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Negation: - How Do We Use It?

The document discusses English negation and provides examples of how to use "not" and other negating words like "no", "few", "little", and "none". It explains that negation uses helping verbs like "do", "be", "can" followed by "not". It also discusses when to use "no" versus "not", and explains that "few" and "little" have negative meanings while "a few" and "a little" are affirmative. Additionally, it notes that in negative answers, "no" should be used to negate even if "yes" would be the answer in Chinese.

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Febrianti Dety
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22 views8 pages

Negation: - How Do We Use It?

The document discusses English negation and provides examples of how to use "not" and other negating words like "no", "few", "little", and "none". It explains that negation uses helping verbs like "do", "be", "can" followed by "not". It also discusses when to use "no" versus "not", and explains that "few" and "little" have negative meanings while "a few" and "a little" are affirmative. Additionally, it notes that in negative answers, "no" should be used to negate even if "yes" would be the answer in Chinese.

Uploaded by

Febrianti Dety
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPS, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Negation

--how do we use it?


Section 1
From the Affirmation to the Negation

• Like affirmation, English negation largely depend on the use of the


helping verb.do, be, can, shall, may, etc. with the adverb ‘not’.
• Chinese students should learn from the very beginning to use this
form, instead of saying He not knows(x), or He not comes(x).
• AFFIRMATION NETATION
I come (go, play). I do not come (go, play).
I came (went, played). I did not come (go, play).
He comes (goes, plays). He does not come (go, play).
• Can not is the emphatic form of cannot. The changes
came and did come, comes and does come occur also in
the question.
• PRESENT PAST
• (A) He comes. (A) He came.
• (B) Does he come? (B) Did he come?
• (C) He does not come. (C) He did not come.
Exercise 1:
Practice the following orally. The first one is already done for you.

• 1. He knows that I am here.


– He doesn’t know that I am here.
– Does he know that I am here?

• 2. They saw me on Nanking Road.


• 3. He heard the shot.
• 4. You spoke to that fellow on the way.
• 5. They all ran away when the police came.
• 6. The teacher saw me, but did not see him.
Section 2
No!!!!

• We generally say There is no one, but There is not any one , and I
have no money, but I cannot pay.
• No is thus used as an adjective before noun, and not is used as an
adverb.
• When there is a noun, it is better to use no. The form with no is often
more emphatic.
• Examples:
• 1. The pen is no good. 2. That’s no fun.
• 3. This camera is no use. 4. It is no use talking.
Exercise 2:
Use ‘no’ in the following sentences and change them in any way you like--

• 1. I have not received any answer from him.


• 2. I have not seen any Chinese in this city.
• 3. He doesn’t have money to pay me.
• 4. I tell you I do not have any lover.
• 5. This fountain pen cannot be of any use to me.
¶ Section 3
Few, a Few, Little, a Little

• In English, the meaning of few and little is negative, while that of a


few and a little is affirmative.
• When you come to borrow money from me, and I say “I have little
money,” that means I am not going to lend it to you. But when I say
“Yes, I have a little,” this means I am willing to lend you what little I
have. Study the following--
• 1. You have little time left.  You’d better hurry up.
• 2. I have a little time.  What can I do for you?
• 3. She knows little, but she talks a whole lot.
¶ Section 4
“No” in Negative Answers

• It is a peculiar English habit that, when the answer itself is negative,


we must use no in the beginning, even when in Chinese yes would be
the proper word to use.
• There are two examples:
• 1. Q: Isn’t he your brother?
• A: Yes, he is. / No, he is not.
• 2. Q: Haven’t you got your book?
• A: Yes, I’ve got it. / No, I haven’t.

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