Introduzione
La negazione trasforma una frase affermativa in una negativa. In inglese la negazione usa per lo più not insieme a un verbo ausiliare.
Soggetto+ausiliare+not+verbo
- I do not like coffee.
- She is not coming.
- They have not arrived.
Contrazioni
Nel parlato e nello scritto informale, not di solito si contrae unendosi al verbo ausiliare.
| Forma estesa | Contrazione |
|---|---|
| do not | don't |
| does not | doesn't |
| is not / are not | isn't / aren't |
| cannot | can't |
| will not | won't |
| have not / has not | haven't / hasn't |
| am not | 'm not (I'm not) - non esiste un amn't standard |
Parole negative oltre a not
L'inglese ha anche parole negative che esprimono la negazione da sole, senza bisogno di not: never, no, nobody, nothing, nowhere, neither.
- I have never been there.
- Nobody called.
- There is nothing to do.
Errori comuni
- I don't have no money.I don't have any money.avoid double negatives
- She don't like it.She doesn't like it.subject-verb agreement
Esercizi
do not = ___
Which sentence avoids a double negative?
Which sentence is correct?
Which word carries negation on its own, without needing 'not'?
cannot = ___
will not = ___
is not / are not = ___
have not / has not = ___
Which negative word means 'no place'?
Which negative word means 'no thing'?
I ___ like coffee.
___ you like the film? I thought you loved it!
I have ___ money.
I ___ ready yet.
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