what's the reason of not using it?

Question

I never buy unnessary things.(not correct)

I don't buy unnessary things.(correct)

As I know, "I never buy unnessary things" is not proper usage.
what's the reason of not using it?

Answer 1

I am not sure why you think "never buy unnecessary things" is not proper usage. Never (just like "not") is an adverb used to express negation, i.e., to make a sentence negative.

So looking at your sentences: the positive of your statement would be "I buy unnecessary things" which is a logical sentence, right? So to negate that statement we would use never or not: "I never/do not buy unnecessary things." Both these sentences would mean the same thing and both would be considered "proper usage."

Now to have a double negative, you would need to combine the negative verb (in your example, "never buy”) with a negated direct object (in your example, “things” is the direct object). So we could make your sentence into a double negative: "I never buy NOTHING" or "I never buy NO THINGS." BUT, your use of the adjective "unnecessary" does NOT negate your direct object "things"; you DON'T have a double negative.

But even if we assumed that "unnecessary things" was negative and that you did have a double negative (again, you DO NOT), BOTH your example statements would then be double negatives...not just the first example.

So finally, my point: other than the severity of the negations ("never" being more sever than "not"), your sentences mean the same thing and are both grammatically acceptable.

Answer 2

There's nothing wrong with using it. AT FIRST, I thought the first sentence was a double negative, but it's not. It's kinda like I'm saying "I never buy reused books." and "I don't buy reused books." The 1st sentence just says you NEVER do, and the second says that you DON'T, but not saying never ever. You just had the word "unnecessary". It's not like you said "I never buy NO unnecessary things." ...now, that would be a double negative. Hope that helps;)

10 pts accepted, American Express not accepted

Answer 3

Actually they're both fine!

The only problem is that the word you are looking for is 'unnecessary'!

For anyone who mentioned 'double negatives', perhaps I should point out that the word 'don't' is just as negative as 'never'!!

To put it simply,
"I never buy unnecessary things." means that you NEVER buy things you don't need, you might say this in a 'shocked' tone of voice!
and
"I don't buy unnecessary things." means that you do NOT buy things you don't need! It's a simple, flat, statement.

Not a lot of difference, but using the word 'never' just makes it seem more definite!

Answer 4

Nope. "I never buy unnecessary things." is correct.

I think you are afraid of the double negative, but in this case, even though you have two negative elements, it makes sense. This sentence means something different from either
I buy unnecessary things.
or
I don't buy necessary things.

It also contrasts with
I buy necessary things.
because they appear in different contexts:

Situation 1
A: What do you do when you go to the store?
B: I buy necessary things.

Situation 2
A: Do you buy unnecessary things when you go to the store?
B: I never buy unnecessary things.

Answer 5

Maybe the same concept as a double negative...example....saying "I ain't got no bananas actually means that you DO have bananas....."Ain't got no" means you do have some... did I confuse you yet?

Answer 6

by saying never you imply that only by things you need and by saying that you don't you're declaring that you usually buy things you need. they're bith incorrect sentences, however, because you misspelled "unnecessary."

Answer 7

It's a double negative, which you shouldn't use (but is sometimes hard to avoid).

Answer 8

Could be you never say never.