English Grammar Drills - Mark Lester 2009
Negatives
13 Questions and Negatives
Part 3 Sentences
The rules for forming negatives are similar to the rules for forming questions. We will begin by looking at the process for forming negative statements. Not is inserted immediately after modal auxiliary verbs, helping verbs, and be used as a main verb. For example:
Exercise 13.12
Change the positive statements in the left column into negative statements in the right column.
Positive Negative
I was looking at them. I was not looking at them.
1. You should buy a new cell phone. ...
2. They are adopting the new plan.
3. We can arrange a meeting.
4. I have driven Anne’s new car.
5. They were upset by the outcome.
6. They have ignored the problem.
7. I am counting on it.
8. Richard might be able to come.
9. The replacement is a standard size.
10. I could unlock the file cabinet.
In writing, not is sometimes contracted and sometimes left uncontracted. In works of fiction, not is usually contracted to give a sense of what the spoken language actually sounds like. In nonfiction writing, especially if the writing is at all formal, not is usually left uncontracted.
In speech, not is almost always contracted, unless the speaker is strongly asserting the fact that the sentence is negative. Since the normal expectation in the spoken language is that not will be contracted, when not is left uncontracted it gives the sentence a special negative emphasis even without any extra stress on the pronunciation of not. (Although, in fact, not usually is stressed.)
Here are the contracted forms of the modals and the helping verbs be and have. Note that many verbs do not have contracted forms.
Uncontracted Contracted
can can’t
could couldn’t
may may not (no contraction)
might might not (no contraction)
must mustn’t
shall shall not (no contraction)
should shouldn’t
will won’t (highly irregular)
would wouldn’t
am am not (no contraction)
is isn’t
are aren’t
was wasn’t
were weren’t
has hasn’t
have haven’t
had hadn’t
Exercise 13.13
Underline the verb and not. If the verb and not have a contracted form, draw a line through the verb and not and write the contracted form above them. If there is no contracted form, write OK above them.
1. We should not get stuck in traffic this time of day.
2. They must not do that.
3. They will not identify themselves.
4. The kids have not flown by themselves before.
5. The time allotted for the presentations was not equally divided.
6. I might not be able to come to the reception.
7. Unfortunately, we were not prepared for such an emergency.
8. They may not have the necessary documentation.
9. It probably would not make any difference anyway.
10. We can not get the authorization to hire the new staff.
When a sentence does not have a modal auxiliary, helping verb, or be used as a main verb, we must insert the dummy auxiliary verb do immediately in front of the first verb. By exactly the same process we saw with questions, do takes the present or past tense marker from the first verb, leaving that verb in the uninflected, base form. Again, we will call this the do insertion rule. The do insertion rule creates an emphatic version of the sentence. Here is an example:
Underlying positive statement: Most people today smoke.
Do insertion rule: Most people today do smoke.
Next, we need to use the not insertion rule to insert not immediately after the first verb just as we did in sentences with auxiliary and helping verbs:
Not insertion rule: Most people today do not smoke.
Here are some more examples:
Underlying positive statement: I like living in New York.
Do insertion rule: I do like living in New York.
Not insertion: I do not like living in New York.
Underlying positive statement: They know where it is.
Do insertion rule: They do know where it is.
Not insertion: They do not know where it is.
Exercise 13.14
Convert the underlying positive statements into negative statements by using the do and not insertion rules.
The waiter charged us for the extra coffee.
Do insertion: The waiter did charge us for the extra coffee.
Not insertion: The waiter did not charge us for the extra coffee.
1. I remembered where I parked the car.
2. You called the office.
3. It happened the way we thought it would.
4. He passed the exam on the first try.
5. We stayed until the meeting was over.
6. Jim believed what his staff was telling him.
7. I walked to work this morning.
8. They came to a satisfactory agreement.
9. The manager explained all of the office procedures.
10. The documents in question actually exist.
11. The regulations apply to this situation.
12. They prepared enough food for everybody.
13. She felt very good this morning.
14. Jason’s family went home for Christmas this year.
15. The SEC stopped the merger from going ahead as planned.
Given how difficult it is to form both questions and negatives, it is surprisingly easy to form negative questions. It is simply a matter of applying the not insertion rule to an already formed question. The not insertion rule places the not immediately after the first verb. No further
changes are needed, except of course the contraction of the verb + not if that is appropriate. Here are some examples:
Yes-no questions
Can they get ready in time? → Can not (Can’t) they get ready in time?
Will the kids be back for dinner? → Will not (Wont) the kids be back for dinner?
Should we tell them? → Should not (Shouldn’t) we tell them?
Are you coming? →Are not (Aren’t) you coming?
Have you finished yet? → Have not (Haven’t) you finished yet?
Am I right? → Am not (Aren’t) I right?
Do you know the answer? → Do not (Don’t) you know the answer?
Information questions
Who is going with us? → Who is not (isn’t) going with us?
What have we done? → What have not (haven’t) we done?
Why did we do that? → Why did not (didn’t) we do that?
Who will be able to go? → Who will not (won’t) be able to go?
Exercise 13.15
Turn the following statements into negative questions. Show the contracted forms of the negative (if any).
The lawyers could prove that the defendant was at the scene of the crime.
Couldn’t the lawyers prove that the defendant was at the scene of the crime?
1. You should report the accident to the police.
2. Bob could get a license for his antique car.
3. They were a well-established firm.
4. She has been doing her French homework.
5. You like rap music.
6. She is wearing her coat.
7. He could ask for a new assignment.
8. It might cause a real argument.
9. He filled the car up with gas.
10. You watched the game last night?
11. He is retiring next year.
12. She just bought a new car seat for Timmy.
13. He reminded everyone about the meeting on Monday.
14. You hate going on long trips these days.
15. They have already guessed what they are getting for Christmas.