Negation in English is used to express the opposite of a statement, to indicate that something is not true or does not happen. The most common way to form a negative sentence is by adding the word not after an auxiliary verb (like do, be, or have).
- With the verb do (for most verbs in the present simple and past simple):
- Affirmative: She likes ice cream.
- Negative: She does not (doesn’t) like ice cream.
- Affirmative: They played football.
- Negative: They did not (didn’t) play football.
- With the verb be (am, is, are, was, were):
- Affirmative: He is happy.
- Negative: He is not (isn’t) happy.
- With modal verbs (can, will, should, etc.):
- Affirmative: You can go.
- Negative: You cannot (can’t) go.
In contractions, not is often shortened to n’t (isn’t, don’t, can’t) for informal speech and writing. Understanding negation is key to expressing disagreement, refusal, or describing what is not true.
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Table of Contents
- Simple Negations (not, never, nobody)
Simple negations in English using not, never, and nobody to express “no” or “none” in different ways.
- Double Negatives (standard, nonstandard)
Explanation of double negatives in English grammar, including standard usage, common nonstandard forms, and guidelines for correct usage.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
