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English Corner

Scientific English grammar and style   English Corner   Glossary of English grammar and style  

English Corner 12: positive and negative

Style rather than grammar dictates that different words are used in positive and negative contexts. The major groups of alternative words that require thought before use in these situations are listed below.

Either and neither, each, both, as well
Either and neither. The most familiar example is the difference between Either … or and neither … nor, with the former used for positive contexts [After this treatment the transport of either carnitine or inositol should change] but the latter for negative contexts [After this treatment the transport of neither carnitine nor inositol was changed]. In both these cases the verbs are positive and the negative sense is provided by the negation of the subject (neither means not either) and the positive sense by either. When a negative verb is used, however, either can express the negative condition; for example, when the positive sense is given by each, both or as well.
Either and each. When the positive sense is given by a positive verb and each [Ligation affects each parameter] or each of [Ligation affects each of them], the negative sense is created by a negative verb and either, not each [Ligation does not affect either parameter. Ligation does not affect either of them]. When the subject rather than the verb is negated by neither or neither of, a positive verb is used for the negative context [Ligation affects neither parameter. Ligation affects neither of them].
Either and both. When a positive sense is given by both of [It affects both of them] or both … and [Sperm motility was affected by both quinine and verapamil], either of or either … or is used, not both, to create the opposite sense with a negative verb [It does not affect either of them. Sperm motility was not affected by either quinine or verapamil]. A positive verb is used when the subject rather than verb is negated by neither of [It affects neither of them] or neither … nor [Sperm motility was affected by neither quinine nor verapamil].
Either and as well. A response in agreement with a positive statement in a question [I can see the cytoplasmic droplets, can you?] will employ as well (meaning as well as you can) with a positive verb [Yes, I can see the cytoplasmic droplets as well], but a response agreeing with a negative statement [I can’t see the cytoplasmic droplets, can you?] either, not as well, is used [No, I can’t see the cytoplasmic droplets either].

Any and some
any is used in negative contexts [I did not find any hydrogen peroxide. If there aren’t any, he won’t find them] and some is used in the corresponding positive contexts [She found some hydrogen peroxide. If there are some, she’ll find them].
any is used in negative answers [No I don’t have any paperclips] and some is used in positive answers [Yes, I have some paperclips].
any is used in questions [Do you have any scissors?] where there is doubt as to whether there are scissors at all, but some is used in questions [May I borrow some paperclips?] where there is no doubt that paper clips are available.
any is used in conditional clauses [If you have read any of his articles, you would know his style] and some is used in main clauses [You have read some of his articles and know his style].

All of, everyone, someone and no one
When no one or none (meaning not any) is used as a negative subject with a positive verb [No one wants to do it. No one is obliged to turn up on Saturday. None of the patients have cryptorchidism] the opposite context also employs a positive verb but no one or none is replaced with someone [Someone wants to do it], everyone [Everyone is requested to turn up on Saturday] or all of [All of the patients have cryptorchidism].

No and yes
The use of a yes or no for answering questions stated in the positive [Q: Are you coming?] is comprehensible since these words are consistent with the nature of the reply, either positive [A: Yes, I am] or negative [A: No, I am not]. However, the negative (no), rather the positive (yes) that may be expected in a confirmatory remark, is used for an expected agreement with a question that is negative [Q: You won’t be coming will you? A: No, I won’t], but this apparently illogical device similarly emphasises the negative response.

And and or
Whereas and is used in positive statements [Both eating and drinking are allowed in the social room], nor should be used for negative statements [Neither eating nor drinking is permitted in the laboratory].
In the former, the sense is that each activity linked by the coordinate conjunction is permitted individually (Eating is allowed. Drinking is allowed. Both eating [is allowed] and drinking is allowed, followed by ellipsis of the repeated is allowed, and conversion to the plural following and: both eating and drinking are allowed).
In the latter, again each activity is forbidden on its own (Eating is not permitted. Drinking is not permitted) but the negatives are linked with or with a negative verb [Eating or drinking is not permitted in the laboratory] or with a positive verb and a negation of the subject by no [No eating or drinking is permitted in the laboratory] or neither … nor [Neither eating nor drinking is permitted in the laboratory].

By Dr Trevor G Cooper (ctrevorg@gmail.com)

 
Asian Journal of Andrology CN 31-1795/R ISSN 1008-682X  Copyright © 2023  Shanghai Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences.  All rights reserved.