In a message dated 11/6/2001 2:14:03 AM Pacific Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< In my last post, I noted that double negatives in a clause do not mean the
 same as a strictly positive statement.  >>

Hi, All,

Couldn't resist this!  I'm sure you've all heard this one, but just in case -

An English professor was giving a lecture about double negatives.  On and on
he droned, and the students in the back slumped lower and lower in their
chairs.  "Two negatives give a totally different meaning to a sentence than a
positive!" he lectured.  "This is true in many different languages.  We know
of no other construction like this.  In fact, there is no known usage where
two positives make a negative!"

A student from the back straightened up, looked him straight in the eye, and
said, "Yah.  Right."

Apologizing in advance,
Gretchen in San Jose
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