't use "little" in such a manner. Something like this is more likely:

You don't drink much water, do you?

Yes, I drink lots of water.

Furthermore, I don't think (in your example) "little" would be classed as a negative word. It is merely describing an amount.

I agree with this, but would have given a slightly different answer, starting with the word "Yes" - . If someone asked *'Do you drink little water?' it would be reasonable to answer 'No... I drink lots of it.' But nobody, as you said, would ask that.

b

[RonBee]

Beachboy, perhaps you can think up a more plausible scenario?

[beachboy]

The question is not the point, but the context... Suppose somebody, at a party, says - Hey, guys, Beachboy doesn´t buy beer because he prefers coffee. He drinks little beer... What should I say:
Hey, wait a minute!
(a) It´s not true that I drink little beer! I drink lots of it!
(b) I don´t drink little beer! I drink lots of it!
(c) I drink lots of beer...
So what I really want to know is if it´s ever possible to use a negative (not/never) and the word little in sentences like that...

[RonBee]

The question is not the point, but the context... Suppose somebody, at a party, says - Hey, guys, Beachboy doesn´t buy beer because he prefers coffee. He drinks little beer... What should I say:
Hey, wait a minute!
(a) It´s not true that I drink little beer! I drink lots of it!
(b) I don´t drink little beer! I drink lots of it!
(c) I drink lots of beer...
So what I really want to know is if it´s ever possible to use a negative (not/never) and the word little in sentences like that...

Please reread the posts by Colloquim and Bob K. More plausible would be:

Ron: Beachboy doesn't drink much beer.
Beachboy: On the contrary, I drink lots of beer.
Ron: Oh? What's your favorite brand?
Beachboy: I'm not picky. I'll drink just any damn thing.

[BobK]

...
So what I really want to know is if it´s ever possible to use a negative (not/never) and the word little in sentences like that...

Not in sentences like that though it is sometimes used (in British English at least, though usually in a fairly formal style) as a form of understatement:

'I was not a little surprised by this change of tone.'
'I have to admit I'm not a little disappointed.'

Here it means 'a lot/a good deal/very'.

b