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.