Negatives at a glance
She is not ready.
Read the rule, inspect the example, then check yourself.
Overview
Negatives show that something is not true, does not happen, or is absent.
Most negatives use auxiliary + not
Use not after be, do, have, will, or a modal verb.
- She is not ready.
- They do not agree.
- I cannot come.
Main Rules
Use do support when the sentence has no auxiliary.
Present and past simple negatives
Use do not, does not, or did not before the base verb.
- I do not know.
- He does not work here.
- They did not call.
Avoid double negatives in standard English
Use one negative idea in a simple standard sentence.
- I do not know anything.
- I know nothing.
Patterns
Negative words have different grammar jobs.
Negative forms
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| not | makes a verb phrase negative | She is not here. |
| no | before a noun | There is no problem. |
| never | not at any time | I never forget this rule. |
| nothing/nobody/nowhere | negative pronouns/adverbs | Nobody answered. |
Examples
Contractions are common in speech and informal writing.
I don't understand the question.
Don't means do not.
She hasn't finished yet.
Hasn't means has not.
There are no mistakes in this answer.
No comes before the plural noun mistakes.
Common Mistakes
Negative sentences still need normal verb patterns.
He does not likes coffee.
He does not like coffee.
After does not, use the base verb.
I do not have no questions.
I do not have any questions.
Use any after a negative verb in standard English.