Re: double negatives

Vasiliy Chernov wrote:
> Also, I've just thought that with a slightly different intonation, English
> might allow something like _I've told nothing, to nobody, under no
> circumstances_ - am I wrong?
It wouldn't be acceptable, and would sound odd, to my ears, at least.
It's in a semi-formal syntax, but with a stigmatized construction.  I'd
say either "I haven't told anyone anything, under any circumstances", or
"I've told nobody anything ...".  Using those multiple negatives would
feel more natural in a sentence like "I haven't [or better yet "ain't"]
told nobody nothin'", "under no circumstances" is too formal to sound
right with multiple negations.

On second thought, "I told nothing to nobody under any circumstances"
sounds acceptable to me.

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