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My friend came to visit me and asked If I wanted something. I wanted to tell him to not bring anything. In this context what is the the right sentence to tell him among two of the following:

a) Don't bring nothing!

b) Don't bring anything!

Virtuous Legend
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1 Answers1

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Don't bring anything is the right choice. Don't bring nothing is a double negative sentence which actually translates to a positive.

Akshay Arora
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  • The incorrect use of "Don't bring nothing" is a relatively common, as is "I didn't do nothing" where the intended meaning "I am innocent" – JavaLatte Mar 13 '16 at 20:22
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    Note that if you're going to a birthday party and didn't intend to purchase the birthday boy/girl a gift, your friend saying "don't bring nothing" probably isn't a double negative. :P – John Clifford Mar 13 '16 at 20:37
  • @JavaLatte that is actually Americanism. – MAKZ Mar 13 '16 at 20:42
  • @John Clifford: it is a double negative, but it's an intentional double negative. – JavaLatte Mar 13 '16 at 21:12
  • @JavaLatte Psh, stop nitpicking my clever joke. :P – John Clifford Mar 13 '16 at 21:13
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    @MAKZ: Double negatives have been a part of the English language since long before America had its current name: Chaucer (1342-1400) used them. – JavaLatte Mar 13 '16 at 21:26
  • It is a common myth that "'Don't bring nothing' actually translates to a positive". It can mean that, with suitable context and (usually) special emphasis. But overwhelmingly, when English speakers say "Don't bring nothing" they both mean and are understood to mean "Don't bring anything". Therefore, since meaning lies only in what is meant and understood by an utterance, that is what the sentence predominantly means. – Colin Fine Mar 14 '16 at 10:58