Grammar Worksheet · Grades 4–6
Double Negatives Worksheet
A printable grammar worksheet for grades 4-6 on double negatives: using two negative words for one negative idea is nonstandard, and one negative is enough. Students label eight sentences correct or double negative, then rewrite six faulty sentences with a single negative. A complete answer key is included.
Subject
Grammar
Grades
Grades 4–6
Skill Focus
Double Negatives, usage
Lesson Length
15 minutes
Lesson Overview
About this worksheet
A double negative uses two negative words in the same sentence to express one negative idea – ‘I don’t want nothing’ – which is nonstandard English. The fix is to use only one negative word, either by changing the second negative to a positive (anything, ever, anywhere) or by dropping one negative. This is a high-value usage skill because double negatives are common in everyday speech and students need to recognize and correct them in writing.
Section A on page 1 gives eight sentences and asks the student to label each correct or double negative. The set is balanced – four are correct (a single negative, or a positive paired with one negative) and four contain a double negative (nobody + didn’t, no + don’t, nothing + didn’t, never + won’t) – so students must actually test each sentence rather than guess a pattern.
Section B on page 2 is corrective: each of six sentences contains a double negative, and the student rewrites it with only one negative word. The items cover the most common pairings, including the tricky ‘couldn’t hardly’ (hardly is already negative), so students practice the full range of fixes the reference box describes.
Page 3 is a complete answer key. Section A lists correct or double negative for each sentence; Section B gives a sample corrected sentence for each item. The reference box at the top of page 1 defines the double negative, lists the negative words (including the n’t contractions), and shows a worked I-don’t-want-nothing example that is not reused in any assessed item.
How to Use This Lesson
Read the reference box aloud and list the negative words together. Show that ‘I don’t want nothing’ has two negatives and fix it two ways: ‘I don’t want anything’ or ‘I want nothing.’
Work Section A item 1 together: ‘We didn’t see nobody’ has didn’t AND nobody, so it is a double negative.
Assign the rest of Section A independently. Remind students to circle every negative word and count them.
Demonstrate Section B item 9 together: ‘I don’t know nobody’ -> ‘I don’t know anybody.’ Note that hardly and barely also count as negatives (item 13).
Use the answer key on page 3 for self-check or aide spot-check; any rewrite that leaves one negative counts.
Pair with the Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Worksheet or the Subject-Verb Agreement Worksheet to build a short usage mini-unit.
Printable Resource
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Double Negatives Worksheet
A printable grammar worksheet for grades 4-6 on double negatives: using two negative words for one negative idea is nonstandard, and one negative is enough. Students label eight sentences correct or double negative, then rewrite six faulty sentences with a single negative. A complete answer key is included.
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