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Negative structures: basic rules

Negative verb forms: auxiliary + not​

We make negative verb forms by putting not after an auxiliary verb.

  • We have not forgotten you.
  • It was not raining.
  • She can’t swim.

Do is normally used if there is no other auxiliary verb.

  • I like the salad, but I don’t like the soup. (not I like not the soup.)

Do is followed by the infinitive without to.

  • I didn’t think. (not I didn’t to think.) or I didn’t thinking. or I didn’t thought.

Do is not used with another auxiliary verb.

  • You mustn’t worry. (not You don’t must worry.)

Do is not normally used with be (even when be is not auxiliary).

  • The supper isn’t ready. (not The supper doesn’t be ready.)
note

For negative forms of have, dare, need and used, see the entries on these verbs.

For the dialect form ain’t, (see here).

For negatives without do in older English (e.g. I like him not), (see here).

For negative subjunctives (e.g. It’s important that he not be disturbed), (see here).

Imperatives: Don’t worry.​

Negative imperatives are made with do not / don’t + infinitive (see here).

  • Do not expect quick results. (not Expect not …)
  • Don’t worry – I’ll look after you. (not Worry not …)

Do not / don’t is also used to make the negative imperative of be.

  • Don’t be rude.

Infinitives and -ing forms: It’s important not to worry.​

We put not before infinitives and -ing forms. Do is not used.

  • It’s important not to worry. (not … to don’t worry.)
  • The best thing about the weekend is not working.

Other parts of a clause: not his wife, not before six​

We can put not with other parts of a clause, not only a verb.

  • Ask Jake, not his wife.
  • Come early, but not before six.
  • It’s working, but not well.

We do not usually begin a sentence with not + subject. Instead, we use a structure with it (‘cleft sentence’, (see here).

  • It was not George that came, but his brother. (not Not George came …)
note

For the difference between not and no with nouns, (see here).

Other negative words: never, seldom, etc​

Other words besides not can make a clause negative. Compare:

  • He’s not at home.
  • He’s never at home.
  • He’s seldom / rarely / hardly ever at home.

We do not normally use the auxiliary do with these other words. Compare:

  • He doesn’t work.
  • He never works. (not He does never work.)
  • He seldom / rarely / hardly ever works.
  • They refuse to listen to reason.
  • The soup lacks salt.
  • We’re unhappy about your decision.

However, do can be used for emphasis or contrast.

  • I never did like her.

Question tags: You don’t …, do you?​

After negative clauses, question tags ( (see here) are not negative.

  • You don’t work on Sundays, do you?
  • You seldom work on Saturdays, do you? (not You seldom work on Saturdays, don’t you?)
  • She never smiled, did she?

The same thing happens after clauses with little and few (see here).

  • There’s little point in doing anything about it, is there? (not … isn’t there?)
  • He has few reasons for staying, has he?

‘non-affirmative’ words: any, etc​

We do not usually use some, somebody, etc in negative clauses. Instead, we use the ‘non-affirmative’ words any, anybody, etc (see here). Compare:

  • I*’ve found some** mushrooms.*
  • I haven’t found any mushrooms.