Negation in English

Negative forms

Negation is the process that turns an affirmative statement into its opposite denial.
Example:
She is a nice girl - She is not a nice girl
Verbs in English are negated by placing the word not after an auxiliary or modal.
Examples:

• I am not from Germany
• I do not like playing tennis.
• She does not listen to classical music.
• I have not read this book yet.
• I did not go to Moscow.
• I had not had dinner when they came in.
• You should not sleep late.
• I cannot help you.
• I will not participate in that competition.

Contracted forms

Negative forms can be contracted.

Long negative forms	Short negative forms
do not	don't
does not	doesn't
am	'm not (*not amn’t)
are not	aren't
is not	isn't
did not	didn't
have not	haven't
had not	hadn't
should not	shouldn't
would not	wouldn't
will not	won't