Question

Below is a sentence followed by several comments about that sentence. Next to each comment, type "p" if the comment is prescriptive in nature or "d" if it is descriptive.

Sentence:

I used to could do that, but not no more.

Comments:

A) Anyone who says this can't speak right.

B) The modal "could" is used where some people would use "be able to."

C) This sentence employs double negation in the clause "but not no more."

D) "Used to" should not be followed by "could."

E) The double negation in "not no more" is not real English.

F) The two parts of this sentence are connected by the conjunction "but."

G) This sentence would be better if the second clause had a subject, as in "but I don't no more."

Answer 1

A) Anyone who says this can't speak right. Prescriptive.

B) The modal "could" is used where some people would use "be able to." Descriptive.
C) This sentence employs double negation in the clause "but not no more." Descriptive.
D) "Used to" should not be followed by "could." Prescriptive.
E) The double negation in "not no more" is not real English. Descriptive.
F) The two parts of this sentence are connected by the conjunction "but." Descriptive.
G) This sentence would be better if the second clause had a subject, as in "but I don't no more." Prescriptive.