LINB18H3Y Instructor: S.
Moghaddam
Department of French and Linguistics, UTSC
Weekly Practice Exercises Set II- Negation
1. Turn each of the following into an equivalent statement by negating a noun.
a. There isn’t any point to this conversation.
There is no point to this conversation.
b. I don’t see any reason to continue.
c. She does not expect any compensation.
d. This restaurant does not serve any liquor.
e. That teacher doesn’t have any patience.
Can verb negation and noun negation be used in the same sentence in standard English? Give
a sentence that illustrates the two used together.
2. Make each of the following adjectives negative aby adding a prefix. Is there disagreement
on any of these?
a. Regular
b. Secure
c. Possible
d. Courteous
e. Legal
f. Imaginable
g. Violent
3. Express each of the following as a combination of verb negation and adjective negation.
a. We are satisfied with the results.
b. This project seems promising.
c. You are lucky.
d. They must think we are helpful.
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These exercises are borrowed from A.K. Berry (2013). English Grammar: Language as Human Behavior, 3rd Edition. Pearson
Education, Inc.
LINB18H3Y Instructor: S. Moghaddam
Department of French and Linguistics, UTSC
4. Give an example of neither…. nor compound for each of the following constituent types:
a. Noun phrase → Neither John nor his sister mentioned anything about the news.
b. Verb phrase
c. Adjective phrase
d. Pronoun
e. Clause
Do all these constituents occur in your everyday spoken English? Do any seem especially
formal?
5. Neither can function alone without nor. What does it mean in the sentence: I
want neither? What category of negative would you put it under?
6. Express each of the following using a contraction. Which are irregular? Which would
you never say?
a. You should not speak ill of the dead.
You shouldn’t speak ill of the dead.
b. The manager cannot cope with the situation.
c. Bill may not play today.
d. Sal is not listening to you.
e. We were not expecting you.
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These exercises are borrowed from A.K. Berry (2013). English Grammar: Language as Human Behavior, 3rd Edition. Pearson
Education, Inc.
LINB18H3Y Instructor: S. Moghaddam
Department of French and Linguistics, UTSC
f. I am not surprised.
g. We shall not be daunted.
h. They must not think we are ungrateful.
7. Which of the following requires the insertion of do in the negative? Why?
a. The games have begun.
b. She needs to consider the alternatives.
c. The milk is sour.
d. We could meet you after class.
e. I do my chores in the evening.
f. Reading puts me to sleep.
g. Expect the worst.
h. The felon was acquitted.
i. I ordered the cake for the party.
8. Express the negative of each of these in two different ways.
a. The printer has ink.
b. A reasonable person would tolerate this behaviour.
c. I have an idea.
d. Se received compensation for the job.
e. He got love from his grandparents.
9. Which of the following conform to the rules of standard English negation?
a. He doesn’t eat neither meat nor chicken.
b. I never did see no thief.
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These exercises are borrowed from A.K. Berry (2013). English Grammar: Language as Human Behavior, 3rd Edition. Pearson
Education, Inc.
LINB18H3Y Instructor: S. Moghaddam
Department of French and Linguistics, UTSC
c. Nothing can be done about it.
d. I can tolerate no alcohol.
e. We didn’t expect no visitors.
f. They are neither tired or hungry.
g. Can’t nobody blame him for his actions.
h. That doctor doesn’t give no free samples to nobody.
i. She neither cooks nor sews.
j. My handwriting is not illegible.
10. Give an equivalent negative statement for each of the following by negating a noun.
a. I don’t see any people.
b. Doesn’t any proposal suit you?
c. She won’t accept any cash.
d. There isn’t any reason to stay.
e. Why weren’t there any police at the event?
11. Give a one-word negative for each of the following adjectives and adverbs:
Happily, decent, proportionally, advisable, politely, relevant, literate, savory, toxic,
remarkably
12. Make each of the following negative at least in two different ways.
a. This food is edible.
b. We went somewhere last night.
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These exercises are borrowed from A.K. Berry (2013). English Grammar: Language as Human Behavior, 3rd Edition. Pearson
Education, Inc.
LINB18H3Y Instructor: S. Moghaddam
Department of French and Linguistics, UTSC
c. Our approach is confrontational.
d. There is some reason to worry.
e. These reviews are spectacular.
f. She bought some bonds.
g. I’ll read it sometime.
h. There is paint in the garage.
i. A car can travel this road.
j. That star gas fan clubs.
13. Find an example of:
a. A negated noun
b. A negated adjective
c. A negative indefinite
d. A negated verb
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These exercises are borrowed from A.K. Berry (2013). English Grammar: Language as Human Behavior, 3rd Edition. Pearson
Education, Inc.
