8. Negatives – Making Negative Sentences in English

🔹 A. Structure of Negative Sentences

✅ General Rule:

Subject + helping verb + not + main verb + rest of the sentence

🔹 B. Negative Forms by Tense

1. Present Simple

Use do/does + not + base verb

  • I do not like coffee.

  • She does not eat meat.

Short forms:

  • do not → don’t

  • does not → doesn’t

2. Past Simple

Use did + not + base verb

  • He did not go to school.

  • They didn’t see the movie.

3. Present Continuous

Use am/is/are + not + verb+ing

  • I am not working.

  • She is not sleeping.

  • We aren’t coming today.

4. Past Continuous

Use was/were + not + verb+ing

  • He was not reading.

  • They weren’t playing.

5. Present Perfect

Use have/has + not + past participle

  • I have not seen it.

  • She hasn’t finished her homework.

6. Future Tense (with will)

Use will + not + base verb

  • I will not go.

  • He won’t call you.

7. Modal Verbs

Use modal + not + base verb

  • You should not lie.

  • She cannot swim.

  • We must not be late.

Note: Some contractions:

  • should not → shouldn’t

  • cannot → can’t

  • will not → won’t

  • must not → mustn’t

🔹 C. Making Questions Negative

Use this pattern:

Helping verb + subject + not + main verb...?

Examples:

  • Do you not understand?

  • Did she not come yesterday?

  • Is he not going?

  • Won’t you help me?

🔹 D. Negative Words (Other than “not”)

Sometimes we use other negative words:

WordUseExample
neverat no timeI have never been there.
nobodyno personNobody came.
nothingno thingThere is nothing in the bag.
nowhereno placeHe went nowhere.
neithernot this and not thatNeither answer is correct.

❗ Avoid double negatives in standard English:

  • ❌ I don't need no help.

  • ✅ I don't need any help.

🔹 E. Negative Sentence Practice – Fill in the blanks

Make these sentences negative:

  1. She plays the guitar. → __________

  2. They were watching TV. → __________

  3. He has done his work. → __________

  4. I will call you. → __________

  5. You can drive. → __________

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