Sorry, we have removed the viral photo that was here that showed someone with a tattoo on their arm saying:
– Never don’t give up –
(If you google it, you will be able to find it)
This is why learning grammar is important…
What’s wrong with this tattoo?
It’s says “Never don’t give up”.
It is grammatically incorrect!
It should say either:
- Never give up … OR
- Don’t give up
We almost never use two negative words together, in this case the Never with Don’t.
Remember since it is in the Imperative (giving an order, telling someone what to do), we don’t use the subject (pronoun).
Oh, if you ever get a tattoo in another language, make sure you get a native speaker to check that it’s done correctly.
Hi, In my language, if we use 2 negative words together, it will become a positive word.
So, Never don’t give up = give up.
That’s exactly what happens in English too. Two negatives = a positive.
Uhm… so what about 3 negatives?. I’ve never heard someone say that?.
I don’t recall anyone using three negatives either unless it is repetition used as exaggeration (though this is rare).
e.g. I never, never, never ever go to bed early.
exactly. Thank you.