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Verb
How do you form a negative sentence using a verb?
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2 Replies
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Forming a negative sentence with a verb depends on the language you’re using. Here’s how it works in English:
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Use “not” with auxiliary verbs: In English, negative sentences often use an auxiliary verb (like “do,” “is,” “are,” “has,” “have”) combined with “not” or a contraction like “isn’t” or “don’t.”
- Simple Present: “I do not (don’t) like broccoli.”
- Simple Past: “She did not (didn’t) go to the party.”
- Present Continuous: “They are not (aren’t) coming to the meeting.”
- Past Continuous: “He was not (wasn’t) working yesterday.”
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Use “not” with modal verbs: Modal verbs (like “can,” “will,” “should”) also use “not” to form negatives.
- “I cannot (can’t) swim.”
- “She will not (won’t) attend the class.”
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Use “not” with the verb “to be”: When “to be” is the main verb, you simply add “not.”
- Present: “He is not (isn’t) happy.”
- Past: “They were not (weren’t) ready.”
In each case, the placement of “not” or its contraction is crucial for creating the negative form.
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To form a negative sentence using a verb, you generally add “not” after the auxiliary (helping) verb or use “do not” (or “does not,” “did not”) with the main verb. Here are some examples:
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With an auxiliary verb:
- Positive: “She is going.”
- Negative: “She is not going.”
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With a main verb using “do”:
- Positive: “He likes apples.”
- Negative: “He does not like apples.”
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In the past tense:
- Positive: “They finished the project.”
- Negative: “They did not finish the project.”
This structure helps convey that something is not happening or is untrue.
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