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Negation with 'Not'
One of the most common ways to change sentences and clauses to negative forms is to use 'not'. Take a quick look at the following examples:
I want to study English Literature. → I do not want to study English Literature.
Lamia is at the office right now. → Lamia is not at the office right now.
Tip!
The contracted form of 'not' is 'n't' and it comes directly after the verb. Take a look at the following examples:
She doesn't want to swim right now.
I don't like to work.
Now, let us see how we can change some common verbs to the negative form:
Be
As you already know, 'be' can be both a main verb and an auxiliary verb and is the most common verb in the English language. To form the negative form of the verb 'be', we simply add 'not' to it. Look at the examples below:
I am in the university. → I'm not in the university.
Ashley is my cousin. → Ashley isn't my cousin.
They are eating dinner. → They are not eating dinner. (Or they aren't eating dinner.)
As you can see, we can use either the full negative marker or the contracted form.
Warning!
The only case in which we cannot use the contracted form 'n't' is when we are using the first person singular form of the 'be' verb. Take a look:
I am at school. → I am not at school.
(Not 'I amn't at school')
Do
The second most common verb in the English language is 'do'. Just like the verb 'be', 'do' can be used as both the main verb and the auxiliary verb. Let us see how we can change it to the negative form:
I write in English. → I don't write in English.
Reera wants to quit her job. → Reera doesn't want to quit her job.
As you can see, 'does' changes into the negative form just like 'do'.
Those lawyers enjoy what they do. → Those lawyers don't enjoy what they do.
Have
Another common verb in the English language is 'have'. Just like the previous two verbs, 'have' can also function as both the main verb and the auxiliary verb. Take a look at the examples to see how it is negated:
I have gone to the theatre before. → I haven't gone to the theatre before.
Lily has been to New York. → Lily hasn't been to New York.
Warning!
Please note that we can only negate 'have' directly when it is as an auxiliary verb in perfect tenses. When the verb 'have' is used as the main verb, we can negate it using 'do/does'. Compare the following examples:
I have a glass of water. → I don't have a glass of water.
(Not I haven't a glass of water')
She has sung that song. → She hasn't sung that song.
Negative Questions
We can also use 'not' to form negative questions. Study the following examples carefully:
Are you on the phone? → Aren't you on the phone?
Is she really saying all this? → Isn't she really saying all this?
Do you like to play the piano? → Don't you like to play the piano?
Does your father shout at you? → Doesn't your father shout at you?
Tip!
To change imperative sentences into negative ones, we simply add 'not' or its contraction 'n't' to the verb at the beginning of the sentence. Check out the following examples:
Close the door. → Do not close the door. (Or don't close the door.)
Sit here. → Don't sit here.
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