PICTURE BOOK OF THE PUPILS OF MISS SMITH'S ROOM
46. Correct Usage—No, Not, Never
| I haven't | means | I have not |
| you don't | means | you do not |
| he doesn't | means | he does not |
| never | means | not ever |
It is a common mistake to use two not-words in a sentence when one is enough. Each of the following sentences is correct. Each contains only one not-word.
1. I have never seen your father.
2. I haven't ever seen your father.
3. I have no money in my pocket.
4. I haven't any money in my pocket.
5. I don't see any mistakes in this example.
6. I see no mistakes in this example.
7. I don't ever go down that street at night.
8. I never go down that street at night.
Oral Exercise. 1. Point out the not-word in each of the eight sentences above. Are there any sentences there that need another not-word? Do you see that the second sentence is only another way of saying the first? Which sentence do you like better, the first or the second? The third or the fourth? The fifth or the sixth? The seventh or the eighth?
2. Say each of the following sentences in another way without changing the meaning:
1. I haven't any ink.
2. He has no book.
3. She hasn't any paper, and I haven't a pencil.
4. I have no ticket.
5. My father doesn't do any work on Saturday.
6. My father does not play any kind of instrument.
7. Haven't you ever seen a circus?
8. I have no pocketknife.
9. I haven't seen a ball game this year.
10. He had no money to spend.