Page 161 - Basic English Usage

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215 negative structures

Negative verbs
We make negative verbs with auxiliary verb + not.
We have not forgotten you.
it was not raining.
In an informal style, we use contracted negatives with n't (see 90).
We haven’t forgotten you.
it wasn’t raining.
If there is no auxiliary verb, we use do with not.
| like the salad, but! don’t like the soup.
Imperatives

We make negative imperatives with do not or don't + infinitive (see
170).
—
Don’t worry I'll look after you. (NOT -Werry net ...)
Don’t believe a word he says.
Don’t be rude. (See 57.)
Infinitives and -ing forms

We put not before infinitives and -ing forms. Dois not used.
it’s important not to worry. (NOT ... te-dertwerty-)
The best thing on holiday is not working.
Other parts of a sentence

We can put not with other parts of a sentence, not only a verb.
Ask the vicar, not his wife.
Come early, but not before six.
It's working, but not properly.
We do not usually put not with the subject. Instead, we use a structure
with it (see 111).
It was not George that came, but his brother.
(NOT Net George-came_buthis-brether-)
For the difference between not and no with nouns, see 222.

Other negative words
Other words besides not can give a clause a negative meaning.
Compare:
He’s not at home.
He's never at home.
He's seldom/rarely/hardly ever at home.