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English grammar

Negation that softens: I don’t think, not bad, not unlike

C1 · Advanced Saying no Questions 10

The rule

English prefers to put the negative on the verb of thinking rather than on the idea: I don’t think it will rain is more natural than I think it won’t rain. The same happens with believe, expect, suppose, imagine, seem and appear. Short answers follow fixed patterns: I don’t think so, I hope not, I’m afraid not, I suppose not / I don’t suppose so — but never I don’t hope so. Litotes, denying the opposite, is a typically British understatement: not bad (quite good), not unlike (fairly similar), not uncommon, not without difficulty (with some difficulty), not the worst idea. Double negatives are wrong in standard English (I didn’t see nobody), and hardly, scarcely, barely are already negative (I can hardly hear you, not can’t hardly) — but not un- is a deliberate, cautious double negative that C1 speakers use to understate.

Pattern

I don’t think / believe / expect / suppose + positive clause · short answers: I don’t think so · I hope not · I’m afraid not · I suppose not · litotes: not bad · not unlike · not uncommon · not without … · hardly / scarcely / barely + positive verb

Examples

  1. I don’t think the shop is open on Sundays.

  2. The food was not bad for a motorway café.

  3. Her situation is not unlike my own.

  4. “Will it rain?” — “I hope not.”

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: I can’t hardly hear you.

    Right: I can hardly hear you.

    hardly is already negative.

  • Wrong: I think he won’t come.

    Right: I don’t think he’ll come.

    English usually puts the negative on think.

  • Wrong: “Is it serious?” — “I hope no.”

    Right: “Is it serious?” — “I hope not.”

    The short negative answer is I hope not.

Practice questions

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

  1. 1Change the sentence.

    Put the negative on think.

    I think she won’t accept the offer.

    1. I not think she’ll accept the offer.
    2. I think she doesn’t accept the offer.
    3. I don’t think she won’t accept the offer.
    4. I don’t think she’ll accept the offer.
    Show answer

    Answer: D I don’t think she’ll accept the offer.

    Negative transfer: I don’t think + positive clause.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    What does not bad mean here?

    The hotel was not bad, actually.

    1. Perfect in every way
    2. Terrible
    3. Quite good
    4. Not open
    Show answer

    Answer: C Quite good

    Litotes: not bad = quite good.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    “Are we going to be late?” — “I hope _____.”

    1. no
    2. not
    3. don’t
    4. so not
    Show answer

    Answer: B “Are we going to be late?” — “I hope not.”

    The short answer is I hope not.

  4. 4This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    I didn’t see nobody at the entrance.

    1. I didn’t see anybody at the entrance.
    2. I didn’t see somebody at the entrance.
    3. I didn’t saw nobody at the entrance.
    4. I not see anybody at the entrance.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I didn’t see anybody at the entrance.

    One negative only: didn’t … anybody.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the sentence mean?

    The task was completed, though not without difficulty.

    1. It was done without any problems.
    2. It was difficult, so it was not done.
    3. It was done, but with some problems.
    4. It was not done at all.
    Show answer

    Answer: C It was done, but with some problems.

    not without difficulty = with some difficulty.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I can barely not remember what she looked like.
    2. I barely can’t remember what she looked like.
    3. I can barely remember what she looked like.
    4. I can’t barely remember what she looked like.
    Show answer

    Answer: C I can barely remember what she looked like.

    barely + positive verb.

  7. 7Put the words in the right order.

    I don’t suppose you’ve seen my glasses

    Show answer

    Answer: I don’t suppose you’ve seen my glasses?

    I don’t suppose makes a very tentative question.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    Which is the most natural?

    Saying you believe something is false.

    1. I believe no it’s true.
    2. I believe it’s not true, no.
    3. I don’t believe it’s true.
    4. I believe it’s untrue not.
    Show answer

    Answer: C I don’t believe it’s true.

    Negative on believe: I don’t believe.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    You are answering a friend’s question.

    “Is the café still open?” — “I’m afraid _____.”

    1. isn’t
    2. no
    3. not
    4. don’t
    Show answer

    Answer: C “Is the café still open?” — “I’m afraid not.”

    The polite negative answer is I’m afraid not.

  10. 10Change the sentence.

    Say it with litotes.

    Mistakes like this are quite common.

    1. Mistakes like this are not never common.
    2. Mistakes like this are not uncommon.
    3. Mistakes like this are not common.
    4. Mistakes like this are uncommon.
    Show answer

    Answer: B Mistakes like this are not uncommon.

    Deny the opposite: not uncommon.

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