Negative Structures in English

Negative Structures in English There are a number of negatives structures in English ranging from basic negative sentences to the more complicated neither ... nor and not ... either. Learn the most common negative structures by following the rules below. Negative Verb Conjugation The most common negative structure in English is the conjugation of the verb in the negative. Verbs can be used in the negative by placing not directly after the auxiliary verb in each conjugation. The combination of the auxiliary verb not is often contracted in English. For example: do not dont, will not wont, has not hasnt, etc. S auxiliary verb not main verb objects She wont come to the party tomorrow.Tom hasnt finished the report.We arent studying Russian this semester. Negative Imperative The imperative form is used to instruct / command others. Use do not plus the verb for all comparative forms. No subject is required for the use of the imperative form. Do not verb objects Do not begin without me.Dont waste any time.Do not touch the glass. Never Never is used to express the idea that something is never done. Note that never is used with positive form of the verb but results in a negative meaning. Its also important to remember that the present simple and past simple do not take an auxiliary verb in the positive form. In other words, use the auxiliary verb for the present perfect, future, etc., but not with the present or past simple. S (auxiliary verb) never verb objects She never takes time off work.Mary has never returned my calls.Peter never walked to school when he was young. Double Negatives in English Double negatives - the use of two no words such as not and nowhere in one sentence - are incorrect in English. When modifying something use either a no word, or any as explained in the following sections. He doesnt like anything. OR He likes nothing.Angela hasnt visited anyone this month. OR Angela has visited no one this month.She isnt going to travel anywhere. OR Shes going to travel nowhere. Use of Any Any and words such as anyone, anybody, anything, etc. are used in negative sentences and questions. S auxiliary verb not main verb any objects He doesnt have any time.Mary isnt going to eat any dinner.Peter hasnt done anything for the past three days. No Words There are a number of no words such as nowhere, nothing, no one, which can be used in place of any words. Note the difference in structure between the two. Any words take the negative verb structure, no words take positive structures. S (auxiliary verb) main verb no word objects I have nothing to say.No more / not ...  any moreThe boys invited no one to their party.Timothy has gone nowhere this summer. Negative Any OR No Word The following sections refer to specific similar structures using either the negative verb form with any or a no word. In each of these cases examples are given for both forms. The forms used have been explained above. I have no more time today. OR I dont have any more time today.She has thought of no more ideas. OR She hasnt thought of any more ideas. Nobody / not ... anybody Note: This has the same meaning as no one / not ... anyone. Susan saw nobody at work today. OR Susan didnt see anyone at work today.Tom bought nobody a present. OR Tom didnt buy anyone a present. No one / not ... anyone Note: This has the same meaning as no body / not ... anybody. Im meeting no one today. OR Im not meeting anyone today.Alice has bought no one presents yet. OR Alice hasnt bought anyone presents yet. Nothing / not ... anything Ive eaten nothing all day. OR I havent eaten anything all done.Doug talks about nothing with his friends. OR Doug doesnt talk about anything with his friends. Nowhere / not ... anywhere Shelly has gone nowhere this year. OR Shelly hasnt gone anywhere this year.Alex has travelled nowhere outside of the USA. OR Alex hasnt travelled anywhere outside of the USA. Neither ... Nor Use the phrase neither ... nor when expressing two negatives together. Note that the verb is inverted after the use of nor. I have neither the time nor have I had the desire to do my work.She has neither the time nor the money to help her friends.Alex has neither the means nor does he have the ability to find a new job.