Negatives
We make negative forms by putting not after an auxiliary verb.
- I do not smoke.
- He did not come.
- They are not expected to come.
- They have not been invited.
- She has not come.
- I cannot go.
Basic rules
1. Do is used if there is no other auxiliary verb. After do, we use the infinitive without to.
- Money brings you happiness. (assertive)
- Money does not bring you happiness. (negative)
- She came. (assertive)
- She did not come. (negative)
2. When be (is, am, are, was, were) is the main verb, we make negative forms by putting not after be.
- She is not ready.
- You are not late.
- I was not surprised.
3. When have is the main verb, we make negative forms by putting do not before have.
- They have a car. (assertive)
- They do not have a car. (negative)
- He has a good job. (assertive)
- He does not have a good job. (negative)
4. We use not before infinitives and -ing forms. Do is not used.
- It is important not to be late.
- The best thing about a computer is not complaining.
5. Besides not, there are also other words that can make a clause negative.
Compare:
- He is not at home.
- He is never at home.
- He is seldom/rarely/hardly ever at home.
Negative questions
Contracted and uncontracted negative questions have different word order.
Compare:
- Can't we wait? (auxiliary verb + n't + subject - contracted)
- Won't she come? (auxiliary verb + n't + subject - contracted)
- Can we not wait? (auxiliary verb + subject + not - uncontracted)
- Will she not come? (auxiliary verb + subject + not - uncontracted)
Contracted negative questions are less formal than uncontracted negative questions.
You can find English Grammar And Writing lessons here
For English Grammar Worksheets visit this page
Sections in this article
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Can
May and Can: differences
Could
May
Might
Will
Would
Shall
Should
Should: other uses
Must
Must: uses
Must and have to: The Difference
Ought to
Need
Had better
Should, Ought and Must: The difference