Conversion of Affirmative Sentences to Negative Sentences

Rule  1 : In the simple present tense, we make negative forms by putting ‘not’ after ‘do’ or ‘does’.

Note : Do is used when the subject is a plural noun or pronoun. The first person pronoun ‘I’ also takes the verb ‘do’.

Does’ is used when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun.

In a declarative sentence the word not is usually placed after a helping verb. (such as a form of do, does, has, have, or be).

Past   –  did; was/were; had; would; could   

Present   –  am; has/have; is/are (followed by the verb 1); verb-ing.

Future  –  will (be); is/are going to.

We add not after am/is/are/were/was or between a helping verb and the main verb to change a positive sentence into a negative sentence.

We also use the words like no, no one, nothing , none, never, don’t, won’t, can’t.

 

Rule 2 : We can convert a positive sentence to negative sentence by adding the opposite word and not before that opposite word.

Rule 3 : Conversion of Degree

Positive degree → Not + Comparative degree.

Anil is as smart as Sunny.

Sunny is not smarter than Anil.

Comparative degree → Not + Positive degree

Sheena is shorter than Meeta.

Meeta is not so short as Sheena.

Superlative degree → No + Positive degree

Anita was the strongest student in the class.

No other student was as strong as Anita in the class.

Rule 4 : Too…..to in an affirmative or positive sentence is converted to so …. that in a negative sentence.

Ravi is too slow to win the race.

Ravi is so slow that he cannot win the race.

Rule 5 : Always, Nobody are converted into never and everybody respectively.

Always →  never .

Nobody → Everybody

only /alone → none but

as soon as → no sooner…….than

whenever/when → never……but

 

Examples for conversion of Affirmative sentences to negative sentences

• Reena will be going to Goa tomorrow.
• Reena will not be going to Goa tomorrow.

• My mother is feeling well.
• My mother is not feeling well.

• She loves to play piano.
• She does not love to play piano.

• The waiter sets the table for two.
• The waiter does not set the table for two.

• I like candies and chocolates.
• I don’t like candies and chocolates.

• I play badminton regularly.
• I don’t play badminton regularly.

• They speak French very well.
• They don’t speak French very well.

• She has pink dress.
• She does not have pink dress.

• My sister is going to the school.
• My sister is not going to the school.

• He is feeling bored during the lecture.
• He is not feeling bored during the lecture.

• I have my passport and ticket.
• I don’t have my passport and ticket.

• This is a correct answer.
• This is not a correct answer.

• She was always happy.
• She was never happy.

• She is the best girl in the class.
• She is not the best girl in the class.

• She accepted the marriage proposal .
• She didn’t accept the marriage proposal.

• John wanted to go to New York.
• John doesn’t want to go to New York.

• My mother lets me go out with my brother.
• My mother does not let me go out with my brother.

• I prefer black coffee.
• I don’t prefer black coffee.

• I wake up early in the morning.
• I do not wake up early in the morning.

• Can I get a cup of tea?
• Can’t I get a a cup of tea.

• Please on the chair.
• Please do not sit on the chair.

• The cat is chasing the rat.
• The cat is not chasing the rat.

• Only he can solve the sum.
• None but he can solve the sum.

• I am taking my books with me.
• I am not taking my books with me.

• Reena should speak loudly.
• Reena should not speak loudly.

• I have somebody to help me at home.
• I have nobody to help me at home.

• The students were preparing for their exams.
• The students were not preparing for their exams.

• My sister had a stomach ache this morning.
• My sister didn’t had a stomach ache this morning.

• Tom likes to eat junk food.
• Tom doesn’t like to eat junk food.

• She is intelligent than me.
• I am not as intelligent as her.

• Rohan is taller than Mohan.
• Mohan is not as tall as Rohan.

• Everybody was present in the meeting yesterday.
• Nobody was absent in the meeting yesterday.

• All members of their family were present at function.
• No member of their family were present at function.

• Meera behaved nicely in the party.
• Meera didn’t behave nicely in the party.

• He told me an old story.
• He didn’t tell me an old story.

• My parents live in Dehradun.
• My parents didn’t live in Dehradun.

• Mary wants to become a singer.
• Mary didn’t want to become a singer.

• Mrs. Freddy loves pets.
• Mrs. Freddy didn’t Love pets.

• This is impossible.
• This is not possible.

• Ravi is too slow to win the race.
• Ravi is so slow that he cannot win the race.

• Rama is too shy to ask question from the teacher.
• Rama is so shy that she will not ask question from the teacher.

• He saw her in the cafe.
• He didn’t saw her in the cafe.

• She is an innocent girl.
• She is not a guilty girl.

• Man is mortal.
• Man is not immortal.

• She is always happy.
• She is never unhappy.

• Nobody will deny it.
• Everybody will admit it.

• Always speak the truth.
• Never tell a lie.

• He has books.
• He is not without books.

• Only a greedy person would behave like this.
• None but a greedy person would like this.

• Only degree holders need to apply.
• None but degree holders need to apply.