NEGATIVE FORMS

This grammar point is about how to make the negative form with
different structures.

1. Making the negative with: think, believe, suppose, imagine and

want.

Make the first verb negative, not the second one. You
need to use DON’T THINK, DON’T BELIEVE, DON’T
SUPPOSE…

For example:

I DON’T THINK it is a good idea

I think it is NOT a good idea
2. Making the negative with: have and must

In affirmative sentences ‘have’ and ‘must’ have a similar meaning,

however, if you make it negative sentence the meaning is
different.

You MUSTN’T push that buttom.You may break the machine.

(PROHIBITION)
You DON’T HAVE TO push that buttom but you can try if you want.
(IT IS NOT NECESSARY)

3. Making the negative SHORT answers with: hope, expect, believe,

guess, suppose and be afraid.

We just add NOT.

Do you think you will fail the Maths exam again? I hope NOT
Do you think Mary will watch that scary movie? I guess NOT.
4. Making the negative with: imperatives

We always use DON’T.

DON’T forget to switch off the lights!

DON’T stand up!

5. Making the negative with: infinitives

We add NOT before TO.

We agreed NOT TO GO on another school trip.

We agreed TO NOT go on another school trip.

6. Making the negative with: negative suggestions.

We use LET’S NOT + verb in infinitive (without to).

LET’S NOT go out tonight – we can just watch a DVD.

LET’S NOT tell our sad stories – we should not be sad now!
7. NEGATIVE WORDS: neither, none, no, not … either

NEITHER
We use NEITHER + AUXILIARY VERB (do/does/did/will/have/has…) +PRONOUN to
agree with a negative statement. It means ‘ also not’ (yo/tu/el… tampoco)

A: I don’t like cold weather. B: Neither DO I ( a mi tampoco)

A: I won’t go to the party. B: Neither WILL I ( yo tampoco)

*** We can also use ME/HE/THEY NEITHER or NOT… EITHER with the same meaning.

A: I don’t like cold weather. B: ME NEITHER ( a mi tampoco)

A: I don’t like cold weather B: I DON’T EITHER (a mi tampoco)

NO
We use NO directly before a PLURAL or UNCOUNTABLE noun in AFFIRMATIVE sentences

There are NO trains in the afternoons.

There is NO water today.

NONE
None is a pronoun. We use it in place of a noun to say ‘ not one’ or ‘not any’
There were three schools here in the past. There are NONE now.

We also use NONE if there is an article or a possessive before the noun.

None of my friends remembered my birthday. (Ninguno de …) * No friends remembered …