Negation
Negation is the act of making a term, phrase, or clause negative or opposite. In this article, you will learn how to make negations.
What Does Negation Mean?
How to Negate Clauses?
To negate different types of clauses we use negative markers. Negative markers are words that are used in particular structures and they make the clauses negative. Here are different types of negative markers:
Negation in Adverbs
There are some adverbs in English that carry a negative meaning and using them in affirmative sentences makes the whole sentence negative and there is no need to use negative verbs anymore. The most important adverb that is used as a negative marker is 'not'. Other negative adverbs are hardly, little, never, only, scarcely, and seldom.
In this example, it means almost never.
I do
There's
I
Warning
Negative Determiners
The term 'no' is used as a determiner and also as a negative marker in affirmative sentences. The term 'no' can be used with either countable or uncountable nouns, but usually when it comes to countable nouns, 'no' is followed by plural countable nouns. Here are the examples:
I received
Negative Pronouns
Negations
By using negative markers we can negate different types of clauses. Here are the most important clauses:
- indicative clauses
- subjunctive clauses
- interrogative clauses
- imperative clauses
- non-finite clauses
Indicative Clauses
To negate an indicative clause you can use negative determiners, pronouns, or adverbs. However, there is a special rule for the negative marker 'not' to negate the clauses. Check out the examples then take a look at the table below:
You
| negative indicative clauses | |
|---|---|
| with negative pronouns | ✓ |
| with negative adverbs | ✓ |
| with negative determiners | ✓ |
Negative Auxiliary Verbs with the Adverb 'Not'
To negate auxiliary verbs all you have to do is to add the term 'not' to the auxiliary verb. Let us take a look at the examples:
I am
I promise, I
Negative Main Verbs with the Adverb 'Not'
The term 'not' cannot be added to main verbs. As a result, you need an auxiliary verb to add 'not' to it which are usually be the auxiliary verbs do, does, did. Other auxiliary verbs such as 'have' can also be used when it comes to perfect or progressive aspects.
She
Subjunctive Clauses
To express wishes or ideas in English, subjunctive mood is used and there are different structures to make negative clauses using them.
Verbs of Uncertainty
Verbs such as 'think,' 'believe,' 'suppose', etc. which imply a feeling of uncertainty are usually used negatively and the sentence after them is usually an affirmative sentence. Check out the examples:
I
He
With the Verbs 'Wish' and 'Hope'
The verbs 'hope' and 'wish' are not usually negated and instead, the sentence after them is usually in negative form, but not always. Sometimes both sentences can be affirmative. Check out the examples:
I
I
I
In this example, both statements are used affirmatively.
| negative subjunctive clauses | |
|---|---|
| with negative pronouns | ✓ |
| with negative adverbs | ✓ |
| with negative determiner | ✓ |
Negative Interrogative Clauses
To make negative questions all you have to do is to negate the auxiliary verb of the question. You can also use negative pronouns or adverbs in echo questions as a negative interrogative clause. Here are the examples:
Why
| negative interrogative clauses | |
|---|---|
| with negative pronouns | ✓ |
| with negative adverbs | ✓ |
| with negative determiner | ✓ |
Negative Non-finite Clauses
To negate non-finite clauses all you have to do is to add 'not' before the non-finite clause or you can also use an adverb before non-finite clauses. Using negative pronouns or determiners is also possible to make a negative non-finite clause. Check out the sentences:
Making
In this example, a negative determiner is used to negate the non-finite clause.
| negative non-finite clauses | |
|---|---|
| with negative pronouns | ✓ |
| with negative adverbs | ✓ |
| with negative determiner | ✓ |
Negative Imperatives
Imperatives are kind of non-finite clauses because they are made of bare infinitives. To negate imperatives all you have to do is to add the phrase 'do not' (also contracted as don't) at the beginning of the imperative sentence, or you can also use never as a negative marker for imperative sentences. Remember using negative pronouns to make negative imperatives is not correct. Here are the examples:
| negative imperative clauses | |
|---|---|
| with negative pronouns | ✗ |
| with negative adverbs | ✓ |
| with negative determiner | ✓ |
Non-standard English
'Ain’t' is the negative form of the verb to be in the present form and also it is the negative form of the verb to have as well. Check out the examples:
I
She
When we use a negative marker with another one in the same sentence or when we use a negative marker with a negative verb a double negation is created. Sometimes in everyday English native speakers use double negations, but it is not grammatically correct. Check out the examples:
✗ I
✗ I
Review
Negation is the act of negating a sentence, using negative markers or negative structures. Here are the important negative categories.
Negative Markers
- negative adverbs
- negative pronouns
- negative determiner
Negative Clauses
- indicative
- imperatives
- subjunctives
- interrogative
- non-finite
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