ewie
Senior Member
English English
Hello everyone.
I heard myself saying yesterday I'm going up in the loft to see if I can't find something to throw away.
Question: (1) Why is it permissible to say can't where can would make a lot more sense? Is there a name for this construction?
(2) Is this type of 'redundant negative' construction used in all varieties of English?
(3) I'm not hallucinating. Am I?
Any feedback would be appreciated.
~ewie
I heard myself saying yesterday I'm going up in the loft to see if I can't find something to throw away.
Question: (1) Why is it permissible to say can't where can would make a lot more sense? Is there a name for this construction?
(2) Is this type of 'redundant negative' construction used in all varieties of English?
(3) I'm not hallucinating. Am I?
Any feedback would be appreciated.
~ewie