Sentences, both in Spanish and English, are sets of words (in some cases, a single word) that express a logical proposition and have syntactic autonomy. For example: My best friend lives in Cornwall.
- The affirmative sentences in English they are positive statements, that is, they assure or confirm something. For example: She studied a lot for the exam.
- The negative sentences in English they are grammatical propositions that, through the negation of the verb, adverb or noun, oppose an idea or statement. For example: She didn’t sit for the exam.
Types of affirmative and negative sentences
Affirmative and negative sentences, in turn, can be:
- declarative or informative. They affirm or deny an idea. For example:
- I don’t like romantic movies.
- interrogative. They ask a question to an interlocutor. For example:
- imperatives. They give an order. For example:
- Don’t walk quickly, please.
Helpers in denial
negative sentences always contain auxiliaries (do, does, did, has, had) in all tenses (simple and compound).
affirmative sentences they do not add auxiliaries in simple verb tenses. For example:
- I enjoy traveling. (does not use auxiliary)
- Yo no enjoy traveling. (use the auxiliary “do” + negation)
Attention: Affirmative sentences can lead do, does (in present simple) Y did (in past simple) to express emphasis. For example: Yo do enjoy traveling! (the auxiliary is used in the statement to emphasize the idea).
Negative auxiliaries of all tenses (simple and compound) can be contracted (do not: nodoes not: doesn’tdid not: didn’thave not: haven’t /has not: hasn’tnot: hadn’t).
Negative auxiliaries can be used to formulate a contrast with a situation or person. For example: I love sushi, but my husband doesn’t. (And no: I love sushi but my husband no).
How are negative sentences formed in English?
negative declarative
- In compound verb tenses. Subject + auxiliary (have, has, had, be)+ not + conjugated verb. For example: I haven’t called her yet.
- In simple verb tenses. subject + auxiliary (does, did, did)+ not + verb in infinitive. For example: Affirmative: Yo studied math. / Negative: Yo didn’t study math.
Exception: The verb to be does not use auxiliary For example: I’m hungry. (affirmative). I’m not hungry. (negative)
Defective or modal verbs (can, could, may, might, will, should, must, would) form its negative by adding not. Negative manners can be contracted. For example: Affirmative: I should go. / Negative: I should not (shouldn’t) go.
negative questions
Negative interrogative sentences can be used to express various ideas, such as surprise (Don’t you like ice cream?), suggestions (Why don’t we go to the movies?), or criticism (Can’t you see I’m busy?).
- In simple verb tenses. Auxiliary (do, did, did) + not + subject + verb in infinitive. For example: Didn’t you sing yesterday?
- In compound verb tenses. Auxiliary (have, has, had, be) + subject + conjugated verb. For example: Haven’t you worked here before?
Exception: The verb to be does not use auxiliary: Verb to be + not + subject. For example: Aren’t you hungry?
negative imperatives
LNegative imperative sentences add no before the verb (in infinitive). For example: no step on the grass.
Where does the denial go?
Negation can appear in different parts of the sentence and not only in the verb (They didn’t eat). It can be denied using a negative adverb (I saw nobody), adding not to a noun (No student is allowed into this room), or by adding not to other parts of speech as to the direct or indirect object (Ask them, not I), to infinitive (I’ve decided not to go), or to the gerund (I enjoy not working).
Attention: In English, unlike Spanish, there is no double negative, that is, there can only be one negative particle in a clause. For example: Yo hicenot see anybody. (And no: I didn’t see nobody).
How are affirmative sentences formed in English?
affirmative statements
- In compound verb tenses. Subject + auxiliary + conjugated verb. For example: I have already called her.
- In simple verb tenses. Subject + conjugated verb. For example: She loves tennis.
To defective or modal verbs (can, could, may, might, will, should, must, would) infinitive is added without “to”. For example: I should study more.
affirmative questions
In affirmative interrogative sentences, the auxiliary is placed before the subject.
The structure is: Auxiliary + subject + verb. For example: Do you enjoy playing sports?
affirmative imperatives
The imperative mood coincides with the infinitive of the verb. The imperative is only conjugated in the second person plural or singular, which in English coincides: you. For example: Go away.
In imperative sentences the subject (or recipient of the order) is not written. For example: Sit next to me.
Examples of affirmative and negative sentences in English
- Affirmative: He took a shower after the game.
He took a shower after the game.Negative: He didn’t take a shower after the game.
He didn’t take a shower after the game. - Affirmative: She will be back in a few hours.
She’ll be back in a few hours.Negative: She won’t be back in a few hours.
She won’t be back for a few hours. - Affirmative: The doctor can see you now.
The doctor can see you now.Negative: The doctor can’t see you now.
The doctor can’t see him now. - Affirmative: I may spend some money on this.
Maybe spend some money on this.Negative: I may not spend any money on this.
Maybe I don’t spend money on this. - Affirmative: He bought something for lunch.
He bought something for lunch.Negative: He didn’t buy anything for lunch.
He didn’t buy anything for lunch. - Affirmative: She arrives punctually.
She arrives on time.Negative: She doesn’t arrive punctually.
She doesn’t arrive on time. - Affirmative: He has admitted he’s a thief.
He has admitted that he is a thief.Negative: He hasn’t admitted he’s a thief.
He has not admitted that he is a thief. - Affirmative: They will bring cake.
They will bring cake.Negative: They will not bring cake.
They will not bring cake. - Affirmative: You must tell the truth.
You must tell the truth.Negative: You must not tell the truth.
You must not tell the truth. - Affirmative: The teacher let us leave early.
The teacher allowed us to leave early.Negative: The teacher didn’t let us leave early.
The teacher did not allow us to leave earlier. - Affirmative: You should ask your father.
You should ask your father.Negative: You shouldn’t ask your father.
You shouldn’t ask your father. - Affirmative: I will have graduated by the time I’m twenty-five years old.
I will have graduated by the time I am twenty-five years old.Negative: I won’t have graduated by the time I’m twenty-five years old.
I won’t have graduated by the time I’m twenty-five. - Affirmative: My brother had already seen the movie.
My brother had already seen the movie.Negative: My brother hadn’t seen the movie before.
My brother had not seen the movie before. - Affirmative: He eats a lot.
He eats a lot.Negative: He doesn’t eat a lot.
He doesn’t eat much. - Affirmative: The ending is interesting.
The ending is interesting.Negative: The ending isn’t interesting.
The ending is not interesting. - Affirmative: My father has been working at this company for ten years.
My father has been working at this company for ten years.Negative: My father hasn’t been working at this company for ten years.
My father has not been working at this company for ten years. - Affirmative: He’s having a shower.
He is taking a shower.Negative: He isn’t having a shower.
He is not taking a shower. - Affirmative: Have you arrived yet?
You have arrived?Negative: Haven’t you arrived yet?
Haven’t you arrived yet? - Affirmative: My boss will have finished the report by Friday.
My boss will have finished the report by Friday.Negative: My boss won’t have finished the report by Friday.
My boss won’t have finished the report by Friday. - Affirmative: When Peter and Mary arrived at the theater, the play had started.
When Peter and Mary arrived at the theater, the play had begun.Negative: When Peter and Mary arrived at the theater, the play hadn’t started.
When Peter and Mary arrived at the theater, the play had not started. - Affirmative: Exports are increasing.
Exports are growing.Negative: Exports aren’t increasing.
Exports are not growing. - Affirmative: Sing with me.
Sing with me.Negative: Don’t sing with me.
Don’t sing with me - Affirmative: Are you coming with us?
Are you coming with us?Negative: Aren’t you coming with us?
Won’t you come with us? - Affirmative: Do you have a driver’s license?
Do you have a driver’s license?Negative: Don’t you have a driver’s license?
Don’t have a driver’s license? - Affirmative: Come with us, please.
Come with us, please.Negative: Don’t come with us, please.
Don’t come with us, please.
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