Welcome to Lesson 11: Negative Statements.
In Lesson 9, you learned how to make positive statements. In Lesson 10, you learned how to ask questions.
Now you will learn how to make negative statements.
Use Google Translate if you need help.
What Is a Negative Statement?
A negative statement tells us that something is not true, does not happen, or does not exist.
Compare:
Positive: She is tired.
Negative: She is not tired.
Positive: He has a car.
Negative: He does not have a car.
Positive: They work on Sunday.
Negative: They do not work on Sunday.
Words such as not, don’t, and doesn’t help us make negative statements.
Negative Statements with “To Be”
With to be, add not after am, is, or are.
Subject + am/is/are + not + more information
Examples
I am not tired.
You are not late.
He is not at home.
She is not a teacher.
It is not cold.
We are not ready.
They are not students.
Negative Contractions with “To Be”
We often use contractions in everyday English.
| Full Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
| is not | isn’t |
| are not | aren’t |
Examples
He is not tired. → He isn’t tired.
She is not at home. → She isn’t at home.
We are not late. → We aren’t late.
They are not ready. → They aren’t ready.
With I am not, we normally say:
I’m not tired.
We do not say I amn’t.
Negative Statements with “To Have”
With have, use do not or does not.
I / you / we / they + do not have
he / she / it + does not have
Examples
I do not have a car.
You do not have a question.
He does not have a job.
She does not have a phone.
We do not have class today.
They do not have children.
We usually use the contractions:
do not → don’t
does not → doesn’t
Examples
I don’t have a car.
She doesn’t have a phone.
They don’t have children.
Remember:
After doesn’t, use have, not has.
She doesn’t have a car. ✓
She doesn’t has a car. ✗
Negative Statements with “To Do”
When do is the main verb, use don’t or doesn’t plus do.
Examples
I do my homework.
→ I don’t do my homework.
She does the dishes.
→ She doesn’t do the dishes.
He does the shopping.
→ He doesn’t do the shopping.
Notice:
She doesn’t do the dishes. ✓
She doesn’t does the dishes. ✗
After doesn’t, use the base form do.
Negative Statements with Other Verbs
We use the same pattern with many other simple present verbs.
I / you / we / they + don’t + base verb
he / she / it + doesn’t + base verb
Examples
I work on Saturday.
→ I don’t work on Saturday.
They live here.
→ They don’t live here.
He likes coffee.
→ He doesn’t like coffee.
Maria studies at night.
→ Maria doesn’t study at night.
Bob drives to work.
→ Bob doesn’t drive to work.
What Happens to the Main Verb?
This is an important rule.
After doesn’t, use the base form of the main verb.
| Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
| She works. | She doesn’t work. |
| He likes coffee. | He doesn’t like coffee. |
| Maria studies English. | Maria doesn’t study English. |
| Bob has a car. | Bob doesn’t have a car. |
| She does the dishes. | She doesn’t do the dishes. |
The -s or -es moves away from the main verb because doesn’t already shows that the subject is he, she, or it.
Positive → Negative
Let’s compare the patterns you have learned.
With “To Be”
Positive: She is tired.
Negative: She isn’t tired.
With “To Have”
Positive: She has a car.
Negative: She doesn’t have a car.
With “To Do”
Positive: She does her homework.
Negative: She doesn’t do her homework.
With Another Verb
Positive: She works every day.
Negative: She doesn’t work every day.
Don’t or Doesn’t?
Use don’t with:
I – you – we – they
Use doesn’t with:
he – she – it
Examples
I don’t work on Sunday.
You don’t live here.
We don’t have class today.
They don’t study at night.
He doesn’t drive to work.
She doesn’t have a car.
It doesn’t work.
Practice
Choose don’t or doesn’t.
- I ______ work on Sunday.
- She ______ have a car.
- They ______ live nearby.
- He ______ like coffee.
- We ______ have class today.
- Maria ______ study at night.
- You ______ need a book.
- My brother ______ drive to work.
Make It Negative
Change each positive statement into a negative statement.
- She is tired.
- He has a car.
- They study English.
- Maria works on Sunday.
- We are late.
- Bob does the dishes.
Remember
To make a negative statement with to be, add not:
She is not tired. → She isn’t tired.
With many other verbs, use don’t or doesn’t:
I don’t work.
She doesn’t work.
Remember:
I / you / we / they → don’t
he / she / it → doesn’t
After doesn’t, use the base form of the main verb:
doesn’t have
doesn’t do
doesn’t work
doesn’t study
Goal
After completing this lesson, you should be able to:
- Recognize positive and negative statements.
- Make negative statements with to be.
- Use don’t and doesn’t correctly.
- Make negative statements with have and do.
- Make negative statements with other common verbs.
- Use contractions in negative statements.
- Use the base form of the main verb after doesn’t.