Is this a double negative please?

[CathsKidStan]

If someone asks you "was they (people) of any help?" And the reply is "not much, I don't think" is that a kind of double negative?

Thanks

[BikeRunSki]

That is technically a double negative, but I think most people would take it to be a negative.

[NickNacks]

No it's not a double negative.

[CathsKidStan]

Thank you. Should it have been "were they" rather than "was they"?

[BikeRunSki]

Were they

But it seems I was wrong last time!

[coffeewithcreamm]

Yes, it should be 'Were they' & no, that's not a double neg, it seems a definite neg, to me, but I see your point.

[CathsKidStan]

Thank you again. I very rarely post on FB but when I do I'm very critical of myself. I just need to chillax. Now I'm going to stress about the use of that word in pedants corner

[CathsKidStan]

Pedants' corner. Aaaah! Step away from the ipad.

[Floggingmolly]

"Was they" is bad grammar, obviously. The reply is not a double negative . Is Pedants' Corner the place for you, op?

[EyelinerQueen]

Negative schmegative, you seriously had to ask if 'Was they' was correct English???

Jesus H Christ on a bendy bus.

[AnnoyingOrange]

OP, that weren't no double negative

[CatWithKittens]

Does anybody else share my view that we should be kind to those who come here with a genuine enquiry and reserve any harshness for those who come to mock our pedantry - and, of course, those who claim to know but are actually wrong?

[chateauferret]

I'd figure 'was' was a typo.

It isn't a double negative because you wouldn't say 'not much, I think'. So the second 'not' isn't superfluous. And you can't say 'I don't think much' by analogy with 'I don't think so' because that means something else.