Page 10 - 1202 Question Bank Grammar Form 4

5 Positive and Negative
Chapter Statements

NOTES

5.1 Positive and Negative Statements

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Usage Example
1. Positive statements express something that is The octogenarian can still play soccer.
affirmative or something that can be done. Azlina won the essay-writing contest.

2. Negative statements express something that is The salesman cannot act on behalf of his boss.
negative or something that cannot be done. No one can achieve the target set by him.
3. In negative statements, contractions are used. isn’t, aren’t, won’t, weren’t, hasn’t, shan’t,
mustn’t, doesn’t, didn’t, etc.
4. When changing positive statements into negative Simon has taken his lunch already. (P)
statements, the following words are changed: Simon hasn’t taken his lunch yet. (N)
already – yet some – any You can get help from someone there. (P)
someone – no one You can’t get help from anyone there. (N)
5.2 Further Examples
Positive Statement Negative Statement

(a) Zul works in the company. Zul doesn’t work in the company.
(b) Rose went for her yoga class last night. Rose did not go for her yoga class last night.
(c) There were some coins in the box. There weren’t any coins in the box.
(d) They will send a protest note to the boss. They won’t send a protest note to the boss.
(e) Someone is checking on the children. No one is checking on the children.
(f) Fui Ling switched on the radio. Fui Ling did not switch on the radio.
(g) Aida saw something strange in the museum. Aida didn’t see anything strange in the museum.

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
Exercise A

Change each of the statements below into positive or negative statements, by choosing the best answer from
the options A, B, C and D.

1. The errant motorist apologised to the pedestrian. C would not speak well of our country and its
The errant motorist... people.
A hadn’t apologised to the pedestrian. D haven’t spoken well of our country and its
B wouldn’t apologise to the pedestrian. people.
C did not apologise to the pedestrian.
D couldn’t apologise to the pedestrian. 3. The child seems to be nervous in the presence
of strangers.
2. The tourists speak well of our country and its The child...
people. A isn’t nervous in the presence of strangers.
The tourists... B won’t be nervous in the presence of strangers.
A do not speak well of our country and its C shouldn’t be nervous in the presence of
people. strangers.
B didn’t speak well of our country and its D doesn’t seem to be nervous in the presence
people. of strangers.

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