He forgot his wife’s birthday. 

Clare was absent in the afternoon. 

Avoid double negatives which make a positive: 

There isn’t no one there. 

I haven’t got no lunch. 

The ‘not’ and the ‘no’ cancel each other out and therefore the first example means there is someone there and the second means I have got some lunch. 

There is a choice of two correct versions. Only one negative should be used if the sense is to be kept: 

## CHECKING YOUR WORK 

There isn’t anyone there. 

or 

There is no one there. 

I haven’t got any lunch. 

or 

I have no lunch. 

Avoid double negatives. 

Always check your work to make sure that it makes sense. Avoid vagueness and expressions which add nothing to your 

