In this article, we explain the logic of making negative sentences in English, its basic rules and its usage in different tenses with examples. We also touch on common mistakes and show how you can reinforce this subject with plenty of practice.

How to Make a Negative Sentence in English?

While most students can easily make positive sentences during the English learning process, they may not be able to achieve the same fluency in negative sentence structures. However, negativity in the language is a basic skill that is frequently encountered both in daily conversations and in exam texts. These structures, which are used to reject a thought, invalidate a situation or indicate that an action did not take place, are a natural and indispensable part of communication.

In this article, we discuss how to make the negative sentence in English, which is most often confused by students, in a simple and understandable way. From basic auxiliary verbs to structural differences that change according to tenses, we share all the details you need to make sentences negative correctly. We also bring you sample sentences and points to consider to increase your mastery of the subject.

English Negative Sentence Examples

In English, auxiliary verbs are usually used to make a sentence negative, and “not” is added to these auxiliary verbs. The auxiliary verb used changes according to the tense and structure of the sentence. Here is the basic structure:

Positive sentence:

She plays tennis. → (He plays tennis.)

Negative sentence:

She does not play tennis. → (He does not play tennis.)

Basic Rules:

Simple Present:

○ do/does + not + 1st form of the verb

○ I don’t (do not), He doesn’t (does not)

Past Tense (Simple Past):

○ did + not + 1st form of the verb

○ They didn’t (did not) go to school.

Present Continuous:

○ am/is/are + not + verb-ing

○ She isn't (is not) studying.

Future Simple:

○ will + not + 1st form of the verb

○ We won't (will not) be late.

With Auxiliary Verbs (can, must, should, etc.):

○ modal + not + verb

○ You cannot swim here. / He shouldn't do that.

EXAMPLES

Simple Present

● I don't like coffee.

● She doesn't speak Spanish.

● They don't play football on weekends.

Past Tense (Simple Past)

● He didn't see the message.

● We didn't go to the cinema yesterday.

● I didn't understand the question.

Present Continuous

● I am not watching TV.

● She isn’t coming to the party.

● They aren’t studying right now.

Future Simple

● We won’t travel next month.

● He will not attend the meeting.

● I won’t forget this moment.

With Modal Auxiliary Verbs

● You can’t park here.

● She must not be late.

● They shouldn’t waste time.

Making negative sentences in English is indispensable not only in terms of grammar but also in terms of communication skills. Especially in exams, in order to correctly interpret negative expressions in English in paragraphs or to distinguish options that distort the meaning in sentence completion questions, it is necessary to know these structures well. Understanding the structure of negative sentences in English also improves your ability to think in English.

Regularly reviewing negative sentence examples in English and practicing constructing these sentences in different tenses ensures permanent learning. Using these structures correctly and effectively, which we encounter in many areas from daily conversations to academic texts, will strengthen your performance in both written and oral exams. Don't forget to visit our Sculin blog page for more examples, tips and explanations!