Negative Statements

A Use

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer. At one time people believed that he had 'discovered' America. We know now this isn't true. Columbus was not the first European to travel to the New World. We don't know who was, but the Vikings had sailed there around the year 1000, and probably others before them. In 1492 Columbus sailed to San Salvador in the Bahamas and to other islands, but he never reached the mainland of North America. He actually thought he was in Asia. He certainly didn't discover America.

We often use a negative statement to correct a mistaken idea, such as the idea that Christopher Columbus discovered America.

B Negative verb forms

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

be: are dancing are not dancing OR aren't dancing

have: have seen have not seen OR haven't seen

modal verb: must stay must not stay OR mustn't stay

In a negative statement not or n't comes after the auxiliary verb. The auxiliary verb is a form of be, have or a modal verb, e.g. must, can, could.

The girls are not dancing.

The modem isn't working properly.

I haven't seen the new Disney film.

David hasn't got a car.

I mustn't stay long.

You can't turn right here.

I'm not feeling very awake today.

We write n't without a space before it, e.g. isn't, haven't.

Not or n't also comes after the main verb be.

The photos are not ready yet

It isn't very warm in here.

If there is more than one auxiliary verb, we put not or n't after the first one.

This plate hasn't been washed.

You shouldn't have bothered.

In the present simple and past simple, we use a form of do.

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

Present simple: work do not work OR don't work

looks does not look OR doesn't look

Past simple: enjoyed did not enjoy OR didn't enjoy

I don't work on Saturdays, NOT I work not on Saturdays.

This part of town doesn't look very nice.

I'm afraid we didn't enjoy the day very much.

The verb after not or n't does not end in s or ed.

NOT It doesn't looks very nice

NOT We didn't enjoyed the day

C No and not

We can use no before a noun or an adjective + noun. The verb is positive.

No music is allowed after eleven, OR Music is not allowed after eleven.

There are no new houses in the village, OR There aren't any new houses in the village.

We do not use no with a verb.

NOT Music is no allowed

NOT The shops are no open