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English grammar

Saying no

A0 · Starter Saying no Questions 10

The rule

English says no in two different ways depending on the verb, and this is the same split as questions. With be and can, put not straight after: I am not ready. I cannot come. With every other verb, use do not or does not and leave the verb plain: I do not understand. She does not work today. There is no third pattern to learn.

Pattern

I am not · I cannot | I do not … · she does not …

Examples

  1. I am not from here.

  2. Sorry, I do not understand.

  3. She does not work on Friday.

  4. I cannot come today.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: I not understand.

    Right: I do not understand.

    An ordinary verb needs do not in front of it.

  • Wrong: I do not am ready.

    Right: I am not ready.

    be never takes do.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I am not ready.
    2. I not am ready.
    3. I am no ready.
    4. I do not am ready.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I am not ready.

    be → not straight after.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I am not eat meat.
    2. I eat not meat.
    3. I do not eat meat.
    4. I not eat meat.
    Show answer

    Answer: C I do not eat meat.

    An ordinary verb → do not.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    She _____ not live here.

    1. does
    2. has
    3. do
    4. is
    Show answer

    Answer: A She does not live here.

    she + ordinary verb → does not.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    The heating _____ not work.

    1. is
    2. does
    3. do
    4. are
    Show answer

    Answer: B The heating does not work.

    A thing is it → does not.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    I _____ not from here.

    1. does
    2. do
    3. is
    4. am
    Show answer

    Answer: D I am not from here.

    be → am not.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I do not can help you with that.
    2. I cannot help you with that.
    3. I am not can help you with that.
    4. I can not to help you with that.
    Show answer

    Answer: B I cannot help you with that.

    can is written cannot as one word.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. He not speaks English.
    2. He does not speaks English.
    3. He do not speak English.
    4. He does not speak English.
    Show answer

    Answer: D He does not speak English.

    The -s moves to does; the verb goes plain.

  8. 8Put the words in the right order.

    I do not know

    Show answer

    Answer: I do not know.

    do not, then the plain verb.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    This letter is not for me

    Show answer

    Answer: This letter is not for me.

    not sits right after is.

  10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. She does not understand.
    2. I do not understand this word.
    3. I am not sure.
    4. I not understand this word.
    Show answer

    Answer: D I not understand this word.

    An ordinary verb cannot take not on its own.

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