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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