LoginNegative Markers
In this lesson you will learn about advanced uses of negative markers to express subtle or emphatic negation. Master them with complex examples and exercises.
What Are Negative Markers?
Negative markers are terms and words with different parts of speech that are used to negate the meaning of an affirmative sentence. There are three types of negative markers, in English, namely: negative adverbs, negative pronouns, negative determiners.
not
no
hardly
barely
scarcely
never
hardly ever
seldom
Here are a few examples:
I have never cheated on you.
I can barely hear you.
You are not my type.
Negative Adverbs: Position
Negative adverbs are usually used in the middle position. They can also be used at the beginning of a sentence, but in this case, the sentence must be inverted and new rules must be observed.
Inversion with Modals and Auxiliary Verbs
When we use a negative adverb at the beginning of a sentence with a modal or an auxiliary verb, we should change the place of the modal or auxiliary verb and the subject. Here are the examples.
I had barely talked to him. → Barely had I talked to him.
I should never drink it. → Never should I drink it.
Inversion with a Main Verb
When we use a negative adverb at the beginning of a sentence with a main verb, we have to use the verbs (do, does, did) before the subject. Check out the examples to help you learn them better.
He never won the cup. → Never did he win the cup.
The princess hardly kisses the frog. → Hardly does the princess kiss the frog.
Warning
You cannot use 'not' as a single word at the beginning of an inverted sentence. Here are a few examples.
Not always is he evil. → Not is he evil.
Not often do we meet each other. → Not do we meet each other.
Negative Pronouns
Negative pronouns are used with affirmative verbs to make a negative statement. Negative pronouns are used as the subject or object of the sentence. The following is a list of common negative pronouns:
neither
none
no one
nobody
nothing
Here are the examples.
Nothing is changed.
I can give you none.
Tip!
All these negative pronouns are used with a singular verb.
None is left.
No one was there.
Negative Pronouns: Position
Negative pronouns, as their name suggests, are used as a pronoun; therefore, they can be subject pronouns or *object pronouns. Subject pronouns are used at the beginning of the sentence and object pronouns are used after transitive main verbs or after prepositions. Check out the examples.
Although neither was the perfect choice, I picked the red one.
Here the pronoun 'neither' is a negative subject pronoun.
He dared nobody but himself to shoot the police.
Here the 'nobody' is an object pronoun.
Negative Determiners
Negative determiners are placed before nouns to imply a negative meaning. Here are the most important negative determiners:
no
neither
Check out a few examples.
Neither parent came to visit their son.
No room is booked here.
Tip!
Neither is used with a singular verb, but no is usually followed by a plural noun and plural verb. However, it can also be used with singular nouns and verbs. For example:
Neither family is willing to share the yard.
No snakes were found on the island.
No book is in my bag. → not common
Negative Determiners: Position
Determiners are placed before nouns to modify them. Here are the examples.
I could say neither boy was going to win the prize.
I had no choice.
Double Negation
With negative markers, we have to use affirmative verbs to avoid double negation. For example:
No one is happy. → Not 'No one is not happy.'
Neither student studied history. → Not 'Neither student did not study history.'
Review
There are a few negative markers in English. They can negate affirmative sentences. Here are different kinds of negative markers. Remember not to use a negative verb with negative markers to avoid double negation.
negative adverbs
negative pronouns
negative determiners
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