Login
What Is Negation in Verbs and Clauses?
Negation is the grammatical process of expressing the opposite or negative of a statement. In verbs and clauses, negation is typically expressed using negative words. One way to negate clauses or sentences is to simply negate the verbs.
Negation with 'Not'
The most common way to negate a statement is by adding 'not' or its contracted from n't after the auxiliary verb or "be" as a main verb.
I have worked in a factory. → I have not worked in a factory.
I am Jim's brother. → I am not Jim's brother.
Be + Not
"Be" is one of the most common verbs in the English language which can act as both auxiliary and main verbs. To negate "be", simply add "not" after it.
Be | Be in Negative |
|---|---|
am | am not |
is | is not/isn't |
are | are not/aren't |
was | was not/wasn't |
were | were not/weren't |
He is leaving. → He isn't leaving.
"be" as an auxiliary verb
Sean was sad. → Sean wasn't sad.
"be" as a main verb
Tip!
As you can see in the table above, the verb 'be' cannot be negated using the contracted form in the first person singular form 'am'. So, never write amn't.
When using the negative forms of "is" and 'are', there are two possible contracted forms: "isn't" and "aren't" or "'s not" and "'re not". The forms "'s not" and "'re not" are more commonly used after pronouns, while "isn't" and "aren't" are more commonly used after noun phrases.
Do + Not
The second most common auxiliary verb in English is "do". The different forms of "do" are used as supportive auxiliary verbs to negate main verbs in sentences. When "do" is added to a main verb, the main verb appears in its base form and "do" is conjugated instead. The table below shows the different negative forms of "do".
Do | Do in Negative |
|---|---|
do | do not/don't |
does | does not/doesn't |
did | did not/didn't |
She knows Mat. → She doesn't know Mat.
As you can see, "do" is conjugated as "does" and "know" changes to its base form.
I watched a movie last night. → I didn't watch a movie last night.
Do Not Negate a Verb Directly
Remember that main verbs cannot be negated directly. They need the auxiliary verb "do". Take a look at this example:
I know the answer.
This sentence cannot be negated by adding "not" to the verb:
I know not the answer./I not know the answer.
The only correct way to negate this sentence is to use an auxiliary verb:
I know the answer. → I don't know the answer.
Have + Not
'Have' is another auxiliary verb used in formation of perfect tenses. It is also negated by adding "not" after it.
Have | Have in Negative |
|---|---|
have | have not/haven't |
has | has not/hasn't |
had | had not/hadn't |
Amelia has gone. → Amelia hasn't gone.
I have phoned Mark. → I haven't phoned Mark.
Auxiliary vs. Main Verb
"Be", "do", and "have" can act as both auxiliary verbs and main verbs. However, "be" is the only one that can be directly negated using "not" in both auxiliary and main verb usages. When "do" and "have" are used as a main verb, any auxiliary or modal used before them takes the negative marker "not". If there is no modal or auxiliary in the sentence, negation involves using the supporting auxiliary "do", like other main verbs. Compare the examples:
They understand the instructions. → They don't understand the instructions.
"do" as an auxiliary takes "not"
She does her homework on time. → She doesn't do her homework on time.
When "do" is used as a main verb, it needs another auxiliary "do" to be negated. Remember that in this case, the auxiliary "do" is conjugated, not the main verb.
She has seen that movie. → She hasn't seen that movie.
"have" as an auxiliary verb takes "not"
We had enough time to finish. → We didn't have enough time to finish.
When "have" is used as a main verb and there is not auxiliary or modal, it needs auxiliary "do" to be negated. Once again, the negating auxiliary is conjugated.
We have had a great time. → We haven't had a great time.
When "have" is used as a main verb, the auxiliary or modal before it takes the negative marker.
Modals + Not
All modal verbs can be negated by adding 'not' (or n't) after them. However, there are some exceptions to be considered here. For example, you cannot use the contracted form of 'not' with the modal verbs 'may' and 'shall'. Additionally, to use the contracted form of 'will not', you should completely change the form of the verb to 'won't'. In the table below, you can see the list of modal verbs that regularly take 'not':
Modal | Modal in negative |
|---|---|
can | cannot/can't |
may/might | may not/might not |
shall | shall not |
will | will not/won't |
ought to | ought not to/oughtn't to |
should | should not/shouldn't |
You should have called me. → You shouldn't have called me.
I can swim. → I can't swim.
Tip
In the first example above, you can see that we have a modal and an auxiliary verb: "should" and "have". In such cases, 'not' is always added after the modal verb. Additionally, when the verb phrase includes more than one auxiliary, the first one takes "not". See the examples:
I might have been mistaken. → I might not have been mistaken.
I have been practicing a lot. → I have not been practicing a lot.
This sentences uses both "have" and "be" as auxiliaries to show perfect and progressive aspects. To negate this structure, the first auxiliary takes "not"
Negative Questions
"Not" or its contracted form n't can be used to form negative questions. The full form is more formal and mostly used in writing.
When there is a modal or auxiliary verb, use the structure auxiliary/modal+ n't or auxiliary/modal + subject + not to form negative questions.
Are you going to English class today? → Are you not going to English class today?
What have you told him? → What have you not told him?
Can you swim? → Can't you swim?
When there is no modal or be verb, we use the auxiliary verb 'do' + n't, or do + subject + not before the main verb.
Did you watch a movie yesterday? → Didn't you watch a movie yesterday?
Does she know that the appointment is today? → Does she not know that the appointment is today?
In wh-questions where the interrogative pronoun acts as the subject and there is no auxiliary, the negative form of "do" is used to ask a negative question. However, in these cases, since the subject is the interrogative pronoun itself, no inversion is necessary.
Who called the police? → Who didn't call the police?
Negative Answers
To give a negative answer to a yes/no question, there is no need to use a negative verb or clause. In this context, "no" is used as an interjection to show disagreement, denial, or refusal. Look at the examples:
Do you like coffee?
No.
Negative Imperatives
In order to give a negative order or command (imperative), we use the following structure:
do not/don't + the base form of the verb
Open the window. → Do not open the window. Or Don't open the window.
Take a picture. → Don't take a picture.
Negative Non-finite Clauses
Non-finite clauses are clauses where the main verb is in the infinitive form, present participle form, or past participle form. The negative forms of non-finite clauses are formed by adding not before the verb form. For example:
The best thing about vacations is not working!
She didn't say anything, not wanting to worry anyone.
Not To give up on a dead-end career was stupid.
Tip
When using to-infinitive clauses, "not" can also come after "to". However, it is not recommended. Many consider this "split infinitive" to be grammatically unacceptable.
To not give up on a dead-end career was stupid.
Review
To negate a sentence, 'not' is added to an auxiliary or modal verb. If the sentence already has an auxiliary or modal verb "not" is added directly to the auxiliary or modal. But if there is only a main verb and no auxiliary or modal, the supporting auxiliary "do" is added before the main verb and takes "not" to negate the whole sentence.
Here are some examples:
Jacob won't arrive before I leave.
Justin and Julian are not staying in the jungle. They say it is not safe.
Katherine has not ever been out of Chicago.
His mother didn't leave them when they were fragile.
Quiz:
Which of the following sentences correctly uses negation with an auxiliary or modal verb?
She not coming to the party.
He not has completed his task.
I can’t swim in cold water.
They don’t likes the movie.
What is the correct negation of this sentence? "She has finished her homework."
She has finished not her homework.
She has not finished her homework.
She not has finished her homework.
She have not finished her homework.
Sort the words to form a correct sentence.
Match the sentence with the correct description of negation.
Fill in the blank with the correct negative auxiliary or modal.
I
see the movie last week.
Amelia
visited her family in a month.
Why
you
call me yesterday?
She
have any idea about the meeting tomorrow.
I
go to the party unless you come with me.
wanting to be interrupted, he locked the door.
Comments
(0)
Recommended
