Starting a sentence with not is something that you might not realize is possible. There are no grammatical rules that tell us whether we can or can’t start sentences with certain words, after all. This article will explain how to start a sentence with “not.”
You can start a sentence with “not” when it’s part of the first clause in the sentence. We usually set up the first clause by talking about a negative (i.e., “not only did he do this”). We then follow up with a positive clause (i.e., “but he also did that”).
“Not” is a great way to start a sentence when you want to introduce a conflicting argument. Sometimes, we use “not” when we want to talk about something that somebody did alongside something else.
Other times, we use “not” so that people don’t take certain elements of the sentence for granted. However, it always has to be a part of a clause, which we usually separate with a comma as the sentence develops.
What Does “Not” Mean At The Beginning Of A Sentence?
“Not” is a useful and versatile word to start a sentence with. That’s because it comes with a few different meanings that work for us.
“Not” means that someone or something has done something alongside another thing when at the beginning of a sentence. It can also mean that we shouldn’t take the following information for granted (i.e., “not to mention”).
“Not” is a great way to show people that the information you’re about to provide is vitally important.
Examples Of How To Use “Not” At The Beginning Of A Sentence
We can share some examples of how “not” works when writing it at the beginning of a sentence. From there, you’ll have a much better understanding of what you can do yourself before writing it.
- Not only did she not want to see me today, but she also told me she would rather not see me all week.
- Not that you asked, but I’d like to take her out again for a second date.
- Not that it concerns you, but I think a lot of work needs to be done before the business is complete.
- I wasn’t going to say anything to you about it. Not to mention that you don’t even care about a word I have to say.
- Not one for conflict or judgment, Claude made sure that he steered clear of the oncoming mass of people.
- Not for nothing did I allow myself to be elected as the new president!
- Not once did you bother to come and check on me, and I resent that!
“Not” can start a sentence when introducing a negative argument. We use it in two ways. It can be part of the first clause, which introduces a negative concept, or it can be part of the whole sentence, where someone doesn’t want to be taken for granted.
Can You Start A Sentence With “Not Only”?
We’ll take a closer look at some of the more appropriate beginnings with “not.” It’s not generally something you’ll use on its own, and it does well when accompanied by some other words.
You can start a sentence with “not only” when talking about two different things that happened at the same time as each other. Usually, those things have a direct impact or relationship, and it could be related to something that one person has done or will do.
Here’s what we mean:
- Not only did he not want to tell me about it, but he told her, who I thought he hated!
- Not only would he not give me an honest answer, but he completely ignored me!
- Not only was the government wrong to direct this at us, but they made a fool of themselves in the process!
- Not only can you see the great architecture from your window, but you can also see the amazing lights alongside it.
- Not only was this a wasted journey, but I didn’t even get to try that pizza I love!
“Not only” is a great phrase we can use to introduce two ideas. The two ideas are split in the middle by a comma, showing that they happened at the same time (or close to the same time).
Can You Start A Sentence With “Not That”?
“Not that” is another common way to start a sentence with “not.” It’s something that we use when we want to diminish someone else’s actions or sensitivity.
“Not that” is a negative phrase where the following statement is canceled out in the sentence. We use it to show that somebody doesn’t care about something or that something should be disregarded in some manner.
Here’s how you can use it yourself:
- Not that it’s any of your business, but I broke up with her last night.
- Not that I asked you, but I appreciate your sentiment.
- Not that you bothered asking, but I’m doing much better now, thanks.
- Not that you care, but I think there’s more to this than meets the eye!
- Not that you mentioned anything, but I know you were looking for this earlier.
“Not that” introduces the first clause as something that we should pay no attention to. It can be related to somebody not doing something or an action that was not carried out for some reason.
Can You Start A Sentence With “Not To Mention”?
“Not to mention” isn’t as versatile at starting a sentence as the other two. That’s because it can’t start a sentence independently and requires a previous sentence before making any sense.
You can start a sentence with “not to mention” when it links to the previous sentence. We have to include the first sentence, then use “not to mention” to talk about something that shouldn’t need highlighting or mentioning.
- You didn’t want to come here for many reasons. Not to mention that you’re afraid of heights!
- She wasn’t going to be easy to find, but I still tried. Not to mention she didn’t leave a single trail behind her!
- You could have had everything you ever wanted. Not to mention how easy it would have been to give that to you.
It’s not entirely common to use “not to mention” at the start of a sentence. Still, we use it when introducing an idea that shouldn’t need highlighting or is too obvious to speak about.
Where Should I Place The Comma When Using “Not” At The Beginning Of A Sentence?
There are so many different ways to use “not” at the start of a sentence that the punctuation rules are all over the place. We’ll teach you how to punctuate “not” with commas based on the phrase you use.
There is never a time where a comma needs placing directly after “not.” Instead, you should wait until the end of the first clause that “not” sets up. That’s where the comma belongs in the sentence.
Here’s how that looks:
- Correct: Not that you bothered to check-in, but I made it here okay.
- Incorrect: Not that it’s any of your business but there are plenty of things I could do here.
Is It Informal To Use “Not” At The Beginning Of A Sentence?
It is informal to use “Not” at the beginning of a sentence because it’s considered rude. It mostly works as a negative phrase, which we use to take away from the actions or achievements of someone else. For this reason, it never works in a polite or formal situation.
Alternatives To Starting A Sentence With “Not”
You might be interested in using a few alternatives in place of “not.” All of these are great alternatives that start the sentence in a similar way:
- While you didn’t
- Since you didn’t
- Although
- Failing
There are many good alternatives to starting a sentence instead of “not.” Still, we offer you these options as potentials in certain situations.
Can You End A Sentence With “Not”?
There are a few instances where “not” can also end a sentence.
You can end a sentence with “not” when you want to end a sentence with a negative clause. It helps to show that you don’t want something to happen in a particular way.
- He would be more than happy to do that, but I hope not.
- I thought not.
- She is going to find out sooner or later, but she dare not!
How Do You Use “Not” In The Middle Of A Sentence?
You can place “not” in the middle of a sentence because it’s an adverb. We can use it as a negative influencer for a verb (i.e., “have not”) or as a way to express a negative attitude about something.
Here’s how it looks:
- While he would not say more about the subject, I knew there was more to it.
- You have not noticed a single thing wrong with this, have you?
There are no reasons why commas or punctuation needs to be followed when placing “not” in the middle of a sentence. It’s an adverb which we use to modify a verb. Due to this, no commas are needed on either side of “not.”
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Best Answer
Copy
I am very disappointed in James. Not only has he let himself
down, he’s let down his family.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
This answer is:
Study guides
Add your answer:
Earn +
20
pts
Q: Can you start a sentence with the word ‘not’?
Write your answer…
Submit
Still have questions?
Related questions
People also asked
Can a sentence begin with » not»? If yes , what kind of a sentence is that?
Example:
Not many people visited the palace last year.
I was reading a book and I read a sentence » Medicine and health IS improving.
Is it even possible? Shouldn’t have the writer written » are» instead?
In the sentence » he thought happiness is the way to measure the country’s development. » what is the role of highlighted words.?
Abbas RajabpourCan a sentence begin with » not»? If yes , what kind of a sentence is that? Example: Not many people visited the palace last year.
Yes, it’s a negative declarative clause.
Abbas RajabpourI was reading a book and I read a sentence » Medicine and health IS improving. Is it even possible? Shouldn’t have the writer written » are» instead?
Better to use «are».
Abbas RajabpourIn the sentence «He thought happiness is was the way to measure the country’s development.» what is the role of highlighted words.?
You haven’t highlighted any words.
Answer this Question
As you know, any sentence for the purpose of the statement (declarative, imperative and interrogative) can be either affirmative or negative. Today we will understand the peculiarities of English negation. Let’s pay attention to all its main features, the means by which negation is expressed in the English language, the constructions, the presence of which it requires, and also compare the English and Russian negation.
Ways of Expressing Negation in English
So, first it is necessary to define denial. What is it like?
Denial Is a linguistic means that indicates the absence or impossibility of something.
Denial in English can be expressed by the following parts of speech:
- Particle
- Adverb
- Pronoun
- union
- Pretext
To express negation, in English you can use both the not particle (the most common way of expressing negation), and other words. These words in the language include, for example, negative pronouns.
Among them:
- none
- No
- Nobody
- Nothing
- Nowhere
Formation of a negative construct with the particle not
Denial in English is built using certain linguistic elements. The main means for expressing negation is the particle not (an analogue of the Russian “not”, which helps to form a negative form in a sentence). If we talk about its place in the sentence, then it is placed after the verb (modal or auxiliary).
In the event that the sentence contains more than one auxiliary verb, then the particle not should be placed after the first of them. By the way, in order to save speech, this particle is reduced along with the modal and auxiliary verb. When abbreviating, only the letter «o» is lost.
In order for you to better grasp the essence of this abbreviation, we advise you to take a look at a few examples of it:
- Do not — don’t
- Are not — aren’t
- Is not — isn’t
An example of negation with the particle not:
They will not write a test. (They won’t write a test)
To express negation in simple present and past tenses, an auxiliary verb must be used with the particle not (do, does or did depending on the tense). This verb has no translation into Russian, since it appears in an English sentence specifically to build a negative construction.
For example:
Source: http://top100lingua.ru/blog/grammatika/dvojnoe-otricanie-v-anglijskom-jazyke
How to make a sentence negative in English
The English language is rich and varied. To express a thought or answer a question of the interlocutor, various forms of sentences are used — positive and negative.
With the help of a negative sentence, you can show that some fact is wrong, express disagreement or denial of something. And today we will talk about how to make a sentence negative in English, we will study the rules of construction and the features of this form.
What are negative sentences
Any phrase, oral or written, can be either affirmative or vice versa. And if positive sentences in English and their construction do not cause difficulties for anyone, then when creating negative sentences there are certain rules that you should know.
A negative sentence is a written or oral thought form that contains negation. To build a negative sentence, special particles or adverbs are used.
In our native language, for negation, we usually put the particle «not»:
I’ll go visit. — I’m not going to visit.
In English, the particle «not» and the auxiliary verb (auxiliary verb) are similarly used for negation: In the summer I will not go to the sea.
But there are also other educational methods, which we will take a closer look at.
How to write a negative sentence in English
The rules for creating negative sentences are different from our native speech. There is a standard scheme for the formation of negation:
Subject — auxiliary verb — particle not — main verb — the rest of the sentence.
A negative word always has its strict place in a sentence.
Ways to compose negatives
In addition to using the helper verb and the «not» particle, there are several ways to form negative sentences in English.
- Verb «to be» + particle not. This method should be used when we want to say what or who a person, object is, or indicate a location.
- With modal verbs (Can, Should, Must, Have to / had to) and not.
- Using pronouns and adverbs: nobody, no one, none, nothing, neither, nowhere.
You should also remember one more form — imperative negative sentences. Do and not are used for plotting. For example:
Source: https://unavischool.ru/polezno-znat/kak-sdelat-predlozhenie-otritsatelnym-v-anglijskom-yazyke
Infinitive in English — rules and examples
HomeGrammarVerbInfinitive in English — rules and examples
Infinitive or the indefinite (initial) form of the verb is widespread in English. Outwardly, a simple infinitive looks like the original (dictionary) form of a verb, preceded by the to particle, but the particle is not always used. The Russian analogue of the infinitive is the initial form of the verb, which answers the questions: “What to do? what to do?»
to read | читать |
to decide | decide |
The infinitive is often found in an English sentence containing a compound verb predicate, that is, a combination of two or more verbs, and after adjectives and fixed expressions that require the use of the verb in the infinitive after themselves:
We decided to help him. | We decided to help him. |
She made me tell him the truth. | She made me tell him the truth. |
They are afraid to go out at night. | They are afraid to leave the house at night. |
Using the infinitive with and without the particle to
In most situations, the infinitive appears in a sentence with the accompanying particle to. However, in the following situations, using the particle to before the infinitive will lead to a blunder.
Particle consumption to not required before infinitive | ||
after modal verbs: can (could) — can, must — necessary, may (might) — can,shouldnt(shell) — should, would (will) — (should | I canunderstand your situation, but you should solve your problems yourself. You ‘d(would) better take an umbrella. | I can understand your situation, but you should solve your problems on your own. You better take an umbrella. |
after verbs make(to force)и flight(to induce, to allow) in a construction with a noun or pronoun in the object case (Complex Object — complex addition) | Do not make me read this book. It’s boring. Just flight Him go! | Don’t make me read this book. She’s boring. Just let him go! |
after the verbs of perception see (see), hear (hear)feel (feel)etc. in construction Complex Object | We saw here cross the street. Jim Heard mary play the guitar.I error his hand touch my shoulder. | We saw her crossing the street. Jim heard Mary play the guitar. I felt his hand touch my shoulder. |
after the verb help (to help)и dare(dare) | Some friends of him helped Jason clean up the room after the party. | Several friends helped Jason clean the room after the party. |
Negation with an infinitive
If you need to use negation in a sentence containing an infinitive, it is important to pay attention to what exactly is being denied. Moreover, if the main action of the sentence, expressed by the verb in a personal form, is denied, then the negative form of the modified verb characteristic of the corresponding time is used, for example:
Ann did not pretend to love him. | Anna did not pretend to love him. |
If only the action expressed by the infinitive is denied, then not is placed directly before it, in particular, before the particle to:
Ann pretended Note to love him. | Anna pretended not to love him. |
Choosing between an infinitive and a gerund
Expressions in Russian containing two verbs, one of which is in an indefinite form, in English can correspond not only to the construction «Verb in personal form + infinitive», but also the design «Verb in personal form + gerund (form with the suffix —ing) «, For example:
Dan was short of money, so I agreed to lend him some. | Dan had little money, so I agreed to borrow him a little. |
suddenly everybody stopped talking. | Suddenly everything stopped talking. |
The choice of construction depends on which verb is in the personal (mutable) form. Verbs requiring use particle infinitive to:
to offer | suggest | We offered to give her a lift. | We offered to give her a lift. |
agree | agree | Simon agreed to take us to the airport. | Simon agreed to take us to the airport. |
to refuse | refuse | The girl refused to tell us her name. | The girl refused to tell us her name. |
to decide | decide | They decided not to visit the museum. | They decided not to visit the museum. |
to plan | to plan | My friends are planning to travel around Europe this summer. | My friends are planning to travel to Europe this summer. |
In addition to the above verbs, the following are used with the infinitive: to arrange(agree), to hope (hope), to aim (aim), to learn (learn), to deserve (deserve), to afford (afford), to forget(to forget), to attempt (try), to manage (cope), to fail (fail), to promise(promise), to threaten (threaten), to seem (sound), to appear (seem), to tend (tend to), to pretend (pretend), to claim (to assert) and some others.
Verbs requiring use with gerund are presented in part in the following table:
to stop | cease | Could you please stop making so much noise? | Could you stop making this noise? |
to finish | finish off | He hasn’t finished washing up yet. | He hasn’t finished washing the dishes yet. |
this miss | to miss | She missed reading a book in a quiet place. | She missed reading a book in a quiet place. |
to involve | include | Our sports lesson involves jogging, swimming and gymnastics. | Our physical education lesson includes jogging, swimming and gymnastics. |
to give up | throw |
Source: https://1hello.ru/grammatika/infinitiv-infinitive-v-anglijskom-yazyke-pravila-i-primery.html
Negation in English — rule and example sentences
The English language differs in some peculiarities of the use of no-words. Negation in English can be combined with verbs, pronouns, nouns. They can also often be seen in a group of particles or adverbs. In this article, you will learn how to use negation correctly and can see examples of denial that will help you better understand the rules in practice.
No, no, no, and again no double negation
When starting to study this topic, it is worth paying attention to one important feature. In sentences in English, negation is used only once and no more. You shouldn’t build sentences with double negation. For Russian speakers, this is often a problem. We can easily say something like, «I’ve never met her anywhere.» There are three negatives used in this sentence. So, remember in English you cannot speak like that.
Negation rule with particle Note
Most negative sentences in English are built using a particle Note… If you are using modal verbs, the forms to be, have got or future auxiliary verb will, then a particle Note is placed after them.
You mustn’t ever be shy — You should never be shy.
Haven’t you got any kindness to these poor animals? — You have absolutely no kindness to these unfortunate animals?
If you use weak verbs, then the not part is added to the auxiliary verb. don’t, doesn’t or did notif it is about the past tense.
I didn’t say him a word. “I didn’t say a word to him.
They don’t to go to the theater. — They don’t like going to the theater.
Rules for using negation No
Denial No is also used quite often in negative sentences. In most cases, it is used before a noun.
I have no food to make dinner. — I have no food to cook dinner.
Babies often see no danger in their games — Children often see no danger in their games.
Compound negative adverbs
A separate category is followed by sentences in which negation is expressed using compound words: no one / nobody, nothing, nowhere.
Nobody knows his real address. “Nobody knows his real address.
Nothing will change my mind. I don’t want to see him. — Nothing will change my opinion. I don’t want to see him.
I can find my pencil nowhere. Had you take it? — I can’t find my pencil anywhere. Didn’t you take it?
Expressing negation with a negative adverb Never
There is also a noun in English never, which translates as «never». With its help, you can form a full-fledged negative sentence.
I had never seen my father. — I’ve never seen my father.
They had never played chess. — They never played chess.
My mother had never been in Paris. — My mother has never been to Paris.
Neither
Now let’s talk about one more negation word in English grammar — neither… This is one of the most specific denials, which translates as «none», «none of», «neither one nor the other.» Depending on the situation, it can act as an adverb, an adjective, or a noun.
Neither of you is ill. “None of you are sick.
I had read neither book. — I haven’t read a single book.
There was food in neither fridge. — There was no food in any refrigerator.
Interrogative negative sentences in English
Above, we looked at declarative sentences in English. There are also interrogative sentences with negation. For example, haven’t you read this book? Didn’t you buy candy for the baby? Have you seen my bag?
To create a negative question in English, you need to add a particle not.
For example:
Do you want to eat? — an interrogative sentence without negation.
Do you want to eat? — an interrogative sentence with negation.
If you are using a weak verb, the particle Note added to an auxiliary verb do.
Do you sweets? — Don’t you sweets?
Did she go to the cinema? Did she go to the cinema?
Source: https://lim-english.com/pravila-anglijskogo-yazyka/otricanie-v-anglijskom-yazyke/
Interrogative and negative sentences with to be
If you have already figured out how to make up the simplest sentences in English, when there is no verb in Russian, and the verb to be is used in English, then it’s time to find out how to make a negation or a question out of these sentences
In the article «make a sentence in English» we discussed how to make the simplest sentences in English, such as «I am a student», «Children at home», when there is no verb in Russian, and the verb to be is used in English. But how can one make a negation or a question out of these sentences?
Negative sentences c to be
Negation with the verb to be is extremely simple. In Russian we say “I’m not a student”, and in English we also have this particle “not” — “not”. Respectively,
rewrite an affirmative sentence
I am a student can be added to negative by adding «not»:
I am not a student
With other forms to be, everything works according to the same logic:
He is not a student
They are not students
Short negative forms
Frequently used in speech abbreviated forms to be and denial. Let’s look at two sentences:
We are not students = We aren’t students
These sentences mean exactly the same thing, just in the negation the spelling and pronunciation changes slightly.
By the same logic, “She is not a student” means the same as “She isn’t a student”, and “I am not a student” is identical to “I’m not a student”. That is,
I am not = I’m not is not = isn’t
are not = aren’t
Interrogative sentences c to be in english
In Russian, we ask questions in such sentences with the help of intonation: the statement «Your mother is a doctor» is different from the question «Is your mother a doctor?» only intonation.
In English, to compose a question, you need to change the order of the words. «Your mother is a doctor» — «Your mother is a doctor». Who are we talking about? — about your mother (your mother), i.e. it is the subject. Where is the verb? — is, i.e. it is a predicate. To make a question, you need to swap them, i.e. put the form to be (am, is or are) first. As a result, we get: «Is your mother a doctor?»
Another example, «Are their children at home?» In a statement, we would first say «their children», then the verb (are), and then everything else (at home), and it would be «Their children are at home.» But we make up a question, so we put «are» in the first place: «Are their children at home?»
By the same logic, «Am I right?» translate as «Am I right?»
Short answer in English
To answer such questions succinctly, it is not enough to say yes or no. Let’s remember that «to be» is translated as «to be, to be.» That is, when you are asked “Are you a student?” It means “Are you a student?” And you need to answer “Yes, I am” (Yes, I am) or “No, I am not” (No I am not).
In fact, in the short answer, we simply discard all additional information, leaving only the pronoun and verb. Pay attention to the pronoun. So, to the question «Is Mike at work?» (Is Mike at work?) You can answer “Yes, he is” or “No, he isn’t”.
Verb forms to be
To put all this information into a system, look at the question-short answer-affirmation-denial groups:
Am I right? — Yes, I am. I am right. / No, I’m not. I am not right.
Are you right? — Yes, you are. You are right. / No, you aren’t. You are not right.
Is he right? — Yes, he is. He is right. / No, he isn’t. He is not right.
Are we right? — Yes, we are. We are right. / No, we aren’t. We are not right.
Are they right? — Yes, they are. They are right. / No, they aren’t. They are not right.
Exercise to consolidate the material (interrogative sentences)
You need to make sentences from English words. Then you will find out its translation. Drag words with mouse or finger (on smartphones)
What time is the next bus? What time is the next bus? What time is the meeting? Exercise to consolidate the material (negative sentences)
You need to make sentences from English words. Then you will find out its translation. Drag words with mouse or finger (on smartphones)
Source: https://english-bp.ru/blog/to-be.html
5 ways to form negation in English
In the English language, there is a definite attitude towards “no” words. They accompany verbs, nouns, they can be found in a group of adverbs, particles, pronouns. We decided to collect the most popular and frequent negatives of the English language so that you can get to know this special “negative” group.
One important rule to remember when using the Negatives is to leave only one negative in English in a simple sentence. Analogies with the Russian language will only interfere here:
Nobody has ever done this.
In the Russian sentence, we see three negations at once — the pronoun no one, the noun never, the verb did not. In English, this situation is unacceptable.
The first translation that comes to mind is the translation using “nobody”:
No one has ever done it.
However, there are more ways to form denial. This sentence can also be translated as:
- People have never done it.
- People haven’t ever done it.
So, we have collected for you the top 5 “no” words, the knowledge of which will expand your language capabilities.
Negative particle Not
Truly the most common way to express negation in English is by using the not particle with verbs. Modal verbs, forms to be, have got, will attach this particle after themselves:
You mustn’t ever be late. — You should never be late.
Haven’t you got any respect for these people? — Do you have absolutely no respect for these people?
In the case of weak verbs in English, the particle Note joins the auxiliary don’t / doesn’t / didn’t:
It didn’t disappear anywhere. The knife is on the table. — He has not disappeared anywhere. The knife is on the table.
Particle into Russian Note translated as «not» and is used mainly with verbs.
Negative word #
The English word “no” is practically not inferior to the first negation in terms of frequency of use. In a sentence, it most often comes before a noun that negates:
I have no money. — I have no money.
The tourists see no danger. — Tourists see no danger.
You should not translate sentences word for word. Use euphonious phrases that won’t cut your ears. It is unlikely that you will hear such a translation:
Tourists see there is no danger.
Unless an electronic translator can please you with such original passages from time to time.
Negative number + word
We decided to present this group as a separate category. You will come across compound words here. The English language has to combine, which he uses so happily No.:
- no one / nobody — nobody
- nothing — nothing
- nowhere — nowhere
No one knows her name. She opens it to nobody. — Nobody knows her name. She does not disclose it to anyone.
Nothing can change my mind. — Nothing will change my opinion.
Where is the ring? I can find it nowhere. — Where is the ring? I can’t find it anywhere.
Many of these “unions” are so tightly embedded in the structure of the language that they are not perceived as no + noun… These are such stable expressions as:
No Way — no way, where is the first value way — «way»
nonsense — nonsense, where sense means «reason», «meaning»
none of — none of, none of
no matter what / no matter who / no matter when / etc. — it doesn’t matter what / doesn’t matter, who / doesn’t matter, where / and so on.
Negative adverb Never
Adverb never translated into Russian “never”:
I will never forget your kindness. “I will never forget your kindness.
Like other representatives of “negativism,” it not only fully forms negation in the English sentence, but also actively joins other words to itself, forming new facets of negation:
suddenheless — despite, however, nevertheless
nevermind — forget, don’t think about it
never-to-be-forgotten — unforgettable
never-ending — endless
etc. — etc
The negative word Neither
Closes our top five English word neither, which, depending on the function in the sentence, can be a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. In any case, its single meaning is “none”, “none of”, “neither one nor the other”.
Neither of you is invited. “None of you have been invited.
This word also occurs in combination neither, nor — neither one nor the other.
Neither Davis, nor Parker lived in Paris. “Neither Davis nor Parker lived in Paris.
In conclusion, we want to remind you once again that only one negation can be present within a simple English sentence. Of course, in colloquial speech, in songs, in films, you can encounter a violation of the rule, but this is rather an exception.
We wish you a lot of fun in learning English!
Victoria Tetkina
Source: http://begin-english.ru/article/angliyskaya-grammatika-otricanie-v-angliyskom-yazyke/
Negative Sentences in English (NEGATIVE SENTENCES)
Negative sentences are sentences intended to communicate that a fact is contrary to the truth.
For example, the
the water isNote cold. — The water is not cold.
Types of negative sentences.
There are several types of negative sentences:
1) negative statements
2) negative questions
3) negative imperatives
Negative statements are formed by the negative particle «not» (n’t), which is added after the auxiliary verb (do not / don’t), the linking verb «be» (is not / isn’t, are not / aren’t), and also after modal verbs (must not / mustn’t). It should be remembered that the negative form of the verb “will” is “won’t”, and the negative form of the verb “can” is “cannot” or “can’t”.
Examples of negative statements:
Agnia isn’t‘t coming round. she is not in town. — Agnia won’t come. She’s not in town.
Adrian mightNotebe telling a lie. “Perhaps Adrian isn’t lying.
Her children do not attend school on Saturdays. “Her kids don’t go to school on Saturdays.
When the Brosters arrived we hadn‘t decided whether to stay indoors or take a stroll. “When the Brosters arrived, we hadn’t decided yet whether to stay at home or take a walk.
you can notbe hungry again. You only had lunch an hour ago. — You can’t be hungry. You just had dinner an hour ago.
Negative questionsexpressing surprise, clarification, doubt, are formed using the negative part «not» (n’t), which is added to the auxiliary verb (don’t, doesn’t, didn’t, won’t, etc.). In the case of modal verbs and the linking verb «be», a negative particle is added to them.
Examples of negative questions:
Why didn‘t you ring us up? — Why didn’t you call us?
What doesn‘t he understand? — What does he not understand?
Won‘t we be able to come? — Can’t we come?
Isn‘t she your cousin? — Isn’t she your cousin?
Negative imperative sentencesexpressing a prohibition, order, advice, are formed using the verb «do», the particle «not» and the infinitive of the semantic verb:
Do not open the door to the room. — Don’t open the door to the room.
Do not take the umbrella. It’s warm and sunny today. — Don’t take your umbrella. It’s warm and sunny today.
Other ways of expressing denial
To refute any information in a sentence, negative words, phrases can be used. In addition to the particle «not», negative sentences can include the following words: the pronoun «no», the adverb «never», the pronouns «none», «nobody», «nothing», «neither», conjunctions «neithernor», etc.
Nobody has called me today. — Nobody called me today.
we have never been to Lisbon. — We have never been to Lisbon.
noneof my co-workers live in the suburb. — None of my colleagues live in the suburbs.
Neither Abraham nor Nelly know this dialect. — Neither Abram nor Nelly know this dialect.
Also, to express negation in sentences, it is often used affixation (adding prefixes and suffixes). The following prefixes and suffixes are most common: de- / dis- / il- / im- / in- / ir- / mis- / non- / un — / — less /:
What are you saying now is very impolite. — What you are saying is very impolite.
They are non—toxic elements. — These are not toxic elements.
There was some myunderstanding between my relatives. — There was a misunderstanding between my relatives.
There are a lot of homeless people in this region. — There are many homeless people in this region.
I admire your endless patience. “I admire your endless patience.
To systematize the theoretical material on the topic, watch the following video tutorials:
0 of 15 questions completed
Questions:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
Information
Choose the correct answer from the options provided.
You have already passed the test before. You can not run it again.
You must login or register to start a test.
You must complete the following tests to begin this:
Correct answers: 0 out of 15
Your time:
Time is over
You scored 0 out of 0 points (0)
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- The response
- With a mark of viewing
-
Question 1 of 15
-
Question 2 of 15
-
Question 3 of 15
-
Question 4 of 15
-
Question 5 of 15
-
Question 6 of 15
-
Question 7 of 15
-
Question 8 of 15
-
Question 9 of 15
-
Question 10 of 15
-
Question 11 of 15
-
Question 12 of 15
-
Question 13 of 15
-
Question 14 of 15
-
Question 15 of 15
Source: https://lingua-airlines.ru/kb-article/otritsatelnye-predlozheniya-v-anglijskom-yazyke-negative-sentences/
Double negation in English — when you can’t use it, and when you can
Double negation in English is the presence of two verbs in a negative form or negative words in a sentence.
In Russian, double negation is normal, it reinforces the negation, for example: “I nothing you I will not say«.
In English, one negation is allowed: “I will tell you nothing“, And double negation (“ I want not tell you nothing ”) — this is already a mistake, a violation of the norm, with the exception of some cases.
Double negation in English and Russian
In English, double negation is considered a grammatical violation. In Russian, we can use two negatives in one sentence:
Nothing you not you know.
Moreover, in this sentence, we cannot do without two negations. In Russian we do not say “You know nothing” or “You do not know anything”. It is possible, but we do not say that.
In English, on the other hand, there can be only one negation. Negation can be: 1) a verb in negative form (“don’t”), 2) a word with a negative meaning (“nothing”, “nobody”, etc.).
you know nothing — lit .: you know nothing.
you do not know anything — lit .: you do not know anything.
Two denials are already a violation of the norm:
you do not Know nothing. — Nothing you not you know.
Double negation is a violation of the norm because, according to normative grammar, in English, negation + negation = affirmation. If you say “I didn’t see nobody,” according to the logic of English grammar, you are saying that you saw someone. This is the same as in the Russian sentence to put two “not in a row”: “I did not see someone” = “I saw someone”.
Two kinds of double negation in English
Note that there are two kinds of double negation.
- View 1 (wrong): minus and minus give minus
That is, there are two “not” in the sentence, but they do not exclude, but reinforce each other, as is the case in Russian. The example above applies to this view:
you do not Know nothing. — You nothing is you know.
I can’t see nobody. — I AM nobody I see.
This kind of double negation is not the norm, since according to the norm, negation + negation must give an affirmation. You shouldn’t say that, much less write.
- View 2 (correct): minus and minus give plus
There are two words in a sentence with a negative meaning, but together they exclude each other and ultimately give a statement. Usually used as a rhetorical device. I mentioned above that in English negation + negation = affirmation. This is the case when double negation is used “legally” for precisely this purpose — to create a statement.
Nothing
Source: https://langformula.ru/double-negative/
Lesson 69. Negative Questions in English
Sofia StalskayaHigher linguistic education. Work experience 5 years.
Being able to ask a question correctly is very important, so in this lesson we are talking about interrogative sentences again. Study the example carefully:
- Haven’t you paid the bills yet? Why don’t you do it now?
- No, I haven’t. ‘ll do it later, darling.
Both questions contain the negative particle not, which is added to the auxiliary verb. At the same time, a general question expresses surprise, and a special one expresses a proposal about what needs to be done.
Formation of questions with denial
So, a negative question is formed by adding the negative particle not to an auxiliary verb. For example:
Do you chocolate? — Don’t you chocolate?
What did she say? — What didn’t she say?
Common denial questions often express surprise:
Don’t you want to go? — Don’t you want to go? (I’m surprised you don’t want to).
Haven’t they been there? — Weren’t they there? (I’m surprised they didn’t go there).
Question starting with can’t, expresses a complaint or impolite request:
Can’t you be quicker? I’m in a hurry. — Can’t be livelier? I’m in hurry.
If you answer a general question with a negative, remember that an answer starting with “yes” means that you agree to a positive proposal, an answer with “no” means a negative one.
- Don’t you want to join us? — Would you like to join us?
- Yes, I do. — Yes, I want. (I want to go.)
- No, I don’t. — No I do not want to. (I don’t want to go.)
Using negative questions
Special questions with denial can be used in different ways. For example, a question with «why don’t you» indicates a proposal to do something:
Why don’t we go to the cinema? — Why do not we go to the cinema?
Why don’t you close the window? — Why don’t you close the window?
You can use «Why didn’t ... » for criticism or reproach:
Why didn’t you call me? — Why didn’t you call me? (i.e. you should have called).
Special questions with denial are also used to request information:
Who hasn’t come? — Who didn’t come?
What don’t you eat? — What are you not eating?
Lesson assignments
Task 1. Ask a question about the situation.
- You are surprised that John doesn’t smoke.
- You criticize Tom because he hasn’t booked the tickets.
- You suggest going to the theatre.
- You are surprised that it isn’t raining.
- You need information about the people that didn’t come to the meeting.
- You don’t that Brian doesn’t do his homework.
- You suggest eating the cake.
- You are surprised that it won’t be cold tomorrow.
Task 2. Complete the short answer following the example.
Isn’t it beautiful? — Yes, it is. I it.
- Hasn’t Arthur called yet? — ___, maybe he doesn’t have time.
- Aren’t you sleeping? — ___, I’m still reading.
- Haven’t they bought the house? — ___. They are going to move in next week.
- Don’t you want a piece of cake? — ___, I’m on a diet.
- Didn’t you take the bus? — ___, Jack gave me a lift.
- Haven’t you got cash? — ___, there are some dollars in my purse.
Reply 1.
- Doesn’t John smoke?
- Why hasn’t Tom booked the tickets?
- Why don’t we go to the cinema?
- Isn’t it raining?
- Who didn’t come to the meeting?
- Why doesn’t Brian do his homework?
- Why don’t we eat the cake?
- Won’t it be cold tomorrow?
Reply 2.
- No, he hasn’t.
- No, I’m not.
- Yes, they have.
- No, I don’t.
- No, I didn’t.
- Yes, I have.
Source: https://linguistpro.net/voprosy-s-otricaniem-v-anglijskom-yazyke
Denials in English on the example of sentences
Denial Is a linguistic means (word or particle) indicating that a certain state of affairs does not take place.
- My brother did not study English at school
- Anna doesn’t like to paint
In different languages, the means of expressing negation are diverse, in particular, they are syntactically specified. Now you will see this, at the same time you can compare this grammatical category with that in our native language — Russian.
Rule number one can be called:
Double negation in English is not the correct grammatical form
Double negation in English is used only in informal speech. Sentences with only one negative word are considered grammatically correct.
Correct use of negation in English
The British considered it illogical to use more than one negation within one sentence: in English, two negations in a sentence neutralize each other.
This rule makes it very difficult for a Russian speaker, who is accustomed to the fact that there can be two, three or even four negations in a sentence, and if there are more of them in a sentence, this further reinforces the negation.
No one will ever tell anyone anything about it.
Nobody ever tell anyone anything about it.
A single negative word is enough nobody(nobody) so that the sentence becomes negative, all other words are put in a positive form.
In order to avoid misunderstandings, it must be admitted that double negation is still found in English, but it is used only in informal speech in order to strengthen the negation.
In the generally accepted grammatical standards, double negation is completely uncommon for the English language. So if you hear it anywhere, don’t let it lead you to a dead end, it’s all just informal, illiterate speech.
- We didn’t want to go nowhere… — We didn’t want to go anywhere. (Informal speech)
- We didn’t want to go anywhere… (Grammatically correct)
If you notice from the second example above, double negation in English is eliminated by replacing the second negative word with a positive one:
- Nowhere (nowhere) — anywhere (somewhere)
The pronoun is most often used for replacement. –Any and all words derived from it:
- Anything, anywhen, anybody
Another feature of negation in English is the fact that the predicate always takes on the negative form, while in the Russian language various members can take it.
- She’s not eating breakfast at home. — She does not have breakfast at home
- We do not visit my grandmother every day. — We do not visit granny every day
Means of Expressing Negation in English
Formation of a negative shape with a particle–Not:
The analogue of the Russian «not», which helps to form a negative form, in English is the particle «not»
The analogue of the Russian «not», which helps to form a negative form, in English is the particle -not
- They will not write a test. — They won’t write a test
Source: https://englishfull.ru/grammatika/dvojnoe-otricanie.html
Negative sentences in English
When learning English, it is important to consider all forms of the sentence. Of course, you can answer any statements or questions in a positive form, but sooner or later you will have to disagree with something.
Yes, you can just shake your head categorically, for this you don’t need English at all.
However, it is better to take and study this topic in more detail, because negative sentences in English contain many different interesting features that can allow you to express negation in several ways.
First, let’s understand what constitutes a negative sentence. A negative sentence in English is a sentence that is used to express rejection, reluctance, or any other condition that implies a negative form. Such sentences are used in speech and in writing constantly, both in formal and informal situations. How can they be formed?
Negative Sentences in English: Constructing with the Not Particle
The most common way of negation in English is using the negative particle not. Its Russian equivalent is the particle “not”. Negative sentences almost always contain an auxiliary verb. The not particle comes immediately after it.
The standard scheme for negative sentences with the not particle:
negative form | ||
Subject matter | Predicate | Secondary members of the proposal |
Auxiliary | Negative
particle not |
Semantic
verb |
Examples:
- I did not know about it. — I did not know about it.
- We do not this place. — We don’t like this place.
- They will not tell you anything. “They won’t tell you anything.
Recall that when negated in the Simple tenses, semantic verbs take their initial form. Compare:
+ | — |
She’s him.
(She likes him.) |
She does not him.
(She doesn’t like him.) |
We went to the park.
(We went to the park.) |
We didn’t go to the park.
(We went to the park.) |
It is also worth noting that in speech and writing, the auxiliary verb and the particle are almost always abbreviated. In this case, the letter «n» is added to the auxiliary verb, followed by an apostrophe, and then the letter «t»:
- I haven’t been there yet. — I haven’t been there yet.
- We aren’t reading because we’re tired. — We do not read because we are tired.
- I don’t know where to put the vase. “I don’t know where to put the vase.
The same scheme is used when a modal verb acts as an auxiliary:
- I cannot (can’t) help laughing. — I can not stop laughing.
- Jane should not (shouldn’t) be so rude with him. “Jane shouldn’t be so rude to him.
- You must not (mustn’t) touch anything here. — You shouldn’t touch anything here.
Note that unlike other auxiliary verbs, can is merged with not when negated. If, in the role of an auxiliary, two verbs are used at once, then a negative particle is placed after the first:
- We will not (won’t) have done the task by 5 o’clock. — We will not complete the task by 5 o’clock.
- I should not (shouldn’t) have come to that party. “I shouldn’t have gone to that party.
- John has not (hasn’t) been traveling since he started working. — John hasn’t traveled since he started working.
If the sentence is used with the verb to be in the present or in the past tense of the Simple group, an auxiliary verb is not needed in this case. A negative particle is placed after to be:
- He wasn’t too persistent. — He was not too persistent.
- I’m not a robot. — I am not a robot.
- I’m sure she wasn’t happy to hear this. “I’m sure she wasn’t happy to hear that.
Imperative negative sentences
Pay special attention to imperative sentences. In their negative form, they are usually used with the auxiliary do and the not particle to express a prohibition or advice:
- Don’t come closer! — Don’t come close!
- Don’t put your blame on me! — Don’t put your blame on me!
- Don’t worry. — Do not worry.
Such sentences are used only in colloquial speech.
Design not only but also
Sometimes a particle can not be a part of the construction not only but also (not only, but also). In such cases, it cannot merge with an auxiliary verb. You can understand that such a construction is used by the meaning and by the presence of the words «but also». Let’s compare:
can’t | can’t |
I can’t repeat this word. | I can not only write this word, but also repeat it. |
I cannot repeat this word. | I can not only write this word, but also repeat it. |
Perhaps this design can cause some difficulties in the first stages, but later it will be very easy to distinguish it.
Building negative sentences with pronouns and adverbs
In English, there is one rule about sentences that is absolutely different from Russian. So, if double negation is allowed in Russian, in English it can only be one. Let’s see what this means.
Let’s say in Russian we can say something like «never», «nobody», «nothing» and so on. Both words express negation, but if one of them is omitted, the phrase will lose its original meaning or even sound somehow ridiculous.
In English, on the other hand, just the same double negation will sound ridiculous. Of course, you will be understood anyway, but this error will severely hurt your hearing. Therefore, you will have to choose one of two evils. We have already figured out the denial of «not», we will consider other options. Usually negation without a particle is built in two ways:
- Using the adverb never (never), which is used before the semantic verb, even if there are two auxiliary in the sentence:
They would have never won if Michael had taken part in the game. | They would never have won if Michael was in the game. |
I have never been to India. | I have never been to India. |
She never calls me. | She never calls me. |
Note that in this case the endings of the Simple verbs are preserved.
- Using negative pronouns:
- no — none, not at all, not one. This pronoun usually comes before the object expressed by the noun without the article, although it can also occur before the subject. Most often it can be found in there is / are constructions, as well as after the have verb:
There is no problem, everything is okay. | There are no problems, everything is in order. |
There were no people in the shop. | There were no people in the store. |
I have no time. | I have no time. |
We had no ideas. | We didn’t have any ideas. |
Of course, these constructions can also be used with a negative particle, but in this case the pronoun «any» will be used instead of «no»:
There isn’t any problem, everything is okay. | There are no problems, everything is in order. |
As you can see, the meaning has not changed at all from this.
- Derivatives of «no» can also add negation to a sentence:
nobody (nobody / nobody) | Nobody knows why he is so sad.
(No one knows why he is so sad.) |
no one (nobody / nobody) | No one wants to be defeated.
(Nobody wants to be defeated.) |
nothing (nothing / nothing / nothing) | Nothing is more important than your family.
(Nothing is more important than your family.) |
nowhere (nowhere / nowhere) | I have nowhere else to go.
(I have nowhere else to go.) |
And also pronouns:
none (none / no / none) | None of you can judge me.
(None of you can judge me.) |
neither (none of 2-uh; neither the first nor the second) | She s neither of these two books.
(She doesn’t like either of these two books.) |
As in the previous case, with all pronouns except none, you can form a negative sentence with the particle not. Only derivatives of «no» must derive from «any»:
anybody (nobody / nobody) | We don’t know anybody who can help.
(We don’t know anyone who can help.) |
anyone (nobody / nobody) | I don’t remember anyone.
(I don’t remember anyone.) |
anything (nothing / nothing / nothing) | I don’t have anything to do.
(I have nothing to do.) |
anywhere (nowhere / nowhere) | She couldn’t find him anywhere.
(She couldn’t find him anywhere.) |
And neither should be replaced with either (both / both):
I don’t either of those dresses. | I don’t like any of those dresses. |
Building with negative words
Negative sentences in English can be grammatically affirmative, meaning they may not contain any particles or negative pronouns. How is this possible? The fact is that some verbs themselves imply negation. Usually they contain negative prefixes dis- and mis-. Let’s look at examples:
I disagree with him completely. | I totally disagree with him. |
The coach was dissatisfied with the results. | The coach was dissatisfied with the results. |
He misunderstood me. | He misunderstood me. |
However, making any verb negative in this way will not work. Most of them still need a negative particle.
Denial in questions
You might be surprised, because today we are considering negative sentences in English, not interrogative ones. However, there are interrogative-negative sentences in English. When asking such a question, the speaker, as a rule, wants to be convinced of his guesses.
In Russian equivalents, such questions contain the particles «is» and «whether». It is not difficult to formulate such a question. It is enough to take a standard general question and add the particle not already known to you after the auxiliary verb.
Usually, an auxiliary verb and a particle merge in this case:
Haven’t you heard? | Have not you heard? |
Didn’t you know about the consequences? | Didn’t you know about the consequences? |
Aren’t you happy? | Are you not happy? |
If, instead of the usual type of question, a dividing one is used, it is possible to use two options that have different meanings:
She looked very good, didn’t she? | She looked pretty good, didn’t she? |
or
She didn’t look very good, did she? | She didn’t look very good, did she? |
Which option to choose depends on the situation.
That’s all. As you can see, English negative sentences can be used in more than 5 ways. They are built quite simply, so the topic should be easy for you. If you want to consolidate your knowledge, follow the exercises on this topic and compose your own examples.
Source: https://speakenglishwell.ru/otritsatelnye-predlozheniya-v-anglijskom-yazyke/
It’s perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with and (as well as doing so with words such as but or or). Using and at the beginning of a sentence has been a practice for over a thousand years.
Whether or not one should avoid using certain words at the very beginning of a sentence is one of those tidbits of grammatical information that nestles in some corner of our brains, dimly but persistently reminding us that we are probably doing something wrong. (The truly painstaking nitpicker will point out that the opening line of this piece begins with one of those words, whether, that has been declared unfit to begin a sentence.)
The mnemonic ‘FANBOYS’ (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) is a useful way to remember the coordinating conjunctions. But it’s not a guide to words that don’t belong at the beginning of a sentence.
Many people content themselves with the trusted maxim «do not begin sentences with and or but.» If you are interested in learning whether or not this is a sensible rule, well, it is not. And if you don’t much care whether the rule is sensible or not, and just want to keep telling people that they are wrong when they use certain words to begin their sentences, well, you are in luck, since there have been many more prohibitions against sentence-initial words than just and and but.
The Beginning of And/But in the Beginning
Firstly, has it ever been wrong to begin a sentence with and or but? No, it has not. We have been breaking this rule all the way from the 9th century Old English Chronicle through the current day. Many translations of the Bible are filled with sentence-initial ands and buts, and they even may be found in some of our more beloved—and prescriptive—usage guides. The 1959 edition of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style begins two sentences in a row with these prohibited words, and does so with nary a trace of self-consciousness.
But since writing is communication, clarity can only be a virtue. And although there is no substitute for merit in writing, clarity comes closest to being one.
—William Strunk Jr. & E. B. White, The Elements of Style, 1959
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of English Usage begins its entry on and with this statement: «Everybody agrees that it’s all right to begin a sentence with and, and nearly everybody admits to having been taught at some past time that the practice was wrong.» The entry notes that there has been speculation that sentence-initial ands were discouraged to prevent children from stringing together interminable lists of clauses or sentences. While it makes sense to avoid an enormous pile of independent clauses in one’s writing, it seems unlikely that trying to change the way people naturally use the language will solve this problem. There are times when it would be ill-advised to begin a sentence with and or but, and there are times when it works just fine.
Can You Begin a Sentence with These Words?
If you are one of those people who prefers to avoid people who begin their sentences with these words, and if you would like to further curtail your sentence-initial word choices, there have been a large number of other words that we have previously been told not to use in that position. Here is a smattering:
Do not begin a sentence with however or a similar unimportant word.
—Jacob Cloyd Tressler, English in Action, 1929Do not begin a sentence with “also” or “likewise.”
—George Hitchcock, Sermon Composition, 1908Or never begins a sentence, paragraph, or chapter.
—James Brown, The American System of English Grammar, 1826Never begin a sentence—or a clause—with also.
—J. M. D. Meiklejohn, The Art of Writing English, 1899Teach the elimination of but, so, and, because, at the beginning of a sentence.
—Documents of the School Committee of the City of Boston, 1916A sentence should not commence with the conjunctions and, for, or however….
—George Payn Quackenbos, An Advanced Course of Composition and Rhetoric, 1854
FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
Some people may remember learning the mnemonic FANBOYS when studying the coordinating conjunctions for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. And some instructors also still use this as means of explaining which words should not be given the chance to lead the parade. But it’s
slightly ridiculous to insist that these words should never be used to begin a sentence, when a thousand years of English writing has shown this to be a fine way to start off.
If you’re going to create a silly-sounding acronym to list these words, then go whole-hog and list all of the words that schoolchildren have been told not to put at the beginnings of sentences over the past 200 years. We crafted one for you that helpfully looks like a web address: WWWFLASHYBONNBAN, which stands, obviously, for whether, well, why, for, likewise, and, so, however, yet, but, or, nor, now, because, also, nevertheless.