Can't do nothing

"He says he can't do nothing for me." Use "He can do nothing," or "He can't do anything for me."

Cannot by no means

This double negative should be avoided. "I cannot by no means permit you to go." Say, "I cannot possibly," or "I cannot, under any consideration, permit you to go."

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Nor--no

"Give not me counsel, nor let no comforter delight mine ear," says Shakespeare.

"There can be no rules laid down, nor no manner recommended," says Sheridan.

"No skill could obviate, nor no remedy dispel the terrible infection."

The foregoing sentences may be corrected by changing nor to and.

Not--no

"I pray you bear with me; I cannot go no further," says Shakespeare.

"I can go no further," or "I cannot go any further," will make the sentence correct.

Nor--not

"I never did repent for doing good, nor shall not now."

"We need not, nor do not, confine the purposes of God."

"Which do not continue, nor are not binding."

"For my part I love him not, nor hate him not."

In these sentences, change nor to and.

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CHAPTER XVI

Accordance of Verb with Subject

No rule of grammar is more familiar to the schoolboy than that which relates to the agreement of the verb with its subject, or nominative, and none that is more frequently violated. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that the schoolboy is the only transgressor. Ladies and gentlemen of culture and refinement, writers and speakers of experience and renown, have alike been caught in the quicksands of verb constructions.

"This painting is one of the finest masterpieces that ever was given to the world." A transposition of the sentence will show that the verb should be were, and not was. "Of the finest masterpieces that ever were given to the world, this painting is one."

"His essay on 'Capital and Labor' is one of the best that has ever been written on the subject." The verb should be have.

"The steamer, with all her passengers and crew, were lost." The subject is steamer, and the verb should be was.

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Interrogative sentences

"What signifies his good resolutions, when he does not possess strength of purpose sufficient to put them into practice?" Resolutions is the subject, and the verb should be signify.

"Of what profit is his prayers, while his practices are the abomination of the neighborhood?" Prayers being plural, the verb should be are.

"What avails good sentiments with a bad life?" Use avail.

Subject after the Verb

"In virtue and piety consist the happiness of man." Happiness, the subject, being singular, the verb should be consists, to agree with its nominative.

"To these recommendations were appended a copy of the minority report." A transposition of the sentence will show that the verb should be was, and not were. "A copy of the minority report was appended to these recommendations."

Whenever the sentence is introduced by a phrase consisting in part of a noun in the plural, or several nouns in the singular or plural, and, especially, where the subject follows the verb; care must be taken to keep the nominative well in mind, so that the verb may be in strict accord with it.

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Compound Subjects

When a verb has two or more nominatives it must be plural. These nominatives may or may not be connected by and or other connecting particle. The nominatives may consist of nouns or pronouns, either singular or plural, or they may be phrases.

"Washington and Lincoln were chosen instruments of government."

"Judges and senates have been bought for gold,

Esteem and love were never to be sold."-- Pope.

"Art, empire, earth itself, to change are doomed."-- Beattie.

"You and he resemble each other."

"To read and to sing are desirable accomplishments."

"To be wise in our own eyes, to be wise in the opinion of the world, and to be wise in the sight of our Creator, are three things so very different as rarely to coincide."-- Blair.

Singular in Meaning

Nominatives are sometimes plural in form but singular in meaning. Such nominatives require a verb in the singular.

"The philosopher and poet was banished from his country." Was is correct, because philosopher and poet are the same person.