What Are Negatives?
In English, negatives are used to indicate the absence or opposite of something. They are often formed using the word not or negative contractions like don't, isn't, or can't.
How to Form Negatives
- With the verb "to be": Add "not" after the verb. Example: "I am not happy."
- With auxiliary verbs: Add "not" after the auxiliary. Example: "She has not finished."
- With other verbs: Use "do not" (or its contraction "don't") with the base verb. Example: "They do not play football."
Examples of Negatives
He is not coming to the party.
We don't like spicy food.
She can't find her keys.
What Are Questions?
Questions are used to request information. They typically involve a change in word order, known as inversion, or the use of question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how.
How to Form Questions
- Yes/No Questions: Start with an auxiliary verb or the verb "to be." Example: "Are you coming?"
- Wh- Questions: Begin with a question word, followed by the auxiliary or main verb. Example: "Where are you going?"
- Tag Questions: Add a short question to the end of a statement. Example: "You’re coming, aren’t you?"
Examples of Questions
Yes/No: "Do you like coffee?"
Wh-: "What are you doing?"
Tag: "It’s cold today, isn’t it?"
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to invert the subject and auxiliary verb in questions. Incorrect: "You are coming?" Correct: "Are you coming?"
- Using double negatives. Incorrect: "I don’t need no help." Correct: "I don’t need any help."
Practice Exercises
- Rewrite the sentence as a negative: "She likes chocolate." (Answer: She does not like chocolate.)
- Form a yes/no question: "You are tired." (Answer: Are you tired?)
- Use a question word: "___ are you going?" (Answer: Where)
- Add a tag question: "They’re late, ___?" (Answer: aren’t they?)
- Identify the mistake: "She don’t like coffee." (Answer: She doesn’t like coffee.)