SENTENCES → NEGATIVES · RULE 13
Negatives
To say no, put don't, doesn't or didn't before the verb. The main verb goes back to its base form.
FORMULA
don't / didn't
WITH A NORMAL VERB
She
SUBJECT
doesn't
HELPER + NOT
drink
VERB — BASE
coffee.
WITH BE — NO HELPER
She
SUBJECT
isn't
BE + NOT
late.
THE THREE HELPERS
−
They don't work on Sundays.
don't + V1
−
She doesn't drink coffee.
doesn't + V1
−
We didn't see him.
didn't + V1
One no is enough: I don't know anything — never “I don't know nothing”.
BE & MODALS SAY NO ALONE
be + notShe isn't late. They weren't home.
can · will · mustI can't swim. He won't come.
SHORT ANSWERS
Do you…?No, I don't.
Is she…?No, she isn't.
Did they…?No, they didn't.
COMMON MISTAKES