Page 381 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

7
371
She hasn't got much chance ofpassing the exam, I don't think. We won't be back before midnight, I don't suppose.
extra negative in expressions of doubt
In informal standard spoken English, a negative verb (without a negative meaning) is sometimes used after expressions of doubt or uncertainty.
I shouldn't be surprised ifthey didn't get married soon. (= •.. if they got married soon.)
I wonder whether I oughtn't to go and see a doctor -I'm feeling a bit funny. (= ... whether I ought to ...)
negative structures (5): ambiguous sentences
In a negative structure, not can refer to different parts of a sentence. Compare: Arthur didn't write to Sue yesterday - he phoned her.
Arthur didn't write to Sue yesterday - he wrote to Ann.
Arthur didn't write to Sue yesterday - he wrote this morning.
The exact meaning is shown in speech by stress and intonation, and even in writing it is usually clear from the context and situation. However, confusions sometimes arise. They can usually be avoided by reorganising the sentence. Compare:
The car crash didn't kill him. (Did he live, or did something else kill him?)
It wasn't the car crash that killed him. (Only one possible meaning.) Negative sentences with because-clauses are often ambiguous.
I didn't sing because Pam was there.
This sentence could mean 'My reason for not singing was that Pam was there' or 'My reason for singing was not that Pam was there'. The first meaning could be shown clearly by putting the because-clause at the beginning.
Because Pam was there, I didn't sing.
neither (of): determiner neither + singular noun
We use neither before a singular noun to mean 'not one and not the other (of two)'.
Can you come on Monday or Tuesday? -I'm afraid neither day is possible.
neither of + plural
We use neitherojbefore a determiner (for example the, my, these), and before a pronoun. The noun or pronoun is plural.
Neither ofmy brothers can sing. (NOT Neither my brtJtiters edt! sing.)
Neither o f us saw it happen.
After neither of+ noun/pronoun, we use a singular verb in a formal style.
Neither o f my sisters is married.
In an informal style, a plural verb is possible.
Neither ofmy sisters are married. neither used alone
We can use neither without a noun or pronoun, if the meaning is clear. page 349
372 1
2
3
neither (of): determiner 372