In a negative question the word not can have two positions. Study the examples given below.
Wasn’t it surprising? (Here not goes after the auxiliary verb. In this case it is usually contracted.)
Was it not surprising? (Here not goes after the subject. In this case it is not contracted.)
Weren’t you upset?
Were you not upset?
Isn’t she beautiful?
Is she not beautiful?
Both forms have the same meaning. However, forms with the contracted not are more common.
Exercise
For each of the sentences given below, write its corresponding negative form. Give both the full and shortened form of not. An example is a given below.
She writes with her left hand.
She does not write with her left hand.
She doesn’t write with her left hand.
1. My brother serves in the army.
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2. He lives in Boston.
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3. This is my grandfather.
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4. I woke up early in the morning.
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5. I like this fragrance.
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6. I liked that movie.
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7. I am working on a new project.
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8. The girls were watering the plants.
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9. Are you coming with us?
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10. Is it raining?
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11. Were they invited?
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12. Have you finished that project?
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13. She has had her breakfast.
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14. Have you met him before?
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15. Have you heard this story before?
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Answers
1. My brother does not serve in the army. / My brother doesn’t serve in the army.
2. He does not live in Boston. / He doesn’t live in Boston.
3. This is not my grandfather. / This isn’t my grandfather.
4. I did not wake up early in the morning. / I didn’t wake up early in the morning.
5. I do not like this fragrance. / I don’t like this fragrance.
6. I did not like that movie. / I didn’t like that movie.
7. I am not working on a new project. / I’m not working on a new project.
8. The girls were not watering the plants. / The girls weren’t watering the plants.
9. Are you not coming with us? / Aren’t you coming with us?
10. Is it not raining? / Isn’t it raining?
11. Were they not invited? / Weren’t you invited?
12. Have you not finished that project? / Haven’t you finished that project?
13. She has not had her breakfast. / She hasn’t had her breakfast.
14. Have you not met him before? / Haven’t you met him before?
15. Have you not heard this story before? / Haven’t you heard this story before?
