He hasn't never done nothing like this.

[Marika33]

Grammar books say that Double Negatives are not grammatical in English, but what about Triple Negatives?

• He hasn't never done nothing like this.
• I haven't seen nothing like it nowhere.

 

[Piscean]

You will occasionally hear such things, but they are not acceptable in standard English.

 

[SoothingDave]

And the meaning is the negative one. He hasn't ever done anything like this.

 

[Tarheel]

English isn't math. Two negatives don't cancel each other out.

 

[emsr2d2]

Grammar books say that double negatives are not grammatical in English, but what about triple negatives?

• He hasn't never done nothing like this.
• I haven't seen nothing like it nowhere.

Given the poor grammar exhibited in the latter part of both sentences, I would expect a person who would utter them to open with "He/I ain't". That would fit far better.

 

[jutfrank]

It's not untrue that there's nothing ungrammatical about double negatives. As long as the logic is followed (- + - = +), they're fine.

And as noted above, using double negatives for a negative meaning is natural in the non-standard grammar of many dialects.

English isn't math. Two negatives don't cancel each other out.

They do, logically, but in non-standard grammar they are often meant as negatives.

 

[Marika33]

It's not untrue that there's nothing ungrammatical about double negatives. As long as the logic is followed (- + - = +), they're fine.

And as noted above, using double negatives for a negative meaning is natural in the non-standard grammar of many dialects.

They do, logically, but in non-standard grammar they are often meant as negatives.

So, if double negatives are fine as long as they express a positive meaning, then triple negatives should be treated as conveying a negative meaning?

 

[Tarheel]

No. Not at all. Look at it as repetition for emphasis.

 

[jutfrank]

So, if double negatives are fine as long as they express a positive meaning, then triple negatives should be treated as conveying a negative meaning?

Yes, right.

- + - + - = -