One negative: I didn’t see anybody

  • A2 · Elementary
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

One negative word in a sentence: There was no hot water, and we didn't have any towels (not *didn't have no towels*). no, not … any, nobody, nothing and never, from an angry hotel review to a complaint at the front desk.

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nobodydidn't … anynothing

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: never again!Reading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the negative wordsGrammar exercise
  6. 6One negative is enoughGrammar rule
  7. 7Choose the right wordGrammar exercise
  8. 8Say it another wayGrammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  11. 11At the front deskSpeaking practice
  12. 12About youGrammar exercise
  13. 13Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: choose the right wordGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: the hotel's answerGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: right or wrong?Grammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: a bad reviewDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Where did you stay on your last trip: in a hotel, an apartment or a friend's home? Was it nice?
  2. Do you read online reviews before you buy something or book a room?
  3. Tell me about a trip with problems. What didn't work?

Grammar rule

One negative is enough

In standard English, one negative word is enough. Use not (n't) + any… or a no- word with a positive verb, never both. A sentence with two parts (… and …, … but …) can have one negative in each part: There was no hot water, and we didn't have any towels.

not (n't) + any…the same meaning with a no- word
There aren't any clean cups.There are no clean cups.
I didn't meet anybody new.I met nobody new.
He didn't drink anything.He drank nothing.
He doesn't ever call. (possible, but not usual)He never calls.
  • no + a noun = not any: no time, no keys, no money.
  • nobody = not anybody (no one = not anyone) · nothing = not anything · never = not ever.
  • At the start of a negative sentence, use a no- word, never an any- word: Nobody was home. Nothing was open. No cars were on the road. (not Anybody wasn't home)
  • After a verb, people usually say not + any… in conversation: We didn't see anything. (We saw nothing is also correct, but it is very strong.)
Watch out: not They didn't find nothing, not There weren't no seats, not My dad never reads nothing. never is already negative, so it goes with any…: My dad never reads anything.

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← Unit 1Past simple: Did you…? I didn’t…