Forming negative statements, questions and imperatives

We form negative statementswithnotorn’tafterbe, modal and auxiliary verbs.n’tis the contracted form ofnot. In informal language we can addn’t, without a space, tobe, to modal verbs (exceptmay) and to auxiliary verbs (doandhave). The negative contracted form ofwilliswon’t. The uncontracted form ofcan+notiscannot.

Janisn’tcoming. She’s not feeling very well.

Shemight notbe joking. It could be true.

Theydon’tgo to school on Wednesday afternoons.

Living in a small flatdoes notmake it easy to have pets.

Ihadn’tdecided whether to take the train or go in the car.

Theycan’tbe hungry again. They’ve only just eaten.

We usenotorn’tto form negative questions. When there is no modal verb orbe, we use auxiliary verbdo+n’t(don’t, do not, doesn’t, does not, didn’t):

Whydidn’tyou ask Linda?

Whatdon’tyou understand?

Won’twe able to see the film?

Isn’tthat Mike’s brother?

We usedo + notordon’t+ the base form of a verb to form negative orders or commands:

Do notopen until instructed.

Don’ttake the car. Go on your bike.