What Are 10 Examples of Negative Sentences?
Negative sentences let us say when something does not happen or is not true. Learning negative sentences helps you write and speak correctly in school, for exams, and in daily English. This concept is useful for writing messages, answering test questions, and expressing ideas clearly.
| Sentence Type | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | She likes apples. | She does not like apples. |
| Simple Past | They went to school. | They did not go to school. |
| Present Continuous | I am eating lunch. | I am not eating lunch. |
| Present Perfect | He has finished. | He has not finished. |
| Simple Future | We will call you. | We will not call you. |
What Are Negative Sentences in English?
Negative sentences in English say a statement is untrue, deny an action, or show something does not exist. Common words in negative sentences are not, no, never, nothing, and nobody. Students face negative sentences in grammar exams and real conversations, so understanding their structure is important.
How to Form Negative Sentences: Main Rules
- Use not to create a negative meaning, usually after the helping (auxiliary) verb.
- For verbs like is/are/am/was/were, add 'not' after the verb. (She is not happy.)
- For other verbs, add do/does/did + not before the main verb. (They do not play.)
- Modal verbs (can, will, should, etc.) add 'not' directly after the modal. (He cannot swim.)
Negative Sentence Examples
- I do not want tea.
- She does not like horror movies.
- They are not ready for the test.
- He is not coming to school today.
- We have not finished the homework.
- You did not see the new notice.
- It does not work.
- Ravi has not visited Delhi.
- She will not attend the meeting.
- He could not answer the question.
Using Negative Words besides ‘Not’
- No – There is no coffee left.
- Nothing – Nothing is impossible.
- Nobody – Nobody knows the answer.
- Nowhere – The books are nowhere to be found.
- None – None of the answers were correct.
Changing Affirmative to Negative Sentences
- Check if the verb is 'to be', a modal, or uses do/does/did.
- Add ‘not’ after the helping verb or use ‘do/does/did not’ before the main verb.
- Example: Affirmative – She plays tennis.
Negative – She does not play tennis.
Common Mistakes with Negative Sentences
- Double negatives: Avoid using two negatives in one sentence, such as "I don't know nothing."
- Correct: "I don't know anything."
Practice: Negative Sentences Worksheet
- He likes pizza. → He does not like pizza.
- We are ready. → We are not ready.
- She saw the movie. → She did not see the movie.
- Ajay has homework. → Ajay does not have homework.
- They will go to the park. → They will not go to the park.
Negative sentences help you clearly say when something does not happen or isn’t true. Practicing them will make your English clearer for exams and daily use. For step-by-step guides and more exercises, Vedantu covers all English grammar topics in a simple manner. Learn more with Vedantu's grammar lessons.
