Which of the following sentences is written correctly in standard English without using unnecessary double negatives?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: They watch no movie during the working days, but in holidays they watch one movie.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of negative structures in English. In standard English, multiple negatives in the same clause can create confusion or change the meaning. The goal is to choose the sentence that clearly and correctly expresses the idea that they do not watch movies during working days but do watch one during holidays, without using incorrect double negatives.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- All options describe a contrast between behaviour on working days and during holidays. - Some options use combinations like never and no or do not never, which may form double negatives. - The correct sentence should contain only one negative meaning in the first clause and should be grammatically smooth overall.


Concept / Approach:
In standard English, a single clause should normally contain only one negative expression to convey a negative meaning. Phrases like never watch no movie or do not never watch any movie are considered incorrect double negatives, because the combination of never with no or do not with never conflicts. A correct version would either use never with a positive object (never watch any movie) or use watch no movie with no additional negative. We must apply this principle to each option and select the one that follows standard usage most closely.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine option a: "They never watch no movie during the working days, but in holidays they watch one movie." The phrase never watch no movie contains two negative words, never and no. This double negative is considered incorrect in standard English. Step 2: Look at option b: "They never watch none movie during the working days, but in holidays they watch one movie." Here never and none again create a double negative construction and the phrase none movie is ungrammatical. Step 3: Check option c: "They do not never watch any movie during the working days, but in holidays they watch one movie." The combination do not and never within the same clause is another double negative, which implies that they sometimes watch movies, changing the intended meaning. Step 4: Consider option d: "They watch no movie during the working days, but in holidays they watch one movie." This sentence uses a single negative expression watch no movie, which is grammatically correct and clearly expresses that they do not watch any movie during working days. Step 5: The second clause in option d, "but in holidays they watch one movie", is slightly informal but understandable and does not contain a negative. Step 6: Therefore, option d stands out as the sentence that avoids incorrect double negatives and conveys the intended meaning clearly.


Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the meaning in your own words: "They do not watch any movie during working days, but during holidays they watch one." Option d can be seen as a direct transformation of this idea. Options a, b and c either introduce extra negatives or distort the meaning. A native speaker or standard grammar text would accept option d without hesitation, while the others would be marked as incorrect.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a: Contains the incorrect double negative never and no and sounds ungrammatical. Option b: Combines never with none and also uses the strange phrase none movie, making it doubly incorrect. Option c: Uses do not never, which is a double negative that logically implies they do sometimes watch movies, not that they never do.


Common Pitfalls:
In some varieties of English, especially in informal speech, double negatives are used for emphasis. However, in standard written English, such patterns are considered errors. Exam questions expect you to follow the standard form. Students may also overlook that not never flips the meaning of the sentence. To avoid mistakes, always count the negative words in each clause and ensure there is only one unless you deliberately wish to cancel the negative effect.


Final Answer:
The sentence that is written correctly without incorrect double negatives is "They watch no movie during the working days, but in holidays they watch one movie."

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