Lesson 2: The Negative Form in English | Easy English Subject

The word not makes a sentence negative. It is used with the auxillary verb does, do, or did. Each basic sentence pattern has a corresponding negative form. In a negative sentence in the present tense, the auxillary does is used with the third person singular number; do is used with the other persons. Did is used as the auxillary verb for the past tense of negative sentences. The main verb following did always appears in the infinitive form without to.




1. S-V PATTERN

     Present tense

          The grass grows. (positive)
          The grass does not grow. (negative)

     Past tense

          Everything changed. (positive)
          Everything did not change. (negative)




2. S-V-O PATTERN

     Present tense (singular)

          The girl reads a book. (positive)
          The girl does not read a book. (negative)

     Past tense (singular)

          The girl read a book (positive)
          The girl did not read a book. (negative)

     Present tense (plural)

          The women brought flowers. (positive)
          The women did not bring flowers. (negative)

     Past tense (plural)

          The women brought flowers. (positive)
          The women did not bring flowers. (negative)




3. S-LV-C PATTERN

     Present tense (singular)

          Her bracelet is expensive. (positive)
          Her bracelet is not expensive. (negative)

     Past tense (singular)

          Myrna was a student. (positive)
          Myrna was not a student. (negative)

     Present tense (plural)

          The boys are quiet. (positive)
          The boys are not quiet. (negative)

     Past tense (plural)

          The men were busy in the field. (positive)
          The men were not bisy in the field. (negative)




4. S-V-IO-O PATTERN

     Present tense

          My aunt gives me money every day. (positive)
          My aunt does not give me money every day. (negative)

     Past tense

          My uncle brought me a new bag. (positive)
          My uncle did not bring me a new bag. (negative)




5. S-V-O-OC PATTERN

     Present tense

          I find that dress attractive. (positive)
          I do not find that dress attractive. (negative)


     Past tense

          They called him a traitor. (positive)
          They did not call him a traitor. (negative)




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