Negative Statements Notes, Quizzes & Revision
๐ Revision Notes โข ๐ Quizzes โข ๐ Past Papers available in app
English โ Parts of Speech: Negative Statements
A negative statement tells us that something is not true. We use the word "not" or other negative words (no, never, nobody, nothing, nowhere) to make a negative sentence.
Think of it like this:
Positive: โ
I play football.
Negative: โ I do not play football. (I don't play football.)
1. How to make negative sentences
- Present simple (use do / does):
Subject + do/does + not + base verbExamples:I do not (don't) have a pen. โ I don't have a pen. ๐๏ธHe does not (doesn't) like milk. โ He doesn't like milk. ๐ฅ
- Past simple (use did):
Subject + did + not + base verbExample:She did not (didn't) go to school yesterday. โ She didn't go to school yesterday. ๐ซ
- With the verb "to be":
Subject + am/is/are + notExamples:I am not tired. โ I'm not tired. ๐They are not at the playground. โ They aren't at the playground. โฝ
2. Common contractions (short forms)
do not โ don't
does not โ doesn't
did not โ didn't
is not โ isn't
are not โ aren't
am not โ I'm not
3. Negative words
Sometimes we use other negative words:
- no: There is no milk.
- never: I never eat sweets at night.
- nobody / no one: Nobody is at the gate.
- nothing: There is nothing in the box.
- nowhere / anywhere: We went nowhere yesterday. (or: We did not go anywhere yesterday.)
4. Short answers to questions
When someone asks a question, you can answer shortly:
Q: Are you ready? โ A: No, I'm not.
Q: Does he like chapati? โ A: No, he doesn't.
Q: Did they come? โ A: No, they didn't.
Q: Does he like chapati? โ A: No, he doesn't.
Q: Did they come? โ A: No, they didn't.
5. Examples with a Kenyan touch
- The teacher is not in class. โ The teacher isn't in class. ๐งโ๐ซ
- We do not have a mat today. โ We don't have a mat. (or: We don't have mats.) ๐งบ
- The elephant did not go to the farm. โ The elephant didn't go to the farm. ๐
- There is no water in the jerrycan. โ No water in the jerrycan. ๐ฐ
6. Short practice (try these)
- Make negative: I have a pencil. โ ______________________
- Make negative: He plays football. โ ______________________
- Make question and short negative answer: She is late. (Ask & answer) โ Q: __________________ A: __________________
- Use "never": I eat sweets at night. โ ______________________
- Use "nobody": There is someone at the door. โ ______________________
Keep practicing by changing positive sentences to negative ones. Try with things at home or at school โ it's good grammar practice!