[Grammar] Use of : No and Nothing versus Do Not and Not Any.

[The apprentice]

Dear teachers and members:


I have a grammar issue about the use of: NO and NOTHING versus DO NOT and NOT ANY. I know that double negative cannot be used in English, so here I expose the following:

a:

1) He doesn't have anything to say about it.

2) He has nothing to say about it.

3) He hasn't got anything to say about it (BrE)


I know the first sentence is the most formal, but I do not consider the second one to be informal and incorrect. In my opinion the third sentence is more of bristish usage.

b:

1) I don't have any doubt about your explanation, but I don't agree in all of your points.

2) I have no doubt about your explanation, but I don't agree in all of your points.


As above, I recognize (BrE = recognise) that the first sentence is the most formal, but I consider the second one not to be informal and incorrect.


Hoping for your assistance and help in this matter.


Sincerely,


The Apprentice.

 

[5jj]

1) He doesn't have anything to say about it.
2) He has nothing to say about it.
3) He hasn't got anything to say about it (BrE)

I know the first sentence is the most formal, but I do not consider the second one to be informal and incorrect. In my opinion the third sentence is more of [STRIKE]bristish[/STRIKE] British usage.

All three are fine in BrE. #2 is probably the most formal.

1) I don't have any doubt about your explanation, but I don't agree in all of your points.
2) I have no doubt about your explanation, but I don't agree in all of your points.

Both are fine, except that it's 'agree with'. We might well use the plural 'doubts'. #2 is more formal.

 

[Rover_KE]

I know that double negatives cannot be used in English.

That is not so — we often use double negatives.

'The situation is bad; we can't just do nothing about it' (we have to do something about it).

'I don't altogether disagree with you' (I agree with you but with some reservations).

Rover

 

[The apprentice]

Dear Rover, teachers and members:

I was referring not to use a double negatives in the following examples:

1) I didn't see nothing you told me about

2) She doesn't buy nothing at Macy's store

3) He doesn't have no money at all.


According to my grammar knowledge these sentences are not grammarly correct, it would be written as follows:

1) I didn't see anything you told me about

2) She doesn't buy anything at Macy's store

3) He doesn't have any money at all.


Thank you all for your answers.


Thankfully,



The Appretice

 

[Rover_KE]

Add the missing full stops and your amendments are correct.

 

[The apprentice]

Rover_KE:

I don't understand what you mean in your last statement (Add the missing full stops and your amendments are correct) or you mean that my sentences are incomplete, please, can you give an explanation about it?


Sincerely,


The Apprentice.

 

[emsr2d2]

If you add a full stop at the end of each of your versions of the sentences, they will be correct. The amendments you have made to the words are correct but you haven't put a full stop at the end of sentences 1 and 2 so they are not correct full sentences.

 

[The apprentice]

Thank you Rover_KE and emsr2d2:


Now I understand what you mean when you say to add a full stop to the sentence.



The Apprentice