Examples of how to use the word “negative” in a sentence. How to connect “negative” with other words to make correct English sentences.
negative (adj): expressing “no”
Use “negative” in a sentence
She has a negative attitude toward life. |
Stress can have an enormous negative impact on your health. |
Stress can have a negative impact on your health. |
Don’t be so negative. |
The results of both tests were negative. |
A negative mind will never give you a positive life. |
You can’t live a positive life with a negative mind.
Back to “3000 Most Common Words in English” |
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:
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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/
Lesson 11: Negatives
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What are negatives?
A negative is a word or phrase that shows you reject or disagree with something. We use negatives all the time in regular conversation, so a lot of these words should be familiar to you.
Can’t, don’t, and won’t are all common negatives (as well as isn’t, doesn’t, and not). Words like never and nobody are negatives too—they just express disagreement in a different way.
Negative doesn’t necessarily mean that something is bad or that you have a negative attitude. It just means you’re negating something—in other words, stating that the opposite is true. You could be referring to anything: good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant. It might help to picture it this way:
Using negatives
Many negatives are simply the opposite of words we already know. When writing a negative, start with a basic verb, then add the word not. You can write the words separately or as a contraction.
To use a negative in a sentence, place it in front of an idea—specifically another verb, noun, or adjective. This is how you tell the reader exactly what you’re referring to (and more importantly, what you’re trying to negate).
See how the words above work together to give the sentence meaning? Don’t refers to lick, and not refers to sanitary. Imagine what the sentence would look like without any negatives:
Lick the floor; it’s sanitary.
Not only is that gross, but it also means the opposite of the original sentence. It still makes sense (sure, you could lick the floor if you wanted to), but without don’t and not, the message isn’t the same.
More negatives
We use negatives like can’t and won’t because they’re so familiar, but the truth is that there are many ways to write a negative sentence. For instance, have you ever simply said no to reject or disprove something?
Lots of words have opposites, like yes/no, and everyone/no one. Many opposites even include the word no somewhere in the spelling, which makes them easy to remember.
Negative prefixes
Some negatives don’t sound like negatives because they don’t include the words no or not. Take unhappy, asymmetrical, nonsense, and dislike. All of these words have a negative prefix that changes the meaning from one thing to another. Negative prefixes include a-, dis-, il-, im-, in-, ir-, non-, and un-.
Neither/nor
The words neither/nor can also be used to form a negative. (They’re the opposite of either/or.) Use them to negate or reject two or more things at once. In a sentence, they look like this:
Neither/nor and either/or can’t be used interchangeably. For example, you wouldn’t say I’m neither happy or sad. That might sound correct, but it’s not quite right. Neither and nor go together because they’re both negatives—you can’t mix and match. It might help to remember that they both start with the letter n.
Negative adverbs
Words like hardly, seldom, rarely, and never can be used to negate things in a different way. Unlike don’t and won’t, they have different degrees of meaning. Take the example below. Notice how the meaning of the sentence changes depending on the negative, from absolute to something more open-ended.
Double negatives
A double negative occurs when you use more than one negative in a sentence. Funnily enough, this changes the meaning of the sentence so it’s no longer negative at all—it’s affirmative instead.
Some double negatives are intentional, like in the example above. When the man answers I can’t NOT look at it, he means his friend’s mole is impossible to avoid. In order words, yes: He is looking at the mole. The double negative is being used for comedic effect.
Some double negatives are unintentional, however. This can be confusing and can even make the sentence difficult to read. Chances are people will still understand what you’re talking about, but they might think something sounds a little off.
If you find yourself using a double negative, ask yourself: Is it intentional? Will the reader understand what you’re trying to say? If it changes the meaning of the sentence to something you don’t want, you can take one of the negatives out or change it to a positive. This should help you avoid any confusion.
Some people will tell you that double negatives are bad and that you should never use them. This isn’t necessarily true. In the right context (for example, stylized writing or conversation), they can be used to convey subtlety, hesitation, or even a certain attitude.
What about ain’t? It’s used in many parts of the United States as a play on words, like aren’t, isn’t, and am not. Because ain’t is a slang term, it’s best to avoid using it in formal writing (like an academic paper or work email)—the reader might think you’re not taking the subject seriously. In conversation and casual writing, however, ain’t is often OK.
As you just learned, there are many ways to form a negative. See if you can spot the negatives below, and click the yellow dots to learn more.
Either/or | Nowhere
Here’s an example of neither/nor. (Nowhere and don’t are negatives too.)
Remember, you can’t mix and match neither/nor with either/or. If you wanted to use or instead, you could go with something like this:
Swimming at night—either alone or with a friend—is a good way to get axed in a horror movie.
Never | Not
In this sentence, never and not are both negatives. You could phrase the sentence a different way (starting with don’t read, or shouldn’t read), but it wouldn’t have the same power as never read.
That’s what makes words like never and rarely so useful—they let you be more descriptive when don’t simply isn’t enough.
Don’t
Don’t is the negative in this sentence. It refers to going into the basement (a bad idea in any scary movie).
If you wanted to phrase the sentence another way, you could also say:
I wouldn’t go into the basement.
It would be unwise to go into the basement.
Under no circumstances should you go into the basement.
Insane
Insane is the negative in this sentence. It’s the opposite of the word sane. (Remember, in- is one of many prefixes that can be used to change a word into a negative.)
Other negatives that could be used here include irrational, unsound, or unhinged.
You could also use the word crazy, but that’s not actually a negative (notice that there’s no negative prefix). The word just has a negative connotation.
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Learning Objectives
- Identify a negative statement.
- Write negative statements.
NegativeA sentence or phrase that expresses the opposite of a positive statement. statements are the opposite of positive statements and are necessary to express an opposing idea. The following charts list negative words and helping verbsA verb that is used with a main verb to describe mood or tense. The helping verb is usually a form of be, do, or have. that can be combined to form a negative statement.
Negative Words | ||
---|---|---|
never | no | hardly |
nobody | none | scarcely |
no one | not | barely |
nowhere | rarely |
Common Helping Verbs | ||
---|---|---|
am | is | are |
was | were | be |
being | been | have |
has | had | do |
does | did | can |
could | may | might |
must | will | should |
would | ought to | used to |
The following examples show several ways to make a sentence negative in the present tense.
-
A helping verb used with the negative word not.
Sentence: My guests are arriving now.
Negative: My guests are not arriving now.
-
The negative word no.
Sentence: Jennie has money.
Negative: Jennie has no money.
-
The contraction n’t.
Sentence: Janetta does miss her mom.
Negative: Janetta doesn’t miss her mom.
-
The negative adverb rarely.
Sentence: I always go to the gym after work.
Negative: I rarely go to the gym after work.
-
The negative subject nobody.
Sentence: Everybody gets the day off.
Negative: Nobody gets the day off.
Exercise 1
On a separate sheet of paper, rewrite the positive sentences as negative sentences. Be sure to keep the sentences in the present tense.
- Everybody is happy about the mandatory lunch.
- Deborah likes to visit online dating sites.
- Jordan donates blood every six months.
- Our writing instructor is very effective.
- That beautiful papaya is cheap.
The following sentences show you the ways to make a sentence negative in the past tense.
Sentence: Paul called me yesterday.
Negative: Paul did not call me yesterday.
Sentence: Jamilee went to the grocery store.
Negative: Jamilee never went to the grocery store.
Sentence: Gina laughed when she saw the huge pile of laundry.
Negative: Gina did not laugh when she saw the huge pile of laundry.
Notice that when forming a negative in the past tense, the helping verb did is what signals the past tense, and the main verb laugh does not have an -ed ending.
Exercise 2
Rewrite the following paragraph by correcting the errors in the past-tense negative sentences.
Celeste no did call me when she reached North Carolina. I was worried because she not drove alone before. She was going to meet her friend, Terry, who lived in a town called Asheville, North Carolina. I did never want to worry, but she said she was going to call when she reached there. Finally, four hours later, she called and said, “Mom, I’m sorry I did not call. I lost track of time because I was so happy to see Terry!” I was relieved.
Collaboration
Once you have found all the errors you can, please share with a classmate and compare your answers. Did your partner find an error you missed? Did you find an error your partner missed? Compare with your instructor’s answers.
Double negativesTwo negatives used in the same phrase or sentence. are two negatives used in the same phrase or sentence. They are considered incorrect in Standard English. You should avoid using double negatives in all formal writing. If you want to say something negative, use only one negative word in the sentence. Return to the beginning of this section for a list of negative words, and then study the following examples.
Tip
Ain’t is considered a contraction of am not. Although some may use it in everyday speech, it is considered incorrect in Standard English. Avoid using it when speaking and writing in formal contexts.
Exercise 3
On your own sheet of paper, correct the double negatives and rewrite the following sentences.
- Jose didn’t like none of the choices on the menu.
- Brittany can’t make no friends with nobody.
- The Southwest hardly had no rain last summer.
- My kids never get into no trouble.
- I could not do nothing about the past.
Key Takeaways
- Negatives are usually formed using a negative word plus a helping verb.
- Double negatives are considered incorrect in Standard English.
- Only one negative word is used to express a negative statement.
Writing Application
Write a paragraph describing your favorite meal. Use rich, colorful language to describe the meal. Exchange papers with a classmate and read his or her paragraph. Then rewrite each sentence of your classmate’s paragraph using negatives. Be sure to avoid double negatives. Share your negative paragraphs with each other.
Среди разновидностей предложений английского языка важную роль с точки зрения грамматики занимает отрицательное предложение, которое обычно образуется нестандартно и имеет отличающуюся от другого типа sentences структуру. Отрицание в английском языке, во-первых, характеризуется определенным порядком слов, а во-вторых, имеет некоторые ограничения, несопоставимые с русским языком. Поэтому следует подробно рассмотреть, как выглядят negative sentences или отрицательные предложения в английском языке, какие правила определяют их образование, а также какие особенности имеют negative sentences в сравнении с русским языком.
Основные особенности
Отрицание (в английском – negation) – это тип фразы, в переводе имеющей, как правило, частицу «не». Таким способом negative sentences будут образовываться не всегда, но это – один из наиболее распространенных вариантов.
Возможно, не все знают, что отрицание в английском языке также возможно внутри вопросов. Вопросы с отрицанием можно встретить и в русском, когда говорящий подразумевает «разве не?». Вот примеры того, как выглядит вопрос с отрицанием:
· Doesn’t she live here? – Разве она не живет здесь?
· Didn’t you see my painting yesterday? – Разве ты не видел мою картину вчера?
Такой тип вопросительно-отрицательных предложений в английском языке называется interrogative-negative sentences. Сами фразы по своей форме вопросительные, но при этом включают и элемент negation.
Далее требуется более подробно рассмотреть случаи использования отрицания в разных ситуациях.
Образование negative sentences
Для того чтобы составить отрицательное предложение на английском, важно учитывать время конкретной фразы. Так, например, в презент симпл необходимо принимать во внимание то, есть ли в предложении глагол или нет. Поскольку глагол to be, как и модальный глагол, способен самостоятельно образовывать negation с помощью частицы not, никаких дополнительных слов не понадобиться.
· She is not my pupil. – Она не моя ученица.
· We cannot pass this exam without attending classes – Мы не можем сдать этот экзамен, не посещая занятия
Но если основного самостоятельного глагола нет, в силу вступает auxiliary verb (вспомогательный). Вот как выглядят такие случаи:
· I don’t know her – Я ее не знаю
В прошедшем времени ситуация будет идентичной. К примеру, в паст симпл или континиус есть глагол to be (was/were). В этом случае к нему просто добавиться частица not. Однако если to be нет, появится вспомогательный глагол, к которому not и будет примыкать:
· He didn’t ask me about my vacation, but I wasn’t surprised – Он не спросил меня о моих каникулах, но я не был удивлен
· She wasn’t driving last evening at 8 p.m., officer, she was at home – Она не была за рулем вчера вечером в 8, офицер, она была дома
Сделать negation в будущем времени несложно. Как и утвердительные предложения, отрицательные фразы здесь обязательно будут сопровождаться вспомогательным глаголом will, с которым и будет стоять not:
· We won’t check your license – Мы не будем проверять ваше удостоверение
· Jeffrey won’t celebrate his birthday, I suppose – Полагаю, Джеффри не будет праздновать свой день рождения
Ниже представлена таблица, где отображены случаи того, как используются отрицательные предложения в английском языке в разных временах:
Отрицания в косвенной речи и кратких ответах
Особый порядок образования предложения отрицательные имеют в косвенной речи в английском языке. В этой особой сфере грамматики важно учитывать не только время, но и тип предложения, поскольку утверждение с отрицанием будет образовываться одним способом, вопрос – другим, а повелительная фраза – третьим.
· He said he hadn’t been there before — Он сказал, что не был там раньше.
· Jane says she doesn’t like the way he treats others — Джейн говорит, что ей не нравится, как он относится к окружающим
· Rick ordered not to go there — Рик велел не ходить туда
Также существует отдельное правило для кратких высказываний в отрицательной форме. Здесь надо смотреть в первую очередь на вопрос и его структуру, так как если в нем есть глагол to be, то он будет и в кратком ответе, равно как и auxiliary verb:
· Do they appreciate your attention? – No, they don’t – Они ценят твое внимание? – Нет, не ценят
· Are you in a hurry? – No, I’m not – Ты торопишься? – Нет, не тороплюсь
Образование отрицательных предложений посредством местоимений
Очень часто отрицательные предложения в английском образуются не только при помощи частички not, но и посредством отрицательных местоимений таких как nobody, nothing, none, no (в значении ни один, никакой), а также наречий never, nowhere. Важно помнить, что в таких конструкциях само наречие либо местоимение уже несет отрицательную нагрузку и добавлять частичку not после сказуемого не нужно.
· No book I’ve ever read could strike me more — Ни одна книга, из тех, что я читал, не произвела на меня большее впечатление
· He said no word to her — Он не сказал ей ни слова.
· Nobody knows what’s gonna happen — Никто не знает, что случится.
· Nothing matters — Ничего не имеет значения.
· I never travel alone — Я никогда не путешествую в одиночестве.
Также есть ряд наречий, которые чуть менее «категоричны», но тоже придают предложениям отрицательный оттенок. К ним относятся:
· We rarely see each other — Мы нечасто видимся (Почти не видимся).
· She could hardly breath — Она почти не дышала .
Отсутствие двойного отрицания
Категорически запрещено двойное отрицание в английском языке, что возможно в русском, но недопустимо в negative sentences in English.
Например, фраза «Никто не пришел» будет звучать как «Nobody came».
Тем не менее, есть способ, как выразить такую конструкцию, как «не могу не» – can’t help doing smth:
I can’t help congratulating her – Я не могу не поздравить ее
Отрицательные приставки
Еще один распространенный способ образования negation – приставки отрицания в английском языке. Масса различных префиксов помогают образовать слова с отрицательным значением:
legal – illegal
function – malfunction
happy – unhappy
satisfy – dissatisfy
understand – misunderstand
Все эти способы образования отрицания важно учитывать, чтобы не путать особенности этих предложений с русским языком и правильно составлять соответствующие конструкции. В зависимости от типа предложения разные отличительные черты могут проявляться и влиять на структуру конструкции.