What is ‘To Be’ Negative?
The verb to be is very important in English. We use it to talk about who someone is, what something is, where someone is, or how someone feels.
When you want to say that something is not true, not present, or not a fact, you use the negative form of to be.
The basic rule is simple: add not after the form of to be.
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How Do We Form Negative Sentences with ‘To Be’?
The negative form of to be changes depending on the subject (who or what the sentence is about).
- For I, use am not.
- For he, she, it, or a singular noun (like the dog), use is not.
- For you, we, they, or a plural noun (like the students), use are not.
What Are Contractions with ‘To Be’ Negative?
Contractions are shorter ways to say words. They are very common in spoken English and informal writing.
Here are the contractions for the negative forms of to be:
- I am not becomes I’m not.
- He is not becomes He isn’t.
- She is not becomes She isn’t.
- It is not becomes It isn’t.
- You are not becomes You aren’t.
- We are not becomes We aren’t.
- They are not becomes They aren’t.
| Subject | Full Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am not | I’m not |
| He / She / It | is not | isn’t |
| You / We / They | are not | aren’t |
Examples
- I am not tired.
- She is not from Spain.
- We are not at school today.
- It isn’t cold outside.
- They aren’t happy about the news.
- My brother isn’t here.
Practice
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Chat with an Advisor on WhatsAppCommon mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish speakers sometimes make a common mistake by putting no directly before the verb, like in Spanish.
Incorrect: I no am a student.
Correct: I am not a student. or I’m not a student.
Remember, in English, not always comes after the form of to be (am, is, are).
Another mistake is confusing isn’t and aren’t. Always check the subject:
- Use isn’t for singular subjects (he, she, it, the book).
- Use aren’t for plural subjects (you, we, they, the books).
Frequently asked questions
What is the rule for ‘to be’ negative?
The rule is to add not after am, is, or are. For example, I am not, he is not, we are not.
Can I use contractions always?
You can use contractions like isn’t and aren’t most of the time, especially in speaking and informal writing. In very formal writing, it’s better to use the full forms (is not, are not).
What is the negative of ‘I am’?
The negative of I am is I am not. The common contraction is I’m not.
What is the difference between ‘is not’ and ‘isn’t’?
There is no difference in meaning. Is not is the full form, and isn’t is the contracted (shorter) form. They mean the same thing.
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