Practice 40 Negative statements 1 Use Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer. At one time people believed that he had 'discovered' America. We know now this isn't true. Columbus was not the first European to travel to the New World. We don't know who was, but the Vikings had sailed there around the year WOO, and probably others before them. In 1492 Columbus sailed to San Salvador in the Bahamas and to other islands, but he never reached the mainland of North America. He actually thought he was in Asia. He certainly didn't discover America. We often use a negative statement to correct a mistaken idea, such as the idea that Christopher Columbus discovered America. 2 Negative verb forms positive negative be: are dancing are not dancing or aren't dancing have; have seen have not seen or haven't seen Modal verb; must stay must not stay or mustn't stay In a negative statement not or n't comes after the auxiliary verb. The auxiliary verb is a form of be, have or a modal verb, e.g. must, can, could. The girls are not dancing. The modem isn't working properly. I haven't seen the new Disney film. David hasn't got a car. I mustn't stay long. You can't turn right here. I'm not feeling very awake today. We write n't without a space before it, e.g. isn't, haven't. Not or n't also comes after the main verb be. The photos are not ready yet. It isn't very warm in here. If there is more than one auxiliary verb, we put not or n't after the first one. This plate hasn't been washed. You shouldn't have bothered. In the Present Simple and Past Simple, we use a form of do. Present Simple: Past Simple: positive work looks enjoyed negative do not work does not look did not enjoy or don't work or doesn't look or didn't enjoy I don't work on Saturdays. not I work not on Saturdays: This part of town doesn't look very nice. I'm afraid we didn't enjoy the day very much. The verb after not or n't does not end in -s or -ed. not It doesn't looks very nice and not We didn't enjoyed the day. 3 No and not We can use no before a noun or an adjective + noun. The verb is positive. No music is allowed after eleven, or Music is not allowed after eleven. There are no new houses in the village, or There aren't any new houses in the village. We do not use no with a verb. not Musk is no allowed and not The shops are no open. Use (l) Read the information in 1 about Christopher Columbus. Then choose a positive or a negative verb. Columbus-efeeevefeel/didn't discover America. The first European to sail to the New World was/wasjft Columbus. Europeans had/hadn't been to the New World before Columbus. We know/don't know definitely who first sailed to America. Columbus landed/didnlJind on the North American mainland. People's opinion of Columbus has/hasn't changed over the last 500 years. When Columbus landed on San Salvador, he knew/didn't know where he was. It is/isn't true that Columbus travelled across the United States. ► 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 . got a job, but he (1) B Negative verb forms (1) Complete the conversation, Put in the negative forms of these words: can, did, do, does, has, have, is, was, were Does anyone live in that house next door? Yes, he's called Jake. He's rather strange. He (►) h*fc-t be short of money because he's just bought a new car. The house (2)................. look very smart. The people who lived there before Jake (3)..................look after it very well. And they (4)....................very good at gardening. When Jake bought the house, it had been empty for a while. It (5)........... very expensive. But he (6)................. interested in doing anything to it, as you can see. Is he a friend? No, we aren't really friends. I (7)...... know him very well. I say hello when him, that's all. I (8) seen him for a while, actually. Rita: Melanie: Rita: Melanie: Rita: Melanie: see C Negative verb forms (2) Vicky and Rachel are good friends, but they are very different kinds of people. Complete the sentences using a negative. ► 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vicky gets upset, but Rachel doe^t ^et wpfat. Vicky gets headaches. Rachel is lucky. She ......... Rachel can relax. Vicky is different. She................ Rachel missed a lecture yesterday, but Vicky Vicky is a nervous person, but Rachel Vicky loses things. Rachel .................................... Rachel was a happy child. Vicky ..................... Rachel has decided on a career, but Vicky D No and not (3) Complete this paragraph from a travel article. Put in no or not. Metropolis is (►) Apt an attractive town. There are (1).................parks or gardens in the city centre. I saw (2)........interesting buildings, only factories, offices and blocks of flats. The hotels are (3) .................very good, and there are (4) . first-class restaurants. (5).................. tourists visit Metropolis, and I certainly do (6)......... want to again. go there :,e 98 • QUESTIONS, NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS QUESTIONS, NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS • page 99 Practice 41 Negative questions 1 Introduction Laura asks two negative questions. The first N expresses surprise that Trevor hasn't put the shelves up yet. The second is a suggestion that he should put them up now. 2 Form We make a question negative by putting n't after the auxiliary (e.g have, does). positive Have you done it yet? What does the advert tell you? Who eats meat? What went wrong? negative Haven't you done it yet? What doesn't the advert tell you? Who doesn't eat meat? What didn't go wrong? 3 The use of negative yes/no questions A negative yes/no question often expresses surprise. Haven't you put those shelves up yet? (= I am surprised that you haven't yet.) Don't the children want the ice-cream? (= I am surprised that they don't want it.) A question with can't can be a complaint or an impolite request. Can't you sit down? You're blocking my view. We can also use a negative yes/no question instead of a statement and a tag. Aren't you a friend of Harriet's? (= You're a friend of Harriet's, aren't you?) 4 Yes/no answers The answer yes means that the positive is true, and no means that the negative is true. Haven't you repaired the car yet? ~ Yes, I did it yesterday. Haven't you repaired the car yet? ~ No, sorry. 1 haven't had time. 5 The use of negative wh-questions We can use Why don't ...? for a suggestion. Why don't you put the shelves up now? ~ Well, all right. Why don't we sit on the balcony? ~ Good idea. We can use Why didn't...? to criticize. We'll have to stand now. Why didn't you hook seats for us? (= You should have booked seats for us. We can also use a wh-question to ask for information. Who hasn't checked their baggage in? ~ Oh, I haven't. Sorry. What don't you understand? ~ This paragraph here. page 100 • QUESTIONS, NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS A Negative yes/no questions (2-3) What would you say in these situations? Use negative yes/no questions. > 1 2 3 You are surprised to learn that Rita doesn't like football. DoiOt yqiA like, -football, Ri by? You find it surprising that Melanie can't drive. It's a surprise that Rachel won't be at the disco. You find out that surprisingly Nick hasn't got a television. B Negative yes/no questions (2-3) Complete the conversations using the words in the brackets. Mike: Harriet: Vicky: Rachel: Matthew: Richard: David: Melanie: Andrew: Emma: I walked home from the town centre, (take / bus) You mean you walked all the way? bidn/t yow tAke. a bws? I think I'd like to lie down for a while, (feel / well) Oh, dear. .................................................................................... I'm looking forward to getting the photos you've sent, (arrive / yet) I sent them a week ago.................. I saw Rita, but she walked straight past me. (say / hello) Without speaking to you?............................................................... I never sit by the pool. I hate water, (swim) Really? ................... C Yes/no answers (4) Put in yes or no. ► Didn't Mike stop and give you a lift? ~ No ......., he didn't, but maybe he didn't see me. 1 Aren't you tired after working all day? ~ ... , I feel fine. 2 Didn't you write the number down? - , but I've lost the piece of paper. 3 Haven't you got an umbrella? ~.................., it's here in my bag. 4 Couldn't you get in to the opera? ~......................, we didn't have tickets. D Why not? (2,5) Reporter Kitty Beamish is investigating an accident at the Magic World theme park. A ride crashed, and people were injured. This is what Kitty has found out. ( ► The people on the ride didn't get enough help. 3 They aren't trained in first aid. 1 The staff didn't know what to do. 4 The ambulance wasn't caříed immediately. 2 They couldn't stop the ride. 5 The doctor didn't have a mobile phone. What questions beginning with why does Kitty ask? ► Why did«\'t the. people oi\ the ride. ^e.t ei\ow^h help,.?......................................... 1 2 3 4 5 QUESTIONS, NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS • i'age 101 Practice 42 Question tags, e.g. isn't it? Use Melanie: Harriet: Melanie: Harriet: It's a lovely day, isn't it? Beautiful Were having a glorious summer, aren t we. YouhL't heard a forecast for the weekend, have you? No, I haven't, but I think it's going to stay sunny. Harript- No, I havent, Dini »J &""°i>----' , falling It's a lovely day, isn't it? With a falling intonation, the speaker thinks the statement is true. Melanie knows that it is a lovely day, and she is inviting Harriet to continue the conversation. The tag is not really a question. 2 Form positive statement + negative tag It is very warm, isn't it? A negative tag is an auxiliary verb + n't + pronoun. You've played before, haven't you? The children can swim, can't they? It'll be dark soon, won't it? There was a mistake, wasn't there? rising You haven't heard a forecast, have you? With a rising intonation, the speaker is less sure. Melanie doesn't know if Harriet has heard a weather forecast or not. The tag is more like a real question. negative statement + positive tag It isn't very warm, is it? A positive tag is an auxiliary verb + pronoun. David hasn't got a car, has he? I shouldn't laugh, should 1? You aren't ill, are you? The answer wasn't right, was it? < , h, etc ) refers to the subject of the sentence, e.g. you, David, The pronoun (you, he, etc.] reiers lu ; In the Present Simple and Past Simple we use a form of do You live near here, don't you? This coat looks nice, doesn't it? I turned right, didn't I? We don't have to pay, do we? The shower doesn't work, does it? Your horse didn't win, did it? The answer yes means that the positive is true, and no means that the negative is true. Mark works for Zedco, doesn't he? ~ Yes, he does. (He works for Zedco.) Melanie doesn't eat meat, does she? ~ Yes, I think she does. (She eats meat.) Claire is married, isn't she? ~ No, of course she isn't. (She isn't married.) Andrew hasn't got many friends, has he? ~ No. (He hasn't got many friends.) Requests and suggestions After a request with an imperative (e.g. Wait...), we can use can you? or could you? Wait here a moment, can you? Give me an example, could you? We can also use You couldn't..., could you? or You haven't ..., have you? for a request. Yon couldn't help me, couldyou? You haven't got a pound, have you? After Don't... the tag is will you?: Don't make any noise, will you? After Let's ... we use shall we?: Let's sit in the garden, shall we? > page 378 Question tags in American English page 102 QUESTIONS, NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS B Use (1) Look carefully at each statement and tag. Say if it is more likely to be a comment (with falling intonation) or a question (with rising intonation). ►- This price list is up to date, isn't it? ~ Yes, it is. 1 It was a super show, wasn't it? ~ Great. I really enjoyed it. 2 These sweaters are nice, aren't they? ~ I like this one. 3 We've got time for a coffee, haven't we? ~ A quick one maybe. 4 Let me see, the bus goes at ten past, doesn't it? ~ Quarter past. Form (2) You are at a barbecue. Add tags to help start a friendly conversation. These sausages are delicious, ACfiivt they ? ~ They certainly are. You haven't lived here long, tave. .you ? ~ |\|0, only three months. It's quite a big garden,............................... ? ~ Yes, there's plenty of room There aren't many people here yet, .................. You're Rachel's friend, ............... ... . ? You came in a sports car, .... ......... .......... These burgers look good, ............................ We can sit on the grass, .............. ........ ? ~ No, but it's still quite early. Yes, I'm Vicky. ? ~ That's right. ? ~ I can't wait to try them. ~ I think it's dry enough. The weather forecast wasn't very good, ? ~ No, it wasn't. C Form (2) Complete the conversation. Put in the question tags. Emma: You don't really want to go out with me any more, (►) dp yow., ? Matthew: Of course I do. But I need a bit of time to myself sometimes. Emma: You get plenty of time to yourself, (1).... ............. ... ? Matthew: Emma, you know what I feel for you. I've told you enough times, (2)................................. ? Emma: Yes, you have. And you're quite happy, (3) ? You don't mind, (4) ............................... ? The situation doesn't bother you, (5)...................................? Matthew: Why are we arguing? There's nothing to argue about, (6) ....... ................ ? Emma: You can't ever look at things from my point of view, (7) .................................? D Requests and suggestions (3) What would you say in these situations? Write sentences with a question tag. Use the word in brackets. y '* ► You want to look at a newspaper. Daniel might have one, so ask him. (haven't)-^ Vpia. k?vye.f\ l£ <•]p"t A..r,„ tay£..ypw/? ............................................................ 1 Suggest to Vicky that you both listen to some music. (Let's) 2 Warn David not to do anything silly. (Don't) 3 You need a train timetable. Emma might have one, so ask her. (haven't) 4 Ask Rachel to pass you the salt. (Pass) QUESTIONS, NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS page 103 Practice 43 So/Neither do I and I think so 1 So and neither Vicky: I'm hungry. Rachel: So am 1.1 haven't eaten anything all day. Daniel: Neither have I. I didn't have time for breakfast. We use so after a positive statement and neither after a negative one. I'm hungry. ~ So am I. {- And I'm hungry./Tm hungry, too.) I haven't eaten. ~ Neither have I. (= And I haven't eaten./I haven't eaten either.' The structure is so/neither + an auxiliary f the subject. The auxiliary is a form of be or have or a modal verb, e.g. can. We're really busy at work. ~ So are we. Tom has gone to the match. ~ And so has Nick. David can't drive, and neither can Melanie. The subject comes at the end. not We're busy. ~ So we arc. In the Present Simple and Past Simple we use a form of do. j love old cowboy films. ~ So do I. This phone doesn't work. United won, and so did Rangers. - Neither does this one. We can use nor instead of neither. Emma isn't here tonight. Neither/Nor is Matthew. I think so, etc. Vicky: It's 'Round the Corner' at half past seven, my favourite soap opera. Are we going to be back in time? Daniel: J think so. We haven't got far to go now. Rachel: We might miss the beginning. Vicky: Oh, I hope not. I want to know if Bernard really did steal the money. Here 7 think so means T think we'll be back in time', and I hope not means T hope we don't miss the beginning'. We can use so after be afraid, believe, expect, guess, hope, suppose and think Do you think you'll get the job? ~ Well, I hope so. Are you going on holiday this year? ~ Yes, I expect so. I don't know for sure if Henry is rich, but I should think so. But we cannot use so after know or be sure. There's been an accident. ~ Yes, I know. not I know so. Are you sure you're doing the right thing? - Yes, I'm sure, not I'm sure so. There are two negative structures. negative + SO Is it raining? ~ I don't think so. Are you going to the concert? ~ I don't expect so. With expect and think, we normally use the negative and so. positive + not Is it raining? ~ j hope not. Have we won a prize? ~ I'm afraid not. With be afraid, guess and hope, we use the positive and not. We can use believe and suppose in either structure. Will there be any seats left? ~ I don't suppose so. or I suppose not. page 104 • QUESTIONS, NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS So and neither (1) Andrew has just met Jessica at a party. They are finding out that they have a lot in common. Put in the structures with so and neither. Andrew: I haven't been to a party for ages. Neither, taye I ... | hate crowded rooms. Yes, ?o dp. I . .. . I'm not a party-goer, really. ................ . I can't make conversation. ................................You know, I'm a quiet sort of person. ......I lead a pretty quiet life. Jessica: Andrew: Jessica: Andrew: Jessica: Andrew: Jessica: Andrew: No, And Well, Oh, . I haven't got many friends. And I would really like a good friend. B So and neither (l) Look at the table and complete the sentences. Mark Claire Melanie Emma Music S / Travel / / / Skiing X •/ / X Cooking / / / / ► Claire can ski, and ?Q. ?Ars. MeUrsje........... ► Mark isn't keen on cooking, and *eittar. if CUire, 1 Melanie doesn't like travelling much, and ...... 2 Mark has got lots of CDs, and ................. 3 Emma can't ski, and................................................ 4 Claire isn't a music lover, and .............................. 5 Melanie cooks quite often, and .............. 6 Mark travels quite a lot, and ......................... C I think so, etc. (2) brackets. > Laura: Trevor: Harriet: Mike: 1 Sarah: Mark: 2 Daniel: Vicky: 3 David: Melanie: 4 Nick: Tom: 5 Claire: Assistant: Does the library open on Saturdays? (think) Yes, I $p. ... But I'm not absolutely certain. Harriet: You can't go out for an evening meal wearing shorts, (guess) Mike: I ^wess i\ot...........I'd better put some trousers on. Will there be a lot of people at the concert tonight? (expect) .........................There aren't usually very many. Are you going to apply for the job? (suppose) ...................................It's the only one available. Do you think it's going to rain? (hope) Well,............................ I'm just about to go out. Will the match take place in this weather? (think) .............................................In fact, I'm sure it won't. Is my coat ready, please? (afraid) . . We're having problems with the machine QUESTIONS, NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS • ['age 105