Chapter 35: Double Negatives & I and Me

Double Negatives

Aint nobody got time for that!

-- Sweet Brown

These are grammatically incorrect sentences because they contain double negatives.
I dont want no water. There arent no apples in the refrigerator. I havent none. We werent hardly able to sleep.
*If you read these sentences quickly, you might think that they are correct. But they are not. So what is wrong with them? Check next slide for answers.

Corrections
I dont want no water. There arent no apples in the refrigerator. I havent none.

We werent hardly able to sleep.

So what are the rules about double negatives?

Negative Words
No
Do not use two or more negative words in the same sentence. Two negatives contradict each other and make a positive.

Never Hardly None No one

Scarcely Only Nobody

Nothing
Not But

Neither
Nt

Practice
Pilar hadnt never heard of the movie.

Pilar had never heard of the movie.

Practice
I havent no money for such things.

I havent any money for such things.

Practice
I have never seen no tanks.

I have never seen any tanks.

Practice
There wasnt no opportunity to go to the opera.

There wasnt any opportunity to go to the opera.

Practice
He isnt hardly able to run to the bus.

He is hardly able to run to the bus.

Practice
I didnt find nobody at the swimming pool.

I didnt find anybody at the swimming pool.

Practice
I havent any bananas today.

I have no bananas today.

Practice
He didnt like none of these.

He didnt like any of these.

Practice
We werent but four players on the field.

We were but four players on the field.

Practice
I couldnt hardly speak.

I could hardly speak.

Practice
She hasnt no food.

She has no food.

Practice
I am sure they didnt have no other car.

I am sure they didnt have any other car.

Practice
Dad cant hardly hear me from my room.

Dad can hardly hear me from my room.

Practice
Cooper wont bite nobody.

Cooper wont bite anybody.

Practice
I am sure she hasnt no books for us.

I am sure she hasnt any books for us.

Practice
I didnt run into no one I knew at the game.

I didnt run into any one I knew at the game.

Practice
Tommy hasnt done nothing today.

Tommy hasnt done anything today.

Practice
Grandma didnt have no chocolate yesterday.

Grandma didnt have any chocolate yesterday.

Practice
I didnt see the kite nowhere.

I didnt see the kite anywhere.

or Me? Me? II or
Using I or Me

When you write about yourself, y ou use the pronouns I or me.

I like to go to church.

He gave the book to me.

If the pronoun appears in the subject of a sentence, use I.

was late for school.

Subject

Predicate

If the pronoun appears in the predicate part of the sentence, use me.

Sherry went home with me.

Subject Predicate

Using I and Me With Another Name

Sometimes we combine the pronouns I and me with another person.

Betsy and I like to read. The TV was too loud for Rob and me.

When using I and me with another per son, always put other persons name first.

Bobby and I broke the blue lamp.

Sit beside Terry and me.

So when do you use I or me with the other persons name?

The And Trick !

Cover the word and plus the other persons name. Read the sentence and listen for the correct pronoun.

The And Trick!

Robert and I walked home.

The And Trick!

Give the paper to Steve and me.

PRACTICE
Find the sentence that correctly uses I and me.

Which sentence is correct?

Mike and I worked for hours. Mike and me worked for hours.

Which sentence is correct?

Bob and I rode the bus. Bob and me rode the bus.

Which sentence is correct?

Help Gary and me paint this. Help Gary and I paint this.

Which sentence is correct?

She sits behind Sue and I. She sits behind Sue and me.

Which sentence is correct?

Everyone looked at Hal and I. Everyone looked at Hal and me.

Which sentence is correct?

Mother and I love ice cream. Mother and me love ice cream.

Which sentence is correct?

No one wanted help from Ted and I. No one wanted help from Ted and me.

Which sentence is correct?

After Kathy and I finished, we put our books away. After Kathy and me finished, we put our books away.

Which sentence is correct?

Move the chair beside John and I. Move the chair beside John and me.

Which sentence is correct?

Mom opened the door for Nana and I. Mom opened the door for Nana and me.

Remember the And Test :

When using I or me and another persons name, cover the word and the other persons name to find which pronoun would be used.