Guide to English grammar

Not many people have their own aero plane.
There's a cinema not far from here.
The business was explained to me not long afterwards.

NOTE

1. 
   Instead of (= in place of) and rather than have a negative meaning. Compare:
   

They should build houses instead of office blocks.
They should build houses, not office blocks.
I drink tea rather than coffee.
I drink tea, not coffee.

2. 
   Not can come before a negative prefix, e.g. un, in or dis.
   

Beggars are a not unusual sight on the streets of London.
Not unusual = fairly usual.

For not standing for a whole clause, e.g. I hope not, • 43(3).

4 Other negative words
There are other words besides not which have a negative meaning.

No None No one, nobody Nothing Nowhere Few, little Never Seldom, rarely No longer Hardly, scarcely Neither, nor

There's no change. The patient is no better. No, she isn't. We wanted tickets, but there were none left. I saw no one/nobody acting strangely. I saw nothing suspicious. There was nowhere to park. Few people were interested. There was little enthusiasm. He was never a doctor. We seldom/rarely eat out. Mrs. Adams no longer lives here. We haven’t finished. In fact, we've hardly/scarcely started. I can't understand this. -Neither/Nor can I.

Meaning not a/not any not any (opposite of yes) not any not anyone not anything not anywhere not many not much not ever not often not any longer not really, only just not either (= I can't either.)

A practical guide to English grammar 18

NOTE

1. 
   The verbs fail, avoid, stop, prevent and deny have a negative meaning.
   

You have failed to reach the necessary standard. (= You have not reached the necessary standard.)
I want to avoid getting caught in the rush hour.
A lock could stop/prevent others from using the telephone.
The player denied having broken the rules. (= The player said he/she had not broken the rules.)

2. 
   Without has a negative meaning.
   

Lots of people were without a ticket. (= Lots of people did not have a ticket.)

For negative prefixes, e.g. unusual, disagree, • 284(2).

5 Double negatives
We do not normally use not/n't or never with another negative word.
I didn't see anyone. (NOT I didn't see no one.)
That will never happen. (NOT That won't never happen.)
We've hardly started. (NOT We haven't hardly started.)
In non-standard English, a double negative means the same as a single negative.