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Negation

Making sentences negative

Use do not / does not with action verbs

Never use 'not' alone with main verbs.

📊 Negation forms
Subject Negative auxiliary Short form
I/you/we/they do not don't
he/she/it does not doesn't
all am/is/are + not isn't/aren't
💬 Examples
I do not eat meat.
do not is the negative for I you we they
📝 do not for I
He does not drive.
does not is the negative for he she it
📝 does not for he
Use am not / isn't / aren't with 'be'

The verb to be negates differently from other verbs.

💬 Examples
I am not ready.
not follows am directly
📝 am + not
She isn't here.
isn't is the short form of is not
📝 isn't = is not
Double negatives are incorrect in standard English

Use only one negative element per clause.

💬 Examples
I don't know nothing. ✗
two negatives cancel out — avoid this
I don't know anything. ✓
one negative word is enough
📝 correct single negative