Grammar - Negative Forms
Negative Forms – Complete Explanation 1. What is a Negative Sentence? A negative sentence states that something is not true, does not happen, or does not exist . In English, negative sentences are usually formed by adding not after an auxiliary (helping) verb or by using do/does/did + not when there is no auxiliary verb. Compare Affirmative: She likes coffee. Negative: She does not (doesn't) like coffee. Affirmative: They are students. Negative: They are not (aren't) students. 2. Ways to Make Negative Sentences There are three common ways to make negatives: Using not with auxiliary verbs. Using negative words (e.g., never, no, nobody ). Using negative prefixes (e.g., un-, dis-, im- ). 3. Negative Forms with the Verb "Be" Add not after am, is, are, was, or were . Present Affirmative Negative I am happy. I am not happy. She is a teacher. She is not (isn't) a teacher. They are ready. They are not (aren't) ready. Past Affirmative Negative He was ...