In this sentence with multiple negations, should I use “is” or “isn't”?












2















My apologies, I’m having issues with a double negative sentence. Bear in mind I don't want to change the sentence structure around, I just want to know if at the end of the sentence, I should put the word isn’t or is:




Just because you (A) don’t feel that she’s (B) innocent doesn’t mean that she [is or isn't]




I want to infer that just because person (A) doesn’t think that person (B) is innocent, she might be so.



is it is at the end (which doesn’t sound right) or isn't?










share|improve this question




















  • 5





    "Isn't" would be correct. "Just because you don't feel she's innocent doesn't mean she isn't [innocent]."

    – Mark Hubbard
    yesterday








  • 3





    Just as the non-negated version Just because you [do] feel she's innocent doesn't mean she is [innocent]. That's to say [Just because] X seems true doesn't mean X [is true] corresponds to [Just because] NOT X seems true doesn't mean NOT X [is true].

    – FumbleFingers
    yesterday


















2















My apologies, I’m having issues with a double negative sentence. Bear in mind I don't want to change the sentence structure around, I just want to know if at the end of the sentence, I should put the word isn’t or is:




Just because you (A) don’t feel that she’s (B) innocent doesn’t mean that she [is or isn't]




I want to infer that just because person (A) doesn’t think that person (B) is innocent, she might be so.



is it is at the end (which doesn’t sound right) or isn't?










share|improve this question




















  • 5





    "Isn't" would be correct. "Just because you don't feel she's innocent doesn't mean she isn't [innocent]."

    – Mark Hubbard
    yesterday








  • 3





    Just as the non-negated version Just because you [do] feel she's innocent doesn't mean she is [innocent]. That's to say [Just because] X seems true doesn't mean X [is true] corresponds to [Just because] NOT X seems true doesn't mean NOT X [is true].

    – FumbleFingers
    yesterday
















2












2








2








My apologies, I’m having issues with a double negative sentence. Bear in mind I don't want to change the sentence structure around, I just want to know if at the end of the sentence, I should put the word isn’t or is:




Just because you (A) don’t feel that she’s (B) innocent doesn’t mean that she [is or isn't]




I want to infer that just because person (A) doesn’t think that person (B) is innocent, she might be so.



is it is at the end (which doesn’t sound right) or isn't?










share|improve this question
















My apologies, I’m having issues with a double negative sentence. Bear in mind I don't want to change the sentence structure around, I just want to know if at the end of the sentence, I should put the word isn’t or is:




Just because you (A) don’t feel that she’s (B) innocent doesn’t mean that she [is or isn't]




I want to infer that just because person (A) doesn’t think that person (B) is innocent, she might be so.



is it is at the end (which doesn’t sound right) or isn't?







syntactic-analysis negation






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













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edited 2 hours ago









sumelic

48.1k8114218




48.1k8114218










asked yesterday









Martin Martin

394




394








  • 5





    "Isn't" would be correct. "Just because you don't feel she's innocent doesn't mean she isn't [innocent]."

    – Mark Hubbard
    yesterday








  • 3





    Just as the non-negated version Just because you [do] feel she's innocent doesn't mean she is [innocent]. That's to say [Just because] X seems true doesn't mean X [is true] corresponds to [Just because] NOT X seems true doesn't mean NOT X [is true].

    – FumbleFingers
    yesterday
















  • 5





    "Isn't" would be correct. "Just because you don't feel she's innocent doesn't mean she isn't [innocent]."

    – Mark Hubbard
    yesterday








  • 3





    Just as the non-negated version Just because you [do] feel she's innocent doesn't mean she is [innocent]. That's to say [Just because] X seems true doesn't mean X [is true] corresponds to [Just because] NOT X seems true doesn't mean NOT X [is true].

    – FumbleFingers
    yesterday










5




5





"Isn't" would be correct. "Just because you don't feel she's innocent doesn't mean she isn't [innocent]."

– Mark Hubbard
yesterday







"Isn't" would be correct. "Just because you don't feel she's innocent doesn't mean she isn't [innocent]."

– Mark Hubbard
yesterday






3




3





Just as the non-negated version Just because you [do] feel she's innocent doesn't mean she is [innocent]. That's to say [Just because] X seems true doesn't mean X [is true] corresponds to [Just because] NOT X seems true doesn't mean NOT X [is true].

– FumbleFingers
yesterday







Just as the non-negated version Just because you [do] feel she's innocent doesn't mean she is [innocent]. That's to say [Just because] X seems true doesn't mean X [is true] corresponds to [Just because] NOT X seems true doesn't mean NOT X [is true].

– FumbleFingers
yesterday












2 Answers
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1














Here's how you should parse it:




You don't feel that she is innocent.




Which means:




You feel that she isn't innocent.




But you're feeling doesn't necessarily represent the truth. Just because that's your feeling that doesn't mean that it's the truth.





Referring back to the interpreted version of the sentence:




Just because you feel that she isn't innocent doesn't mean that she (actually) isn't innocent.




And changing the order back again:




✔ Just because you don't feel that she's innocent doesn't mean that she isn't.







share|improve this answer































    0














    You don't feel she's innocent = you feel she isn't innocent



    So



    it doesn't mean that.... (what you(A) think) = she isn't






    share|improve this answer























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      2 Answers
      2






      active

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      2 Answers
      2






      active

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      active

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      active

      oldest

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      1














      Here's how you should parse it:




      You don't feel that she is innocent.




      Which means:




      You feel that she isn't innocent.




      But you're feeling doesn't necessarily represent the truth. Just because that's your feeling that doesn't mean that it's the truth.





      Referring back to the interpreted version of the sentence:




      Just because you feel that she isn't innocent doesn't mean that she (actually) isn't innocent.




      And changing the order back again:




      ✔ Just because you don't feel that she's innocent doesn't mean that she isn't.







      share|improve this answer




























        1














        Here's how you should parse it:




        You don't feel that she is innocent.




        Which means:




        You feel that she isn't innocent.




        But you're feeling doesn't necessarily represent the truth. Just because that's your feeling that doesn't mean that it's the truth.





        Referring back to the interpreted version of the sentence:




        Just because you feel that she isn't innocent doesn't mean that she (actually) isn't innocent.




        And changing the order back again:




        ✔ Just because you don't feel that she's innocent doesn't mean that she isn't.







        share|improve this answer


























          1












          1








          1







          Here's how you should parse it:




          You don't feel that she is innocent.




          Which means:




          You feel that she isn't innocent.




          But you're feeling doesn't necessarily represent the truth. Just because that's your feeling that doesn't mean that it's the truth.





          Referring back to the interpreted version of the sentence:




          Just because you feel that she isn't innocent doesn't mean that she (actually) isn't innocent.




          And changing the order back again:




          ✔ Just because you don't feel that she's innocent doesn't mean that she isn't.







          share|improve this answer













          Here's how you should parse it:




          You don't feel that she is innocent.




          Which means:




          You feel that she isn't innocent.




          But you're feeling doesn't necessarily represent the truth. Just because that's your feeling that doesn't mean that it's the truth.





          Referring back to the interpreted version of the sentence:




          Just because you feel that she isn't innocent doesn't mean that she (actually) isn't innocent.




          And changing the order back again:




          ✔ Just because you don't feel that she's innocent doesn't mean that she isn't.








          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered yesterday









          Jason BassfordJason Bassford

          16.8k32042




          16.8k32042

























              0














              You don't feel she's innocent = you feel she isn't innocent



              So



              it doesn't mean that.... (what you(A) think) = she isn't






              share|improve this answer




























                0














                You don't feel she's innocent = you feel she isn't innocent



                So



                it doesn't mean that.... (what you(A) think) = she isn't






                share|improve this answer


























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  You don't feel she's innocent = you feel she isn't innocent



                  So



                  it doesn't mean that.... (what you(A) think) = she isn't






                  share|improve this answer













                  You don't feel she's innocent = you feel she isn't innocent



                  So



                  it doesn't mean that.... (what you(A) think) = she isn't







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered yesterday









                  ManukiManuki

                  765




                  765






























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