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Exercise. Turn the following sentences into negative sentences.

Example:

The soup was hot. ==> The soup wasn’t hot.

1. Mom can knit mittens for the bazaar.
Mom can’t knit mittens for the bazaar.

2. I am going to the concert.
I’m not going to the concert.

3. You must be careful.
You mustn’t be careful.

4. We were late for the bus.
We weren’t late for the bus.

5. You should let your sister clean your room.
You shouldn’t let your sister clean your room.

6. The baby was afraid of the elephant.
The baby wasn’t afraid of the elephant.

7. I will wash the car.
I won’t wash the car.

8. Dick and Jane have been to Canada.
Dick and Jane haven’t been to Canada.

9. Sheri is sweeping the sidewalk.
Sheri isn’t sweeping the sidewalk.

10. Mr. Smith has written a book.
Mr. Smith hasn’t written a book.

11. Tom, Dick, and Harry are staying after school.
Tom, Dick, and Harry aren’t staying after school.

12. Jack could see the scar on the man’s forehead.
Jack couldn’t see the scar on the man’s forehead.

13. I would like to take Mr. Jones’ class.
I wouldn’t like to take Mr. Jones’ class.

Exercise. Turn the following sentences into negative sentences. Use don’t / doesn’t / didn’t.

Example:

Max plays the saxophone. ==> Max doesn’t play the saxophone.

1. Mark has a black cat.
Mark doesn’t have a black cat.

2. The car got a flat tire.
The car didn’t get a flat tire.

3. Sally and Mary grow watermelons in their backyard.
Sally and Mary don’t grow watermelons in their backyard.

4. The dogs barked all night.
The dogs didn’t bark all night.

5. The refrigerator works now.
The refrigerator doesn’t work now.

6. Hank fixes our car.
Hank doesn’t fix our car.

7. I went to the bank.
I didn’t go to the bank.

8. The choir sings the national anthem.
The choir doesn’t sing the national anthem.

9. The barber cut my hair.
The barber didn’t cut my hair.

10. Father made breakfast in bed for Mother.
Father didn’t make breakfast in bed for Mother.

Grammar Basics: Unit 44 – isn’t…., haven’t…., don’t…., etc.

Posted on 2012/05/17

“not” is used to make negative sentences. Sentences using “not” often use the contracted form.

For “be” verbs, we have:

am ==> am not (’m not):

I am hungry. ==> I am not hungry. / I’m not hungry.

is ==> is not (isn’t, ’s not):

John is tall. ==> John is not tall. / John isn’t tall. / John’s not tall.

are ==> are not (aren’t, ’re not):

We are coming. ==> We are not coming. / We aren’t coming. / We’re not coming.

was ==> were not (weren’t):

The children were playing. ==> The children were not (weren’t) playing.

For modal verbs that are not forms of the verb “be,” we have:

have ==> have not (haven’t, ’ve not):

I have read that book. ==> I have not read that book. / I haven’t read that book. / I’ve not read that book.

has ==> has not (hasn’t, ’s not):

Mary has eaten breakfast. ==> Mary has not eaten breakfast. / Mary hasn’t eaten breakfast. / Mary’s not eaten breakfast.

will ==> will not (won’t):

I will go to the library. ==> I will not (won’t) go to the library.

can ==> cannot (can’t):

Max can speak French. ==> Max cannot (can’t) speak French.

could ==> could not (couldn’t):

We could go to Tom’s wedding. ==> We could not (couldn’t) go to Tom’s wedding.

should ==> should not (shouldn’t):

Bob should go to bed early. ==> Bob should not (shouldn’t) go to bed early.

would ==> would not (wouldn’t):

I would like to visit Switzerland. ==> I would not (wouldn’t) like to visit Switzerland.

must ==> must not (mustn’t):

I must wake up Father. ==> I must not (mustn’t) wake up Father.

To make negative sentences for “do” verbs, use:

do not (don’t) / does not (doesn’t) + V (inf.)

(This is for the simple present.)

I work on Tuesdays. ==> I do not (don’t) work on Tuesdays.
That restaurant has the best coffee. ==> That restaurant does not (doesn’t) have the best coffee.
Tom wants to go to Disneyworld. ==> Tom does not (doesn’t) want to go to Disneyworld.
Jane likes pumpkin pie. ==> Jane does not (doesn’t) like pumpkin pie.

For the negative simple past of “do” verbs:

did not (didn’t) + V (inf.)

I ate an apple. ==> I did not (didn’t) eat an apple.
Mother baked a cake. ==> Mother did not (didn’t) bake a cake.
We had a good time. ==> We did not (didn’t) have a good time.

For imperative sentences (commands), use “do not (don’t)” to make a negative command.

Run away. ==> Do not (Don’t) run away.
Be afraid. ==> Do not (Don’t) be afraid.
Hang up the phone. ==> Do not (Don’t) hang up the phone.

If “do” is the main verb, we still use “do not / did not” to form negative sentences:

I do my homework every day. ==> I do not (don’t) do my homework every day.
Jack does the laundry on the weekend. ==> Jack does not (doesn’t) do the laundry on the weekend.
Peter did as he was told. ==> Peter did not (didn’t) do as he was told.

Exercise. Turn the following sentences into negative sentences.

Example:

The soup was hot. ==> The soup wasn’t hot.

1. Mom can knit mittens for the bazaar.
______________________________________

2. I am going to the concert.
______________________________________

3. You must be careful.
______________________________________

4. We were late for the bus.
______________________________________

5. You should let your sister clean your room.
______________________________________

6. The baby was afraid of the elephant.
______________________________________

7. I will wash the car.
______________________________________

8. Dick and Jane have been to Canada.
______________________________________

9. Sheri is sweeping the sidewalk.
______________________________________

10. Mr. Smith has written a book.
______________________________________

11. Tom, Dick, and Harry are staying after school.
______________________________________

12. Jack could see the scar on the man’s forehead.
______________________________________

13. I would like to take Mr. Jones’ class.
______________________________________

Exercise. Turn the following sentences into negative sentences. Use don’t / doesn’t / didn’t.

Example:

Max plays the saxophone. ==> Max doesn’t play the saxophone.

1. Mark has a black cat.
______________________________________

2. The car got a flat tire.
______________________________________

3. Sally and Mary grow watermelons in their backyard.
______________________________________

4. The dogs barked all night.
______________________________________

5. The refrigerator works now.
______________________________________

6. Hank fixes our car.
______________________________________

7. I went to the bank.
______________________________________

8. The choir sings the national anthem.
______________________________________

9. The barber cut my hair.
______________________________________

10. Father made breakfast in bed for Mother.
______________________________________

Grammar Basics: Unit 41 – I am, I don’t, etc… (Solution)

Posted on 2012/05/09

Exercise. Complete the following sentences. Use only one verb – is, was, have, do, can, will, might, should – each time.

1.   I’m not bored, but Tom is.
2.   Mary can’t keep a secret, but I can.
3.   Mother doesn’t watch the news, but Father does.
4.   Our house wasn’t damaged by the storm, but our neighbor’s (house) was.
5.   Hannah won’t eat peas, but Jacob will.
6.   Will Uncle Kirk come to the graduation? I don’t know – he might.
7.   I can’t make it to the party, but Sue can.
8.   Let’s skip school today. —Do you think we should? What if Mom and Dad find out?
9.   I haven’t been to China, but Sharon has.

Exercise. Complete the following sentences. Use a negative verb – isn’t, wasn’t, haven’t, don’t, can’t, won’t.

1.   Betsy has seen the movie Gone With the Wind, but I haven’t.
2.   Clarice exercises every day, but I don’t.
3.   Dave is a hard worker, but Mary isn’t.
4.   Dick can ride a bike, but Jane can’t.
5.   I thought the air conditioning was on, but it wasn’t.
6.   Sid likes school, but Tom doesn’t.
7.   Ken will sing a solo, but Keith won’t.
8.   I’m going to the county fair, but Jack and Jill aren’t.

Exercise. Complete the following sentences. Use do/does/did or don’t/doesn’t/didn’t.

1.   Brad doesn’t have a lot of friends, but Roland does.
2.   This brand of laundry soap really gets clothes clean, but that one doesn’t.
3.   Bill thought it was a great movie, but I didn’t.
4.   We don’t have a dog, but Dan and Rachel do.
5.   The Fosters have a big yard, but we don’t.
6.   Emma reads a lot of history, but Ben doesn’t.
7.   I don’t know too much about chemistry, but Kathy does.
8.   Mike heard rumors about the company going bankrupt, but Mark didn’t.
9.   Sam doesn’t have any homework, but I do.
10.   Steve didn’t go to Scouts, but Joe did.

Grammar Basics: Unit 41 – I am, I don’t, etc…

Posted on 2012/05/08

In English, it is not always necessary to repeat some words. Look at the following examples:

am / is / are / was / were:

Are you nervous? – I wasn’t (nervous) before, but I am (nervous) now. (We do not need to repeat the word “nervous,” since the original question gives us the context.)
I’m not hungry, but Scott is (hungry).

have / has:

I’ve gotten a call from the boss, but Jack hasn’t (gotten a call from the boss). (Again, enough context is provided for us by the first use of “gotten a call from the boss.)

do / does / did:

I don’t like coffee, but my brother does (like coffee).

can:

I can’t make it to the staff meeting, but Tom can (make it).

will:

The weatherman said it won’t rain today. – He’s full of beans. I think it will (rain).

might:

Is Mike coming to the party? – I don’t know. He might (come).

should:

If you haven’t already made a reservation, you probably should (make one).

Notes:
1) Contractions are not possible with positive sentences like these.

I’m not hungry, but Scott is. (NOT: I’m not hungry, but Scott’s.)
He’s full of beans. I think it will. (NOT: I think it’ll.)
I wasn’t before, but I am now. (NOT: I wasn’t before, but I’m now.)
Sally hasn’t seen a ghost, but I have. (NOT: Sally hasn’t seen a ghost, but I’ve.)

2) Contractions are permitted with negative sentences like these.

I’ve gotten a call from the boss, but Jack has not / hasn’t. (OK)
Mary likes pumpkin pie, but I do not / don’t. (OK)
Tom should retire, but he probably will not / won’t. (OK)

Are you…?, Is there…?, Will he…?, etc. questions can be answered with “Yes, I can” / “No, I can’t,” etc.

Are you sleepy? – Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
Will Jack pick us up at the airport? —Yes, he will. / No, he won’t. Dave will.
Is the store manager on duty? —Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t (he’s not).
Has Father bought Mother a birthday present yet? —Yes, he has. / No, he hasn’t.
Should Billy go see the dentist? —Yes, he should.

Simple present: Use “do / does.”

I don’t like coffee, but my brother does. (i.e., my brother likes coffee)
Becky plays the piano, but Sally doesn’t. (i.e., Sally doesn’t play the piano)
Do you take this bride to be your wedded wife? —Yes, I do.

Simple past: Use “did.”

Did you pick up the dog from the vet? —Oh no, I didn’t! I totally forgot.
Did you and Jack come home early from school? —I did, but Jack didn’t. He had to stay after class.
Did Tom catch the train? —No, he didn’t, so he wound up taking a later one.

Exercise. Complete the following sentences. Use only one verb – is, was, have, do, can, will, might, should – each time.

1.   I’m not bored, but Tom _________.
2.   Mary can’t keep a secret, but I _________.
3.   Mother doesn’t watch the news, but Father _________.
4.   Our house wasn’t damaged by the storm, but our neighbor’s (house) _________.
5.   Hannah won’t eat peas, but Jacob _________.
6.   Will Uncle Kirk come to the graduation? I don’t know – he _________.
7.   I can’t make it to the party, but Sue _________.
8.   Let’s skip school today. —Do you think we _________? What if Mom and Dad find out?
9.   I haven’t been to China, but Sharon _________.

Exercise. Complete the following sentences. Use a negative verb – isn’t, wasn’t, haven’t, don’t, can’t, won’t.

1.   Betsy has seen the movie Gone With the Wind, but I _________.
2.   Clarice exercises every day, but I _________.
3.   Dave is a hard worker, but Mary _________.
4.   Dick can ride a bike, but Jane _________.
5.   I thought the air conditioning was on, but it _________.
6.   Sid likes school, but Tom _________.
7.   Ken will sing a solo, but Keith _________.
8.   I’m going to the county fair, but Jack and Jill _________.

Exercise. Complete the following sentences. Use do/does/did or don’t/doesn’t/didn’t.

1.   Brad doesn’t have a lot of friends, but Roland _________.
2.   This brand of laundry soap really gets clothes clean, but that one _________.
3.   Bill thought it was a great movie, but I _________.
4.   We don’t have a dog, but Dan and Rachel _________.
5.   The Fosters have a big yard, but we _________.
6.   Emma reads a lot of history, but Ben _________.
7.   I don’t know too much about chemistry, but Kathy _________.
8.   Mike heard rumors about the company going bankrupt, but Mark _________.
9.   Sam doesn’t have any homework, but I _________.
10.   Steve didn’t go to Scouts, but Joe _________.