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80 GRAMMAR

Negatives SEE ALSO

34–35 Pronouns
A NEGATIVE TURNS A POSITIVE STATEMENT INTO A NEGATIVE ONE.   40–41 Adverbs
42–43 Simple tenses
In order to show that something is incorrect or untrue   44–45 Perfect and continuous tenses
48–49 Auxiliary verbs
in English, a positive statement has to be turned into a negative  52–53 Verb agreement
one—usually by adding the word not after an auxiliary verb. Apostrophes 104–105 
Double negatives should be avoided.

REAL W OR L D
Satisfied?
Forming negative sentences
When British rock band the Rolling Auxiliary verbs are the only verbs that can be made negative. If a sentence
Stones sang “I can’t get no does not contain an auxiliary verb, one must be added. The negative word
satisfaction” in 1965, they not is then placed directly after the auxiliary verb. The resulting combination
canceled the negative can’t out is known as a negative auxiliary.
with the negative no. But despite
the double negative, the meaning
was clear, AUXILIARY VERB NEGATIVE WORD MAIN VERB
and listeners
worldwide had been
understood not
the band is going
to be will go
thoroughly
dissatisfied.

Contractions
Most negative
In negative sentences, the auxiliary Auxiliary verb Negative word Contraction contractions are formed
verb and the negative word not can by joining the two words
would not wouldn’t
be combined and shortened to form and removing the o
contractions, with an apostrophe to do not don’t from not.
represent the missing letter or letters. should not shouldn’t
Common negative contractions There are some
could not couldn’t exceptions: Here, the
include haven’t (have not) and i from will has also
can’t (cannot). will not won’t been changed to o.