Page 379 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

negative structures (4): double negatives 370
Would you like a drink? - I thought you'd never ask. Hello! I thought you weren't coming.
2 I hope that ... not ...
This does not happen with hope.
I hope it doesn't rain. (NOT J (<<m't h6t'e it mins.)
3 short answers: I suppose not.
In short answers, most of these verbs can be followed by not (see 539). Are we going to see Alan again? - I believe/suppose/hope not.
Another possible short answer construction is I don't . .. so (see 539). Do you think it'll snow? ..... I don't believe/suppose/think so.
Hope is not used in this structure.
I hope not. (NOT : titm 't Mt'e stI.)
I don't think so is more common than I think not, which is rather formal.
4 verbs followed by infinitives
Many verbs can be followed by infinitives (see 282). In an informal style we often prefer to make the first verb negative rather than the infinitive, although this may not change the meaning at all. This happens, for example, with appear, seem, expect, happen, intend and want.
Sibyl doesn't seem to like you.
(Less formal than Sibyl seems rwt to like you.)
I don't expect to see you before Monday.
(More natural than I expect not to see you . ..)
Angela and I were at the same university, but we never happened to meet. (Less formal than ... we happened never to meet.)
Idon'twanttofailthisexam.(NOT: I;tltmt"6(t6JYlil...) After I've finished this contract I never intend to teach again.
370 negative structures (4): double negatives
1 English and other languages
In some languages, a negative word like rwbody, nothing or never has to be used with a negative verb. In standard English, nobody, nothing, never etc are themselves enough to give a negative meaning, and not is unnecessary.
I opened the door, but I could see nobody. (NOT I etJtt;ltln't see t;'6b6ay.) Tell them nothing. (NOT DtJn'( ten them 1Z6thing.)
Your suggestion will help neither of us. (NOT ••• f;tJ6n't kelt' neither . ..) Nothing matters now - everything's finished. (NOT N8thing d6e9n't
maner ...)
I've never understood what she wants. (NOT : !ttl/Hm't nelle" tt;nderst66d . ..)
2 nobody and not anybody, etc
Nobody, rwthing, never etc are rather emphatic. We often prefer to use not anybody, not anything, not ever etc. Note that anybody, anything, ever etc are not themselves negative words (see 381) - they have to be used with not to give
a negative meaning.
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