Construction—Как бы не...—Why is "не" used?

Question

In Constructions of the type КАК БЫ НЕ..., what exactly does the "не" add to the phrase. I'm looking for a literal interpretation from those of you that know both English and Russian at a very high level. For example—Я боюсь, как бы он не забыл зайти в аптеку. Правительство боится, как бы этот закон не привел к увлечению бюджетных мест. What is a literal translation of these sentences, and why do we need "не" at all?

Answer 1

The combination "как бы не.." refers to unwanted possibility of the action.

Let’s take the phrase: I hope he won't forget to visit the drugstore/ I'm afraid he might forget to visit the drugstore. - Надеюсь, он не забудет зайти в аптеку. / Я боюсь, как бы он не забыл зайти в аптеку. The original version expresses uncertainty based on some possibility of things going wrong:

Я боюсь (I'm afraid): (Я боюсь вот чего): не хотелось бы, чтобы он забыл зайти в аптеку.

Аn English version of the above can be given with a similar direct negation: (I'm afraid,) I would not want him to somehow forget to visit the drugstore. So in Я боюсь, как бы он не забыл зайти в аптеку, the verb боюсь does not mean actual fear or awe, but it is the hope that he will not forget to visit the drug store. That is, the implied meaning of this sentence is actually Я надеюсь, что он не забудет зайти в аптеку.

In other words, in such sentences the second part expresses the desirable state of things in which the unwanted situation does not occur.

Answer 2

Particle "не" is used in three cases. Basically, it is negation. "NOT"

Example: не говорил, не пел, не ел - did not speak, did not sing, did not eat

It is also used in double negation, affirmation.

Example: Я не мог не говорить.- I could not help but speak (not to speak)

You can use it in exclamatory sentences with joint meaning.

Example: Какие страны я только не видел ! - Which countries I just haven't seen!

Hope it helps :)