Guide to Negation in English – TOEIC® Preparation

In English, expressing negation is not limited to using the word "not". The English language offers multiple structures for forming negative statements, each bringing distinct semantic nuances or allowing to highlight certain elements of speech. This guide presents you with a range of negative adverbs and phrases such as hardly, neither, nowhere, no-one, and others.

A crucial point to remember: unlike in French, where double negation can be grammatically acceptable (example: “Je ne vois personne” [I don't see anyone]), in English, it constitutes a grammatical error. A single negation is sufficient to convey a negative meaning. Consequently, "I don't know nothing" is incorrect, since the presence of two negatives creates a logical inconsistency. The correct forms are "I don't know anything" or "I know nothing".

1. Hardly (almost not, with difficulty)

❌ She could hardly not hear the speaker over the noise.✅ She could hardly hear the speaker over the noise.(She could barely hear the speaker over the noise.)
❌ He has hardly never finished a project on time.✅ He has hardly ever finished a project on time.(He has rarely managed to finish a project on time.)

Explanation: The adverb hardly already carries an intrinsic negative value. Adding "not" or "never" creates an incorrect double negation. Use hardly alone or pair it with "ever" to reinforce the meaning.

2. Neither (neither... nor, not one or the other)

❌ Neither candidate isn't prepared for the position.✅ Neither candidate is prepared for the position.(Neither candidate is qualified for this position.)
❌ Neither Mark nor Emma didn't accept the invitation.✅ Neither Mark nor Emma accepted the invitation.(Neither Mark nor Emma accepted the invitation.)

Explanation: The structure neither... nor already contains the negation. Therefore, you should never add "not", "didn't", or any other negative form in the sentence. The verb remains in the affirmative form.

3. Nowhere (in no place, nowhere)

❌ There isn't nowhere better to relax than the beach.✅ There is nowhere better to relax than the beach.(There is no place better to relax than the beach.)
❌ We didn't find her nowhere.✅ We searched everywhere, but we found her nowhere.(We explored every possible place, without finding her anywhere.)

Explanation: Nowhere is a complete negative adverb. It should never be combined with "not", "didn't", or other negations. Use it with an affirmative verb.

4. No-one and Nothing (no one, nothing)

❌ No-one doesn't enjoy working under such pressure.✅ No-one enjoys working under such pressure.(No one enjoys working under such stressful conditions.)
❌ There isn't nothing interesting on TV tonight.✅ There's nothing interesting on TV tonight.(There is nothing interesting on TV tonight.)

Explanation: The pronouns no-one (or nobody) and nothing are absolute negations. They are used only with verbs in the affirmative form. Combining "no-one" with "doesn't" or "nothing" with "isn't" constitutes a typical error to avoid in the TOEIC®.

5. Seldom, Barely and Rarely (seldom, just, rarely)

❌ They don't seldom go out during the week.✅ They seldom go out during the week.(They infrequently go out during the week.)
❌ I didn't barely catch the last train home.✅ I barely caught the last train home.(I just managed to catch the last train.)
❌ She doesn't rarely forget her appointments.✅ She rarely forgets her appointments.(She rarely forgets her appointments.)

Explanation: The adverbs seldom, barely, and rarely possess an inherent negative connotation. Pairing them with "don't", "doesn't", or "didn't" results in an incorrect double negation. Use them directly with an affirmative verb.

6. Few and Little (very few, insufficiently)

❌ Not few people came to the event.✅ Few people came to the event.(Very few people attended the event.)
❌ There isn't little time left to complete the project.✅ There is little time left to complete the project.(There is minimal time left to finalize the project.)

Explanation: Few (for countables) and little (for uncountables) already express a small quantity with a negative nuance. It is unnecessary and incorrect to add "not" or "isn't" before these terms.

7. Unless (unless, except if)

❌ I won't go to the party unless you don't come with me.✅ I won't go to the party unless you come with me.(I won't go to the party unless you come with me.)

Explanation: The conjunction unless means "except if" or "on the condition that not" and introduces an implicit negative condition. You must never use a negative form after unless. The following clause must be affirmative.

Summary: The Golden Rule

In English, only one mark of negation is required to express a negative meaning. Using a double negation constitutes a major grammatical error that can completely alter the meaning of your sentence or render it incomprehensible. This rule is systematically tested in the grammar sections (parts 5 and 6) of the TOEIC®, where double negation traps are among the most frequent errors.

Summary Table of Negative Words

Negative Term	Translation	Type	Correct Example
hardly	scarcely, almost not	Adverb	I can hardly believe it.
neither	neither one nor the other	Determiner/Conjunction	Neither option is viable.
nowhere	nowhere	Adverb	She is nowhere to be found.
no-one / nobody	nobody	Pronoun	No-one knows the answer.
nothing	nothing	Pronoun	Nothing was said about it.
seldom	rarely	Adverb	He seldom travels abroad.
barely	just, scarcely	Adverb	We barely made it on time.
rarely	rarely	Adverb	She rarely complains.
few	few (countable)	Determiner	Few candidates applied.
little	little (uncountable)	Determiner	Little progress was made.
unless	unless, except if	Conjunction	I'll go unless it rains.

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