Is this correct?

Question

I study English.

I don' t need nothing when I 'm by your side.

This is a part of the song BORN TO BE MY BABY by Bon Jovi.

Is it incorrect ,isn't it ? If so ,why do they sing like this,even though they speak English very well.

Answer 1

It's non standard English. Standard is 'I don't need anything'. However double negatives are common in many varieties of English especially the variety used in rock lyrics.

This is a construction that is considered wrong according to prescriptive English grammar. Actually there is no reason not to double a negative in English, other than the fact that people think it's common and uneducated. It's a social rule, not a pure linguistic one. Read the chapter 'The Language Mavens' in Steven Pinker's 'The Language Instinct' to see the rule demolished

Answer 2

ROFL...yes, unfortunately song writers are not versed in good grammar.

"I DON'T need NOTHING" the don't is not necssary with the nothing. Either it's I don't need anything or I require nothing, but not both in the sentence.

Music, the arts, have never been bound to proper English, sad to say, especially rock and roll. : )

BTW, I love Bon Jovi (Jon) what a hun!

Answer 3

Yes, it's wrong to use a double negative- it should be either, "I don't need anything" or "I need nothing". It's common for pop/rock songs to be grammatically wrong- it's just part of popular culture, and, also, lots of people don't bother much about whether or not their grammar is correct.

Answer 4

It is very bad English, a double negative, but some people nowadays thing it is cool to use bad english, especially when singing

Answer 5

It's not correct. It's a double negative.

It should be I don't need anything. I'm by your side.

But some people speak that way, it's about slang.

Answer 6

'I don' t need nothing' is a colloquial form. The standard is 'I don't need anything'.

Answer 7

It is called slang... I guess people think that is cool!