Introduction
Negative Constructions in Middle English analyzes the development of Middle English negation, mainly from the syntactic perspective. It discusses various aspects of negative constructions, e.g. the development of the adverb not, word order concerning the adverbs ne and not, the decline of multiple negation, and so-called negative contraction. Apparently, the decline of multiple negation took place earlier than has so far been assumed. Also, the book reveals that it was not an easy process for the negative adverb not to displace the older form ne. The latter remained persistent until late Middle English particularly in some specific contexts.
