Teach: Be Verb ② How to Make Negative Sentences

Be Verb ② How to Make Negative Sentences

To say that something “is not,” simply place not immediately after the be verb. Once you remember the word order, negative sentences are easy to make.

Basic Rules

The form of a negative sentence is “subject + be verb + not + complement.” There are three patterns: am not / is not / are not. Is not can be shortened to isn't, and are not can be shortened to aren't. Am not is not shortened to amn't; instead, use I'm not (or I am not). Learning these contractions will help you use them naturally in conversation.

Example Sentences
I am not tired. (I am not tired.)
He is not a teacher. / He isn't a teacher. (He is not a teacher.)
We are not late. / We aren't late. (We are not late.)
※ Place not immediately after the be verb.

Important Points

When making a negative sentence with a be verb, the first step is to choose am / is / are correctly according to the person and number of the subject. Next, pay attention to the position of not: it must come immediately after the be verb. Remember be verb + not as one negative phrase: I am not → I'm not (amn't is incorrect), and He is not → He isn't / He's not (both are possible). The choice of contraction can change depending on which part you want to emphasize.

Key Points
  • Negative word order: subject + be verb + not + complement
  • Contractions: isn't / aren't; however, am not becomes only I'm not
  • Because this form negates “subject = what follows,” the meaning becomes “subject ≠ what follows.”

Practice

  1. Write “I am not a soccer player” in English.
  2. Write “She is not angry” using a contraction.
  3. Write “They are not Japanese” using a contraction.

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