Negation
We can use negative words, phrases and clauses to express a contradiction or denial on a certain topic. Negation can be made in many ways. In most situations, we use a negative word such as no, not, never, none, etc.
Here are some example sentences:
A: Are you staying home tonight?
B: No. I am going out tonight. ( No = I am not staying home tonight.)
Janice doesn’t go to work everyday. ( It is not true that Janice goes to work everyday.)
No and not are the most common negative words. There are other ways to express negation with the use of other negative words such as never, no one, neither, none, nor, nothing, nowhere, nobody, etc.
No one came to her party.
Neither Mike nor John went to the mall.
Nobody wants to share an idea.
None of them enjoyed the movie.
Most teachers nowadays don’t use traditional teaching methods.
Prefixes and suffixes can also be used to express negation.
Prefixes ( dis-, non-, un-)
Suffixes ( less, free )
He has been disloyal to her since the day they met.
It is a stress-free environment.
Some other words that can be used to express negative or somewhat negative statements are:
barely, rarely, hardly, seldom, little, scarcely, few
They barely talked.
I seldom see him.
We use negation more commonly in oral language than in written form. In a face-to-face conversation, the use of negation can make the statement less direct.
I’m not certain if I am in the right office. Is this Mr. Smith’s office? ( This is a less direct way than to ask, Is this the right office?/Am I in the right office?)
Forming negative statements, questions and imperatives
Negative statements
Negative statements are formed by the use of nor or n’t after be,auxiliary and modal verbs.
n’t is the abbreviation of not.
n’t can be added to be, to modal verbs ( except may ) and to auxiliary verbs ( do and have ) without a space.
Won’t is the shortened negative form of will.
Cannot is the unshortened form of can + not.
Sam isn’t going to the party. She is not feeling good about herself.
They hadn’t realized the severity of the problem.
He does not believe in marriage.
I don’t go to the gym everyday.
He can’t be that lonely.
It might not be that expensive.
Negative questions
Not or n’t are used to form negative questions. In the absence of a modal verb or be, auxiliary verb do + n’t is used.
(don’t, do not, doesn’t, does not, didn’t):
What don’t they notice?
Why didn’t you go there?
Won’t you get a promotion?
Isn’t that your husband?
Negative imperatives
do + not or don’t + the base form of a verb are used to form negative orders or commands.
Do not start until you are told.
Don’t sit next to him. Find another seat.
Negation: two negatives
Two negatives (double negatives) in the same clause is not accepted in standard English.
Some words (never, no one, nothing, nowhere, etc.) already have a negative meaning therefore the use of another negative with the verb is unnecessary.
There was nothing else I could do.
Not: There wasn’t nothing …
I have nowhere else to go.
Not: I haven’t nowhere….
The use of not with the verb requires the use of words such, anybody, anyone, anything, anywhere,as ever, in place of nobody, no one, nothing, nowhere, never:
She hasn’t told anyone about it.
Not: She hasn’t told no one about it.
Although some speakers use two negatives in the same clause,it is still considered incorrect by most people.
Not…. I don’t think
We can use reporting verbs such as suppose, think and imagine in the end position after the reported clause. In these cases, they both may have a negative verb.
She’s not married, I don’t think. ( or I don’t think she is married.)
Not: I don’t think he’s not a teacher.
I won’t be very tired by the end of this week, I shouldn’t suppose so. ( or I shouldn’t suppose I will be very tired by the end of this week.)
Not: I shouldn’t suppose I won’t be very tired.
Not is used in front position in some cases where it is followed by a reduced clause ( a clause with something removed ut which is obvious) that also has a negative form:
A: Have you done your homework?
B; Not now, I haven’t. ( I haven’t done my homework.)