How to Teach Double Negatives in Grammar

One of the hardest parts of teaching English is that it is limited in visuals. Mathematics can use concrete objects easily, even history and science can be taught with them. Most of the concepts in teaching require memorization rather than understanding. There are ways to use a visual when teaching the concept of double negatives. It can turn a concept into a concrete idea and remembered forever. Read on to learn how to teach double negatives in grammar.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Apple or other visual aid that fits in the hand

1. Place an apple on the desk behind you before starting the lesson.

2. Hold your hand out in front of you with the palms up to show that they are empty.

3. Announce to your child that you have “No apple.” Ask if they understand that you have “No apple”, emphasizing the two words.

4. Put the apple in your hand and now say, “Now, I don’t have no apple because I have an apple.” Ask the child if you have no apple. Again you will need to emphasize the words, “No apple”. Wait for a response. They may respond with just no or you have an apple.

5. Let him hear you repeat; “Now I don’t have no apple because I have an apple.” See if they understand the idea that when you create a double negative, they cancel each other out. It is the core to teaching double negatives.

6. Take time to discuss various possibilities. One example uses what happens in everyday life. If you or your child had a recent illness you can use the example that involves that illness by saying “I have no fever. Yesterday I took my temperature and I didn’t have no fever because it was 105 degrees.” (You can use any number above normal but it should be higher than the normal body temperature.)

7. Wait for the child to mention that this sounds funny. Tell them that you are showing why you don’t use two words that say no together. Explain that while it may seem you are saying that you don’t have an apple or a fever, you are really saying that you do.

8. See if they completely understand before asking for a better way of phasing that you have the apple, temperature or other object you used. Watch for the signs of understanding when you teach double negatives.

9. Attempt to illicit an answer that eliminates negatives. Create lists of phrases with double negatives. Ask your child to tell you what the sentence actually says. Ask her to tell you what she thinks the writer meant to say. Have the child rewrite the sentence correctly.

[julz49221]

on 2/2/2008 Great Article!