Negation and Parallel Structure

I. Negation:

Double negatives

Double negatives are quite common in slang and in spoken English; but they are not acceptable in written
English.  The expression I can't get no satisfaction  – which thus technically means I can get satisfaction – is
however a useful example, as it shows us that there is more than one way of transforming an affirmative
statement into a negative statement. In fact there are several ways.
Negation can be expressed by :
 1) Adding a negative particle to the verb, or
 2) Adding negation to a noun or pronoun, or
 3) Using a negative adverbial phrase.
 4) Using neither and nor when there are two expressions to be negated
 5) Adding a negative prefix or suffix to an adjective
But doing two of these at the same time will produce a double negative, so theoretically an affirmation, as in the
example.  To be avoided.

1.1 Negative forms of the verb 

In most cases a negative meaning is given to a verb by adding the negative verbal particle NOT.  In some cases,
not is replaced by never.

Negative structures

"Not" (sometimes shortened to n't) normally follows the principal auxiliary or modal verb in a verbal structure.
In the few cases where there is no auxiuliary or modal (present simple or past simple affirmative tenses), it
follows a reconstituted auxiliary, do or did. The choice between not and n't is a matter of style. Not is generally
preferred in written English, n't in spoken English
.
Examples:  

 He lives in London  /  He does not live in London

 I can see you   / I cannot see you  / I can't see you
 I like those photos / I don't like any of those photos
 The man lost all his money /  The man did not lose all his money
 I should eat (some) more chocolate / I shouldn't eat (any) more chocolate.
 You ought to have gone home / You ought not to have gone home.
 I may be able to finish in time  / I may not be able to finish in time.

"Never" is used in the same way as not, except when the verb is in the simple present or simple past tense. With
never, there is no need to add a missing auxiliary using a form of do.
Examples:  

 He plays tennis  /  He never plays tennis.  (but not He does never play
 I saw the Queen yesterday   / I never saw the Queen yesterday.
 I've been to London .   / I' ve never been to London.
 You should eat a lot of chocolate / You should never eat a lot of chocolate.
  You ought to have done that / You ought never to have done that.
 I may be able to finish this.  / I may never be able to finish this.

1.2. Not many and not much

The particle not can also be added to the quantifiers much or many, to form the small-quantity quantifiers not
much or not many. 
Examples:  

 Not many people came to the concert last night.

 It's still pretty poor, and not much better than it used to be

2 . Negation using a noun or pronoun 

Less frequently, a negative meaning may be implied by attaching a negative particle to a noun group, either the
subject or the direct object of a sentence.  In this case, the negative particle that is used is no.  No is sometimes
combined with -one, -thing, -where, etc. to make negative indefinite pronouns, noone, nobody, nothing,
nowhere, etc.
Examples:  

 Trees grow on the moon   /  No trees grow on the moon.

 I can see someone   / I cannot see anyone  / I can see no one.
 The man lost time /  The man lost no time 
 I should eat more chocolate / I should eat no more chocolate.
 There's something in that box / There's nothing in that box.
 The riders were able to finish the race/  No riders were able to finish the race.

"None of" is used in the same way as no, except that it is followed by a definite article or another determiner
Examples:  

 The riders were able to finish the race/  None of the riders were able to finish the race.
 Your shoes are clean /  None of your shoes are clean.
 I like those photos  /  I like none of those photos.
 Did you eat some chocolates?  / Did you eat none of the chocolates ?

3 . Negation using an adverb phrase 

It is also possible to add a negative meaning to a sentence, by including an adverb phrase with a negative
meaning.  The most common group of negative adverbial phrases are formed using the word without, or a
preposition followed by no.
Examples:  

 You can have some whiskey  /  You can do without whisky.

 He's walking with a stick  / He's walking without a stick 
 He did it for a good reason /  He did it for no reason at all. 
 I want you to do it with me /   I want you to do it without me.

4 . Neither and nor - linking two negative statements 

"Neither" and "nor" are used to link a pair of negative pronouncements.  Nor can be used by itself to introduce
the second of a pair of negative statements, even if a normal "not" structure is used in the first one. Neither and
nor can be attached to verbs, or to nouns (subjects or objects), or even to prepositional phrases.
   When nor introduces a second main clause, the subject and the auxiliary or modal are inverted.  See examples
2 to 5 below.

Examples:  

1. He neither looks like a gentleman, nor talks like a gentleman

2. I can neither see it nor hear it.
3. I didn't agree with what he said.  Nor did I believe him.
4. I haven't eaten for three days; nor have I slept.
5. They can't find the problem; nor can they explain why it happened.
6. I like neither your appearance nor your attitude.
7. Neither the President nor the Prime minister was (were) present.
8. I could convince him neither with my arguments nor with my warnings.
9. You should wash this in water, but neither with soap nor with detergent.

5 . Negation using negative adjectives 

An affirmative statement can be turned into a negative statement by adding a negative prefix or suffix to an
appropriate adjective.
Examples:  

 This is possible  > This is impossible.

 You are being very cooperative  >  You are being very uncooperative.
 The border guards were friendly  >  The border guards were unfriendly.
 I'm very pleased with my results  >  I'm very displeased with my results.
 He's being very sensible  >  He's being very senseless.

6 . Tag questions 

Negative tags attached to the end of affirmative statements have the structure and appearance of negative
questions, but they do not really express a negative value, and they are not really questions ; they are essentially
an expression of minor doubt, or a means of requesting confirmation of a statement or an opinion.  

Examples:  

 You're coming, aren't you ?

 This is the right road, isn't it ?
 We'll get to the airport on time, won't we.
 You managed to get everything on the shopping list, haven't you ?
 We must give them a nice present, mustn't we ?
 We'll be able to get our money back if it breaks, won't we ?
II. Parallel Structure:

The balance between two or more similar words, phrases or clauses is called parallelism in grammar.
Parallelism is also called parallel structure or parallel construction. Parallel construction prevents awkwardness,
promotes clarity and improves writing style and readability.

Examples:

 Nancy likes playing the piano, the trumpet and play the guitar.
Nancy likes the piano, the trumpet and the guitar.
Nancy likes playing the piano, the trumpet and the guitar.
 She played basketball, had a shower and gone to school.
She played basketball, had a shower and went to school.
 You can apply to the job by filling this form or apply by telephone.
You can apply to the job by filling this form or you can apply by telephone.

Rules of parallelism

1. Parallelism is used to balance nouns with nouns, prepositional phrases with prepositional phrases,
participles with participles, infinitives with infinitives, clauses with clauses.
2. Parallelism is used with elements joined by coordinating conjunctions. 
My mother likes cooking and to read.
My mother likes cooking and reading
3. Parallelism is used with elements in lists or in a series.
This task can be done individually, in pairs, or can be done in groups of four.
This task can be done individually, in pairs, or in groups of four.
4. Parallelism is used with elements being compared. 
She is mad about watching TV more than to read a book .
She is mad about watching TV more than reading a book.
5. Parallelism is used with elements joined by a linking verb or a form of be
To learn is understanding the world.
To learn is to understand the world.
6. Parallelism is used with elements joined by linking words.
The teacher not only wants his students to keep quiet but also to do the task .
The teacher wants his students not only to keep quiet but also to do the task .