2006-06-13 01:38:04 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
First, correct your spelling. It's "B-E-L-I-E-V-I-N-G" and "B-E-L-I-E-V-E" not "beleving" and "beleive".
And second, YOU CANNOT PUT A GERUND AFTER "DO NOT"...
"believing" is a gerund...
Anyway, "don't not", in context, is a double negative.
A double negative occurs when two forms of negation are used in the same sentence. In some languages a double negative resolves to a negative, while in others it resolves to a positive. These are strictly grammatical rules and have nothing to do with mathematics. They are used in some languages and considered erroneous in others.
see link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_negative
BUT
analyzing it further, "DON'T" is a contraction of "DO NOT" so "DON'T NOT" is actually "DO NOT NOT"......... which is obviously redundant.
My final answer:
THE STATEMENT IS INCORRECT.
2006-06-13 01:51:23 · answer #1 · answered by karl 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As others have said, "I don't not believing" is plain wrong; you don't use present participle ("believing") in that context.
Probably the most formally correct option is "I don't disbelieve" - which means "I believe", but expresses it rhetorically as the double negative form called litotes ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litotes ).
In context, "I don't *not* believe" (with the emphasis on "not") could also be correct, if you were stressing that your views are the opposite of "not believing".
2014-11-05 17:41:36 · answer #2 · answered by Ray 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like the other answers, this is incorrect because it is a double negative. They both mean the same thing, but the former is incorrect usage.
FYI: "Grammar" and "believing/believe" are misspelled.
2006-06-13 08:47:22 · answer #3 · answered by Cam 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No - 'I don't not believing' violates two basic rules of English grammar - 1) 'don't not' is a double-negative; and 2) 'I ... believing' is improper conjugation of the verb, 'to believe.'
The proper grammar in this case would be, 'I believe.' To express the negative form, the proper grammar would be, 'I do not believe.'
nchav123
2006-06-13 08:44:29 · answer #4 · answered by nchav123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is incorrect in two ways: the continuous form is impossible after do not and with "believe"; the double negative is highly unidiomatic if not impossible here. So your only way with a double negative is:
"I do not disbelieve."
2006-06-13 08:44:26 · answer #5 · answered by rainbowunweaver2002 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, it's "grammar," think of "grandma", with two "a's."
Second, "believing" is not a verb. At best it is a participle or gerund.
The sentence you want is, "I don't not believe in [whatever]." In itself, it does not mean, "I believe."
It merely means the speaker may believe or may be neutral or agnostic as to the [whatever]. Not all double negatives mean a positive.
2006-06-13 08:46:07 · answer #6 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's totally wrong GRAMMAR because you should never repeat. That's called redundancy. The way it sounds even sucks. It's definetely wrong. Redundancy is always a no no in grammar. Once is enough.
2006-06-13 08:59:40 · answer #7 · answered by xXxconfusedxXxforxXxlifexXx 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not, as this is a common example of double negative.
Suitable ways to state "I believe." include,
I believe.
I don't disbelieve.
The former is concrete, while the latter leaves room for lack of complete belief.
2006-06-13 08:40:49 · answer #8 · answered by Feroxyhite 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well the grammar isn't correct...lol but I do believe that it is saying I believe
2006-06-13 08:47:02 · answer #9 · answered by jai 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The grammar is incorrect, as is the spelling of believing and believe
2006-06-13 08:44:38 · answer #10 · answered by dkrox1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋