Step 1: General introduction

The grammar items in this unit focus on negative statements. You are expected to understand the meanings of negative statements. You will also learn the ways to make a negative statement. Then you may apply what you have learnt to practical use by finishing two exercises.

Step 2: Exercises

Turn the following into negative statements:

1. They’re listening to pop music now.

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2. Many people can speak English nowadays.

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3. You must make your bed after you get up every day.

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4. His mother has a beautiful car.

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5. We need a pen and piece of paper.

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6. I need wear a warm coat.

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7. The old man always goes for a walk in the park after supper.

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8. The doctors volunteer in the countryside every year.

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9. Mike does sports in the afternoon.

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10. You’d better talk with your parents right now.

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Keys:

1. They aren’t listening to pop music now.

2. Many people can’t speak English nowadays.

3. You don’t have to make your bed after you get up every day.

4. His mother doesn’t have a beautiful car.

5. We don’t need a pen and piece of paper.

6. I needn’t wear a warm coat.

7. The old man seldom goes for a walk in the park after supper.

8. The doctors don’t volunteer in the countryside every year.

9. Mike doesn’t do sports in the afternoon.

10. You’d better not talk with your parents right now.

Step 3: Explanation and practice

1. Make a list of the most commonly used negative words:

no, not, never, neither, hardly, seldom, few, little, barely…

2. Please decide whether it is a true statement: John Keats was a famous short story writer.

This statement is untrue. We can correct an untrue statement in the following way:

John Keats was not a famous short story writer.

3. As we learned, negative statements are often used to correct a mistaken idea. Let’s recall the ways to make negative statements.

4. Read Part 1 and Part 2. When not is used with a negative prefix, the meaning of the sentence is positive. However, the positive meaning is not as strong as that of a direct positive statement. For example:

Students are not discouraged to discuss things with their classmates. (Students are encouraged to discuss things with their classmates.)

Your actions were not inexcusable, but they were certainly not appropriate. (Your actions were excusable, but certainly not appropriate.)

It is not uncommon for him to be late. (It is very common for him to be late.)

not can be used before a phrase of time, distance or a noun phrase to emphasize the negative meaning of the phrase. For example:

It is not a long distance from the city center to the new railway station. (=It is very near from the city center to the new railway station.)

It will not be long before most people around the world know how to use a computer. (=Soon, people around the world will know how to use a computer.)

There were not many people present for the lecture. (=There were very few people present for the lecture.)

5. Read Part 3. In informal English, the negative expressions can be used with whether and if to show doubt or uncertainty. For example:

I wouldn't be surprised if they didn’t buy a house soon. (=I wouldn’t be surprised if they bought a house soon.)

I wonder whether/if I shouldn't get a haircut. (=I wonder whether/if I should get a haircut.)

I wonder whether/if I shouldn't buy a new suit. (=I wonder whether/if I should buy a new suit.)

6. Read Part 4. Pay attention to some negative expressions.

on no account, in no circumstances, never before, nowhere, at no time, by no means,

7. Read a book report written by Sharon. Try to cycle the negative statements.

Answers

A 1 … he experiences an abnormal childhood without any parents.

2 He is raised in a place with other children who also have no parents.

3 He is then sent to a workhouse, where he has to work very hard and hardly has time to relax.

4 Oliver does not like anything about the workhouse.

5 He is treated very badly and seldom has enough food or water.

6 Fagin is not a good character and cares only about himself.

7 Oliver does not know anything at first and stays with Fagin.

8 He does not want to steal from anyone, but in order to survive, Oliver is forced to become a criminal.

9 Mr Barnlow is a man without any of Fagin’s vices.

10 Unless Oliver can escape, he will never be reunited with Mr Barnlow.

11 He will have only misfortune, not a real family and the love he deserves, which is the major theme of the book.

8. Finish Part B individually.

Answers

B 1 surprised if, didn’t

2 not uncommon

3 Not many

4 wonder whether/if, shouldn’t

For reference

There are some other patterns which can be used to express negation.

1 too + adjective +to-infinitive

In this pattern too, with the meaning ‘very’, is used before an adjective. After the adjective, an infinitive is used to mean ‘(somebody) cannot do’ or ‘something cannot be done’. Sometimes for somebody can be used before the infinitive. For example:

My father is too old to have such a long journey. (=My father is very old and cannot travel so long.)

She is too happy to say a word at the party. (=She is so happy that she cannot say anything at the party.)

The box is too heavy to carry. (=The box is so heavy that no one can carry it.)

The house is too expensive for us to buy. (=The house is so expensive that we cannot buy it.)

2 few + a countable noun; little +an uncountable noun

When we use few to modify a countable noun, we mean ‘not many’, and the noun should be in its plural form. When we use little to modify an uncountable noun, we mean ‘not much’. And few or little here has the negative meaning. For example:

Few students in our class have ever read Katherine Mansfield’s short stories. (=Not many/Only one or two students in our class have ever read Katherine Mansfield’s short stories.)

We have little rain all this summer. (=It almost does not rain during this summer.)

Because few or little has the negative meaning, we do not use the negative form in question tags. For example:

Few people liked his painting at that time, did they?

There is little ink in the bottle, is there?

For reference

關于英語中的否定句

1)一般否定

I don’t know this. No news is good news.

There is no person /not a person/not any person in the house.

2)特指否定

He went to his office, not to see him.

I am sorry for not coming on time.

I don’t think/believe/suppose/feel/imagine you are right.

3)部分否定

I don’t know all of them.

I can’t see everybody/everything.

All the answers are not right.（并非所有答案都對。）

All is not gold that glitters. （閃光的不一定都是金子。）

Both of them are not right.（并非兩人都對。）

4)全體否定

None of my friends smoke.

I can see nothing/nobody.

Nothing can be so simple as this.

Neither of them is right.

5) 延續否定

You didn't see him, neither/nor did I.

You don't know, I don't know either.

He doesn't know English, let alone/to say nothing of/not to speak of French.

6) 半否定句

We seldom/hardly/scarcely/barely hear such fine singing.

I know little English.

I saw few people.

7) 雙重否定

You can't make something out of nothing.

What's done cannot be undone.

There is no sweet without sweat.

No gain without pains.

I can't help /keep/ laughing whenever I hear it.

No man is so old but (that) he can learn.

8)排除否定

Everyone is ready except you.

He did nothing but play.

But for your help, I couldn't do it.

9)加強否定

I won't do it at all.

I can't see it any more.

He is no longer a boy.

Step 4: Consolidation　

I. Multiple choice

1. His mother had talked to him for many minutes while he was watching TV, but ＿＿＿＿.

A. a little did he hear B. little did he hear

C. little heard he D. a little heard he

2. During the war, ＿＿＿＿but also he lost his wife and his child.

A. not was his job in the lab taken away

B. not only was his job in the lab taken away

C. not merely his job in the lab was taken away

D. not just was taken away his job in the lab

3. I think this is the first time that we have met.＿＿＿anywhere.

A. Before have we never seen each other B. Never before we have seen each other

C. Each other have we seen never before D. Never before have we seen each other

4. -- The old man wouldn’t stay at home for a rest even if it rained.

-- ＿＿＿＿. He would feel sick if he stayed home for one day.

A. So would my grandpa B. So wouldn’t my grandpa

C. Neither would my grandpa D. Nor wouldn’t my grandpa

5. By no means ＿＿＿ to our plan for the trip.

A. will she agree B. she will agree C. agrees she D. will agree she

6. They went into a small house but ＿＿＿.

A. no persons did they find B. not a person found they

C. not a person did they find D. not a person they found

7. Henry often helps look after Granny Wang, but＿＿＿.

A. seldom is George B. seldom George does

C. seldom does George D. seldom looks George after Granny Wang

8. Nothing but two ancient Chinese coins ＿＿＿＿ after they took out the jar.

A. did they find in it B. they found in it

C. in it did they find D. in it found they

II. Translation

1. 這兩本書都不是英國出版的�！　�

2. 你們當中我一個也不認識。

3． 我不同意所有這些方案。

4．在他還沒來之前，我們就把所有的工作都做完了。

5. 這些規章制度多不完善！

6. 未經允許，任何人不得入內。

7. 聽到這個消息后，沒有一個人不感到驚奇。

　　

8. 人們直到失去了健康才知道健康的可貴。

9. 直到五月的一個星期六下午，瑪格麗特才安排我與她姐姐見面。

10. 不久他就告訴了我們這件事。

11. 對他的成績我們怎么贊揚也不過分。

12. 他剛進辦公室，電話鈴就響了。

13. 只有傻瓜才會做這種事情。

14. 她是班里最自私的了。

15. 他的失敗完全是由于他自己的粗心大意。

Keys :

I. 1-5 BBDCA 6-8 CCB

II.

1. Neither of the books is published in England.

2. I know none of you.

3. I agree to none of these plans.

4. We had finished all the work before he came.

5. How imperfect the rules and regulations are!

6. Nobody can come in without permission.

7. Having heard the news, everybody felt surprised.

　There was nobody who did not feel surprised.

　There was nobody but felt surprised.

8. People do not know the blessing of health until they lose it．

9. It was not until a Saturday afternoon in May that Margaret could arrange for me to meet her elder sister.

10. It wasn't long before he told us about this affair．

11. We can hardly praise his achievement too much．

12. No sooner had he entered the office than the telephone rang．

13. None but a fool would do such a thing．

14. Nobody is more selfish than her in the class．

15. His failure was due to nothing else than his own carelessness．