Explanation
A double negative uses two negative words in one sentence. In standard English, this is usually not correct, so one negative word is enough.
Look at "I don't know nothing about it." Here, "don't" makes the sentence negative, and "nothing" is a second negative word. Standard English says "I don't know anything about it" or "I know nothing about it." Japanese often uses one negative sentence such as "何も知らない". So Japanese learners may add a second negative word by mistake.
ダブルネガティブは、1つの文に否定語が2つ入る形です。標準英語では、これはたいてい正しくないので、否定語は1つで十分です。
たとえば "I don't know nothing about it." を見てください。ここでは "don't" が文を否定し、さらに "nothing" も否定語なので、標準英語ではダブルネガティブになります。標準英語では "I don't know anything about it" または "I know nothing about it" と言います。日本語は「何も知らない」のように1回の否定で表すので、日本人学習者は否定語を重ねてしまいやすいです。
Examples
- I don't know nothing about it. それについては何も知らないよ。
- He didn't say nothing to me. 彼は私に何も言わなかった。
- Ain't nobody here right now. 今ここには誰もいないよ。
- Didn't you see nobody at the door? 玄関で誰にも会わなかったの？
- We can't go nowhere tonight. 今夜はどこにも行けないよ。
- I don't need no help with this. これは手伝ってもらわなくて大丈夫だよ。
Common Mistakes
Japanese learners often make a direct translation and add two negative words, such as "I don't have no money" or "I didn't see nothing." In standard English, use one negative only: "I don't have any money" or "I didn't see anything."
日本人学習者は、日本語の感覚のまま否定を重ねて "I don't have no money" や "I didn't see nothing" のように言いがちです。標準英語では否定語は1つだけにして、"I don't have any money" や "I didn't see anything" と言います。