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Negatives (No)

Negative words contradict or nullify.

Negative prefixes change a word to its opposite.

No and its negative relatives deny, refuse, oppose, reject, undo whatever.
No and its negative relatives deny, refuse, oppose, reject, undo whatever.

Negative sentences

In most instances, using two negatives in a sentence creates a double negative, which is a grammatical felony (:>). They are acceptable in dialogue if the purpose is to indicate the lack of education of the speaker.

Examples of double negatives:

  • Honest! He didn’t do nothing!
  • Nobody goes nowhere! Got it?

Many sentences can be made negative by using a negative prefix to an appropriate word. These do not create double negatives.

Examples:

  • The sun will appear at sunrise.
    • The sun will disappear at sunset.
      • Negative prefix “dis-” makes the opposite from “appear.”
      • Adding a negative word: The sun will not disappear before sunset.
  • Snacks are necessary if you go on a hike.
    • Snacks are unnecessary if the hike is a walk around the block.
      • Negative prefix “un-” makes the opposite of “necessary.”
      • Adding a negative word: Nobody’s snacks are necessary if the hike is a walk around the block.

English is NOT one of those languages in which a simple “no” in front of the verb makes the sentence negative. English inserts another verb (“do,” “have,” “can,” “may,” “must,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” “would”) followed by “not” in front of the main verb (exception, forms of “to be”).

Word order for negative sentences:

  • Subject, helping verb, “not,” main verb, the rest of the sentence.
  • Bill must not eat all the cookies in the cookie jar.
  • The girls do not want to bake more before Christmas.

In a question, the subject follows the helping verb, so the negative comes before the subject. Often the negative is in the form of the contractions “n’t.”

Word order for negative questions:

  • Helping verb, “not,” subject, main verb, the rest of the question.
  • May not Bill eat all the cookies in the cookie jar?
  • Don’t the girls want to bake more before Christmas?
  • Does a bumblebee laugh?
    • Question: Helping verb, subject, main verb
  • A bumblebee does not laugh.
    • Negative statement: Subject, helping verb, negative, main verb

  • Doesn’t a bumblebee laugh?
    • Negative question with contraction: Helping verb+negative contraction, main verb
  • A bumblebee doesn’t laugh.
    • Negative statement with contraction: Subject, helping verb+negative contraction, main verb

  • Can a rhinoceros fly?
    • Question: Helping verb, subject, main verb
  • A rhinoceros cannot fly.
    • Negative statement: Subject, helping verb, negative, main verb

  • Can’t a rhinoceros fly?
    • Negative question with contraction: Helping verb+negative contraction, main verb
  • A rhinoceros can’t fly.
    • Negative statement with contraction: Subject, helping verb+negative contraction, main verb

“No” as an adjective comes before its noun.

Examples as an adjective:

  • Yes, we have no bananas. (It’s an old song.)
  • No one could remember who sang it.
  • “I have no idea” was the common reply.

“No” as an answer to a question is an adverb. Followed by a comma or period, it does not create a double negative in a sentence.

Examples as an adverb:

  • The Manx cat runs no less quickly than the miniature poodle.
    • “no” is an adverb modifying the adverb “less” (which is modifying “quickly”)
  • His answer was emphatic. “In no uncertain terms are we going tomorrow!”
    • “no” is an adverb modifying the adjective “uncertain”
  • No, I’m not going.
    • Merriam-Webster [definition #3 under “Adverb”] identifies the initial “no” before the comma as an adverb

“No!” with an exclamation mark or a period is an interjection (which is what I would call the situation of “No” with a comma or a period).

Examples as an interjection:

  • “Are you coming or not?” “No!”
  • “Did you rob the store?” “No!”

Since we do not have to identify the parts of speech in the stories/books we write, it really does not matter what we call “no,” as long as we use it correctly.

Examples:

  • Isabel will not eat broccoli because she does not like it.
    • Isabel won’t eat broccoli because she doesn’t like it.
  • The neighbor’s big dog cannot jump the fence.
    • The neighbor’s big dog can’t jump the fence.
  • The three little kittens are not in their playhouse.
    • The three little kittens aren’t in their playhouse.

If a helping verb is followed by “not” (“-n’t), use the positive (affirmative) form (to avoid the dreaded double negative).

As a determiner, “any” and “no” serve as adjectives.

  • Have you looked for any gold at the end of the rainbow?
    • Adjective = “any,” noun modified = “gold”
  • I have looked, but I have found no gold.
    • Second clause: Negative adjective = “no” modifying “gold”
    • Alternative: I have looked, but I haven’t found any gold.

As pronouns, “any” or “none” can be subjects or objects.

Examples as subjects:

  • Do any of these apples have a worm in them?
    • (Positive pronoun as subject = “any”)
  • None of the apples has a worm in it.
    • (Negative pronoun as subject = “none”)

Examples as objects:

  • I have looked for worms, but I have not found any.
    • (Positive pronoun as object = “any”)
  • I have looked, but I have found none.
    • (Negative pronoun as object = “none”)

“Always” (all of the time) and “sometimes” (some of the time) find their negatives in “never.” However, “not always” is not the same as “never.” “Not always” would give the same idea as “sometimes.”

Examples in increasing order of negativity:

  • My daughter always eats her breakfast cereal with milk, sometimes with chocolate milk.
    • My daughter sometimes eats her breakfast cereal with milk, sometimes with chocolate milk.
      • My daughter sometimes eats her breakfast cereal with milk, never with chocolate milk.
        • My daughter never eats her breakfast cereal with milk, but sometimes with chocolate milk.
          • My daughter never eats her breakfast cereal with milk, never with chocolate milk.
  • Her brother always thinks Sahara is weird.
    • Her brother sometimes thinks Sahara is weird.
      • Her brother never thinks Sahara is weird.

(In common usage, the pronouns “anybody” and “anyone” are often used interchangeably, as are “nobody” and “no one.” (“Anybody” and “anyone” are often preceded by “just” for emphasis.)

(“Anybody,” “anyone,” “nobody,” and “no one” can be subjects or objects, so their position in the sentence depends upon their function.)

Examples:

  • Is anybody here?
  • Is anyone here?
  • Nobody is here.
    • Negative subject = “nobody”
  • No one is here.
    • Negative subject = “no one”
  • Should I give these cookies to (just) anybody?
  • Should I give these cookies to (just) anyone?
  • You should give those cookies to nobody.
    • helping verb = “should”
    • object of preposition “to” = “nobody”
  • You should give those cookies to no one.
    • helping verb = “should”
    • object of preposition “to” = “no one”
  • You should not give those cookies to (just) anybody.
    • helping verb = “should”
    • negative before preposition “to” = “not”
    • positive object of preposition “to” = “anybody”
  • You should not give those cookies to (just) anyone.
    • helping verb = “should”
    • negative before preposition “to” = “not”
    • positive object of preposition “to” = “anyone”
  • You shouldn’t give those cookies to (just) anybody.
    • contracted verb and negative before preposition “to” = “shouldn’t”
    • positive object of preposition “to” = “anybody”
  • You shouldn’t give those cookies to (just) anyone
    • contracted verb and negative before preposition “to” = “shouldn’t”
    • positive object of preposition “to” = “anyone”

(“Anything,” “something,” or “nothing,” as pronouns, can be a subject or an object, so their position in the sentence depends upon their function.)

“Something” refers to a certain unidentified object, unknown. It is less general than “anything.” “Something” has limits. “Anything” is more open to everything.

Examples of “anything” vs. “something”:

  • Something is wrong with that boy. What it is, I do not know, but he has a specific problem.
  • I’m hungry for something. I’ll know what it is when I find it in the refrigerator.
  • They can’t do anything with him. He just won’t cooperate.
  • I can’t eat anything right now. My stomach is tied in knots.

Examples of using “nothing” for “anything” or “something”:

  • Anything can happen when Pierre drives.
    • General statement, with no limitations
  • Would something happen when Pierre drives?
    • He has a history of not paying attention.
  • Nothing can happen when Pierre drives.
    • Negative subject = “nothing”
  • I think nothing will happen when Pierre drives.
    • Positive first clause, negative subject in second clause = “nothing”
  • I don’t think anything will happen when Pierre drives.
    • Negative in first clause, positive subject = “anything” in second clause
  • I don’t think something will happen when Pierre drives.
    • Negative in first clause, positive subject = “something” in second clause
  • Do you have anything in that bottle? It doesn’t look empty.
    • General statement, with no limitations
  • Is there something in that bottle? It rattles when you shake it.
    • It’s not empty.
  • I have nothing in this bottle.
    • Negative object = “nothing”
  • I do not have anything in this bottle.
    • Negative = “not” after helping verb = “do,” positive object = “anything”
  • I don’t have anything in this bottle.
    • Negative contraction with helping verb = “don’t,” positive object = “anything”
  • Can he buy anything here for five dollars?
    • General statement, with no limitations
  • Can he buy something here for five dollars?
    • He’s looking to buy a gift for his mother.
  • He can buy nothing here for five dollars.
    • Negative object = “nothing”
  • He cannot buy anything here for five dollars.
    • Negative = “not” attached to helping verb = “can,” positive object = “anything”
  • He can’t buy anything here for five dollars.
    • Negative contraction attached to helping verb = “can,” positive object = “anything”

As adverbs (“somewhere,” “anywhere,” and “nowhere”), their position in the sentence varies.

“Anywhere” can be any location.

“Somewhere” implies that the specific place exists, but it is not known or specified.

“Nowhere” doesn’t exist in any place.

Examples:

  • Are you going somewhere?
  • I’m not going anywhere.
    • Contracted helping verb = “I’m,” negative = “not,” verb (present participle with contraction) = “going,” positive = “anywhere”
  • I’m going nowhere.
    • Contracted helping verb = “I’m,” verb (present participle with contraction) = “going,” negative = “nowhere”

(As pronouns, “somewhere,” “anywhere,” and “nowhere” can be subjects or objects.)

  • Is that man from somewhere?
  • That man is from nowhere.
    • The place he is from does not exist
    • Negative object of preposition “from” = “nowhere”
  • That man is not from anywhere.
    • Negative before preposition = “not”
    • positive object of preposition = “anywhere”
  • That man isn’t from anywhere.
    • Contracted negative before preposition = “isn’t”
    • positive object of preposition = “anywhere”

Both “neither” and “nor” are negative, but they do not create a double negative in the same sentence.

In narrative, do not use “or” with “neither.” “Or” goes with “either.” However, in realistic conversation, many people do. However, “either … nor ….” is a very unlikely combination.

Examples:

  • Did either the house or the barn survive the fire?
  • Neither the house nor the barn survived the fire.
    • “Either” >> “neither,” “or” >> “nor”
  • Which of your two children ate the last cookie?
  • Neither Jonathan nor Jennifer ate the last cookie. I did.
    • “Which” implies a choice.
    • “Neither … nor” explains that both choices are false.

“Neither” may serve as an adjective without “nor” in conversation.

Examples:

  • Did either the house or the barn survive the fire?
  • Neither building survived. They are both a pile of ashes.
    • “house” and “barn” >> “building”
    • modified by “neither”
  • Which of your two children ate the last cookie?
  • Neither one. I ate it.
    • “Which” implies a choice.
    • “Neither” excludes both children.

“Nor”alone is a coordinating conjunction, requiring a comma between two independent clauses. In the “nor” clause, the subject and verb are reversed.

Because the negative in the first clause is not “neither,” the conjunction between the clauses may be “or.”

Examples:

  • Did either the house or the barn survive the fire?
    • The house didn’t survive, nor did the barn.
      • Negative “-n’t” in the first clause calls for the negative conjunction “nor”
    • They couldn’t save the house or the barn.
      • Common usage follows the negative with “or”
    • They could not save the house, nor could they save the barn.
      • Negative “-n’t” in the first clause calls for the negative conjunction “nor”
  • Which of your two children ate the last cookie?
    • Jonathan didn’t eat it, nor was Jennifer the guilty party. I ate it.
      • Negative “-n’t” in the first clause calls for the negative conjunction “nor”
    • It wasn’t Jonathan or Jennifer. I ate it.
      • Common usage follows the negative with “or”

(With a simple verb, “never” goes before the verb.)

Examples:

Does the sun ever rise in the west?

  • The sun never rises in the west.
    • No helping verb
    • negative = “never”
    • verb = “rises”

(With a helping verb, “never” follows the helping verb.)

  • The sun can never rise in the west (unless we change the names of the directions).
    • Helping verb = “can”
    • negative = “never”
    • verb “rise” 
  • The sun cannot ever rise in the west.
    • Helping verb = “can”
    • negative = “not” added to “can”
    • positive = “ever”
    • verb “rise”
  • The sun can’t ever rise in the west.
    • Helping verb = “can”
    • negative contraction = “n’t” added to “can”
    • positive = “ever”
    • verb “rises”   

(Referring to the past with “ever” or “never,”use the present perfect in the “ever/never” clause.)

Examples:

  • Have they ever traveled to China?
  • They have never traveled outside the United States.
  • They haven’t ever wanted to leave their home state.

These are better written as one word when they refer to an indefinite person. “Some body” or “no body” read like a murder mystery.

(In common usage, the pronouns “somebody” and “someone” are often used interchangeably, as are “nobody” and “no one)

(“Somebody,” “someone,” “nobody,” and “no one” can be subjects or objects, so their position in the sentence depends upon their function.)

Examples:

  • Did somebody find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?
  • Nobody found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
    • Negative subject = “nobody”
  • No one found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
    • Negative subject = “no one”
  • I don’t think anybody found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
    • Contracted negative in first clause = “don’t,”
    • positive subject in second clause = “anybody”
  • I don’t think anyone found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
    • Contracted negative in first clause = “don’t”
    • positive subject in second clause = “anyone”
  • Have they seen somebody hiding in the barn?
  • Have they seen someone hiding in the barn?
  • They have seen nobody hiding in the barn.
    • Negative object = “nobody”
  • They have seen no one hiding in the barn.
    • Negative object = “no one”
  • They have not seen somebody hiding in the barn.
    • Helping verb = “have”
    • negative = “not”
    • positive = “somebody”
  • They have not seen someone hiding in the barn.
    • Helping verb = “have,” negative = “not,” positive = “someone”
  • They haven’t seen somebody hiding in the barn.
    • Helping verb with contracted negative = “haven’t”
    • main verb (past participle) = “seen”
    • positive = “somebody”
  • They haven’t seen someone hiding in the barn.
    • Helping verb with contracted negative = “haven’t”
    • main verb (past participle) = “seen”
    • positive = “someone”

As adverbs (“anywhere,” “somewhere,” and “nowhere”), their position in the sentence varies.

“Anywhere” can be any location.

“Somewhere” implies that the specific place exists, but it is not known or specified.

“Nowhere” doesn’t exist in any place.

Examples:

  • Are you going somewhere?
  • I’m not going anywhere.
    • Contracted helping verb = “I’m”
    • negative = “not”
    • verb (present participle with contraction) = “going”
    • positive = “anywhere”
  • I’m going nowhere.
    • Contracted helping verb = “I’m”
    • verb (present participle with contraction) = “going”
    • negative = “nowhere”)

(As pronouns, “somewhere,” “anywhere,” and “nowhere” can be subjects or objects.)

  • Is that man from somewhere?
  • That man is from nowhere.
    • The place he is from does not exist
    • Negative object of preposition “from” = “nowhere”
  • That man is not from anywhere.
    • Negative before preposition = “not”
    • positive object of preposition = “anywhere”
  • That man isn’t from anywhere.
    • Contracted negative before preposition = “isn’t”
    • positive object of preposition = “anywhere”)

These adverbs do not look negative, but they convey a strong negative meaning. They should not be used with other negatives. They are negative in themselves.

If these negatives begin the sentence, the subject and verb are reversed in that clause.

Examples:

  • There was scarcely any ice on the road, but the bus hit that one spot and slid off.
    • Negative = “scarcely,” with a “to be” verb, follows “was”
  • Barely had the bus rolled over when the police arrived and called an ambulance.
    • Negative = “barely” begins the sentence so the helping verb goes before the subject
  • The young players could hardly limp across the field after the accident.
    • Negative = “hardly,” between the helping verb and the main verb

Credit: Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash


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