Negative verb forms are made by putting not after an auxiliary verb. If there are two auxiliary verbs, not goes after the first.
- She has not been invited.
- I have not forgotten that.
- She has not come.
- They are not interested.
- She cannot sing. (Note that cannot is written as one word.)
If there is no other auxiliary verb, we make negatives by putting do not (contracted form: don’t) before the verb.
- I do not like cricket. (NOT I like not cricket.)
- She does not like him.
- I did not want to go.
Note that do not is followed by the infinitive without to.
- I did not go. (NOT I did not to go.)
Do is not used to form negative subjunctive structures.
- It is important that she not create any problems. (NOT It is important that she does not create any problems.)
Do is not used with negative infinitives or –ing forms.
- Remind me not to go there again. (NOT Remind me do not to go there again.)
Negative imperatives are made with do not / don’t + infinitive without to.
- Do not make a noise. OR Don’t make a noise. (NOT Make not a noise.)
- Don’t pluck flowers.
- Don’t walk on the grass.
Do is not normally used with be. However, do can be used to make the negative imperative form of be.
- Don’t be silly.
The negative forms of infinitives and –ing forms are made by putting not before them. Do is not used.
- Remind him not to do that again.
- The best thing about a computer is not complaining.
