Affirmative and negative sentences are two basic types of sentences used to express statements in English.
Here’s some information about each:
1. Affirmative Sentences:
An affirmative sentence states something in a positive or straightforward way. It affirms or asserts a fact, opinion, or statement.
Structure: Typically, an affirmative sentence follows the standard subject-verb-object word order.
e.g.
a) She likes ice cream.
b) They are playing football.
c) He has a new car.
2. Negative Sentences:
A negative sentence expresses the opposite of an affirmative sentence. It indicates that something is not true, not happening, or not existing.
Structure: Negative sentences often include words like – not, no, never, or none.
In many cases, they use auxiliary verbs -to be, to have or to do- in their negative form.
e.g.
a) She does not like ice cream.
b) They are not playing football.
c) He does not have a new car.
Remember:
Verb Forms:
In negative sentences, the verb often changes its form.
In simple present tense, ‘don’t/doesn’t’ is used before the base verb while in simple past tense ‘didn’t’ is used.
e.g.
a) I don’t like it.
b) He doesn’t accept it.
c) They didn’t come.
Contractions:
Negative sentences often use contractions, like ‘isn’t’ (is not), ‘aren’t’ (are not), ‘haven’t’ (have not), ‘doesn’t’ (does not), can’t (cannot), won’t (will not), couldn’t (could not) etc.
Understanding how to form and use affirmative and negative sentences is fundamental for clear communication in English.
Changes in words-
| Affirmative | Negative |
| All | No |
| Everybody | Nobody |
| Everyone | No one |
| Many | A few |
| A little | Not much |
| Only | None but (animate) |
| Only | Not more than (countable) |
| Only | Nothing but (inanimate) |
| Anything | Nothing |
| Always | Never |
| Any one | No one |
Important-
The meaning of the original sentence should remain same while converting it into affirmative or negative sentence.
Make affirmative and negative sentences –
See Rule-
Rule – 1: Using opposite words-
1) This is not good.
Answer- This is bad.
2) The prince is cruel.
Answer- The prince is not kind.
3) He is not tall.
Answer- He is short.
4) The land is deep.
Answer- The land is not shallow.
Rule – 2: Using as well as, not only – – – – but also –
1) They are not only clever but also rich.
Answer- They are clever as well as rich.
2) He was strong as well as kind.
Answer- He was not only strong but also kind.
Rule – 3: Using unless / If – – – not
1) If you work hard, you will win.
Answer- Unless you work hard, you will not win.
2) Unless he runs fast, he will lose the race.
Answer- If he does not run fast, he will lose the race.
Rule – 4: Using cannot / could not or be unable to –
1) I cannot do it.
Answer- I am unable to do it.
2) He could not come.
Answer- He was unable to come.
Rule – 5: Using without / no / less
1) He has no children.
Answer- He is without children.
Answer- He is childless.
2) We don’t have vision.
Answer- We are without vision.
Answer- We are visionless.
Rule – 6: Using fail to, fails to, failed to / do not, does not, did not-
1) Ram does not understand her.
Answer- Ram fails to understand her.
2) She did not kill the cat.
Answer- She failed to kill a cat.
3) I do not come.
Answer- I fail to come.
Rule – 7: Using too – – -to / so – – -that –
1) She is too tired to walk.
Answer- She is so tired that she cannot walk.
2) They are so lazy that I cannot help them.
Answer- They are too lazy for me to help them.
Rule – 8 : Changing the degree –
1) Ram is taller than Shyam.
Answer- Shyam is not as tall as Ram.
2) I am not as fat as Rahul.
Answer- Rahul is fatter than I.
Rule – 9: Using hardly / any or no, anybody or nobody, anything or nothing
1) There are no set timings.
Answer- There are hardly any set timings.
2) Nobody liked the dance.
Answer- Hardly anybody liked the dance.
3) He had nothing to eat.
Answer- He had hardly anything to eat.
Rule – 10 : As soon as / No sooner – – – than
1) As soon as Ram came, all stud up.
Answer- No sooner did Ram come than all stood up.
2) No sooner does she sing; she does not get money.
Answer- As soon as she sings, she does not get money.
Rule – 11 : Only / nothing but (inanimate) / none but (animate)
1) It is nothing but a primary school.
Answer- It is only a primary school
Make Affirmative or Negative Sentences-
1) She does not tell everything.
i) She tells everything.
ii) She speaks everything.
iii) She hides everything.
iv) She expresses everything.
Answer-
iii) She hides everything.
2) I did not go there.
i) I fail to go there.
ii) I failed to go there.
iii) I failed to come there.
iv) I went there.
Answer-
ii) I failed to go there.
3) Seema is stronger than Radha.
i) Seema is not stronger than Radha.
ii) Seema is not so strong as Radha.
iii) Radha is as strong as Seema.
iv) Radha is not so strong as Seema.
Answer-
iv) Radha is not so strong as Seema.
4) I am fatter that Rahul.
i) I am not as fat as Rahul.
ii) I am as fat as Rahul.
iii) Rahul is not as fat as I am.
iv) Rahul is not as fat as me.
Answer-
iii) Rahul is not as fat as I am.
5) He wants a lot of water.
i) He does not want less water.
ii) He did not want less water.
iii) He does not want much water.
iv) He never wants less water.
Answer-
i) He does not want less water.
Online Test on Affirmative and negative sentences-
Read each sentence.
Choose the correct alternative.
Do solve all the sentences.
Click on submit button.
Click on View Score.
See your result.
See More-
Do solve the following online tests
2) Online test on Framing wh- question
3) Online test on Conjunctions
4) Online test on If and Unless
8) Online test on spot the error
9) Choose the correct sentence
See More Grammar Topics and Activities with answers in the following book-
Book Price Rs. 220
Courier Rs. 50
Total Rs. 270
Send amount by Google Pay Or Phone Pay to-
Prof. Tushar Chavan (9850737199)
Send address on Whats App Number-
No. 9850737199
Nice as usual.
Very useful Grammar Topic