Verb to be learning path · Step 3 of 8 · Level A1
The negative form of the verb to be
To form the negative of the verb to be you add not right after am, is or are: I am not, she is not, they are not. In conversation it is contracted: I'm not, she isn't, they aren't. The auxiliary do is not needed: nobody says I don't be.
The negative at a glance
How the negative of the verb to be is formed
Making to be negative means adding a single word, not, and always putting it in the same place: immediately after am, is or are. Everything else in the sentence stays the same.
subject + am / is / are + not + complement
With adjectives
I'm not tired.
A state.
With places
She isn't at home.
A location.
With nouns
They aren't doctors.
A profession.
With age
He isn't eighteen.
A number of years.
Choosing between am, is and are does not change when you negate. If you still hesitate, first review the present of the verb to be.
Table of the negative form of the verb to be
Each person with its full form and its contractions. With I there is only one: I'm not.
| Subject | Full form | Contraction with not | Contraction with 's / 're | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | I am not | I'm not | — | I'm not hungry. |
| you | You are not | You aren't | You're not | You aren't late. |
| he | He is not | He isn't | He's not | He isn't my brother. |
| she | She is not | She isn't | She's not | She's not at work. |
| it | It is not | It isn't | It's not | It isn't expensive. |
| we | We are not | We aren't | We're not | We aren't ready. |
| they | They are not | They aren't | They're not | They're not here. |
Isn't or 's not: two contractions with the same meaning
Except with I, the negative can be contracted in two ways: by joining not to the verb (isn't, aren't) or by joining the verb to the subject ('s not, 're not). Both are correct and mean exactly the same.
Isn't and aren't
The most frequent in writing and the most natural with subjects that are not pronouns.
My car isn't new.
A noun subject.
's not and 're not
Very common in speech with pronouns. It slightly strengthens the negation.
It's not fair!
An emphatic negative.
Never both at once
You never contract twice: She'sn't does not exist.
She's not o She isn't.
Choose one.
These are only the ones for the verb to be. In the lesson on negative contractions you also have don't, can't, won't and the rest.
Short answers in the negative
To answer no to a question with to be you do not repeat the whole sentence: the subject, the verb and not are enough. In negative answers, contracting is the norm.
| Question | Negative answer | Affirmative answer |
|---|---|---|
| Are you hungry? | No, I'm not. | Yes, I am. |
| Is she your sister? | No, she isn't.No, she's not. | Yes, she is. |
| Is it far? | No, it isn't. | Yes, it is. |
| Are they ready? | No, they aren't.No, they're not. | Yes, they are. |
Affirmative answers are not contracted: you say Yes, I am, never Yes, I'm. To master questions as well, continue with the lesson on questions with the verb to be.
Why don't is not used with the verb to be
It is the number one mistake, because with almost every other verb the negative needs don't or doesn't. The verb to be is the exception: it negates itself.
| Verb to be | Other verbs | |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | She is tired. | She works here. |
| Negative | She isn't tired. | She doesn't work here. |
| What you never say | She doesn't be tired. | She not works here. |
Don't be only appears in commands: Don't be late, Don't be shy. That is the imperative, not the present.
20 negative sentences with the verb to be
Grouped by what they express, so you can see that the structure never changes.
Identity and profession
- I'm not a student.Occupation.
- She isn't my cousin.Family.
- They aren't from Peru.Origin.
- He's not the manager.Role.
- We aren't brothers.Relationship.
States and feelings
- I'm not worried.A feeling.
- You aren't wrong.An opinion.
- The soup isn't hot.A thing.
- They're not angry.A mood.
- It isn't easy.A judgement.
Place
- We aren't in the office.Location.
- My keys aren't in my bag.Things.
- The bank isn't far.Distance.
- I'm not on the bus.Transport.
- Mario isn't here today.Presence.
Age, time, weather and price
- He isn't twenty.Age.
- It isn't cold today.Weather.
- It's not five o'clock yet.Time.
- The tickets aren't expensive.Price.
- I'm not in a hurry.A state.
The negative of to be in 19 seconds
A note marked with an X sums up the idea: negation. Three sentences, three moments; select one to repeat it.
Captions included. Listen to how isn't and aren't sound in speech.
Read the transcript
- To make to be negative, add not after the verb.
- I am not tired. I'm not tired.
- With he, she or a thing:
- She isn't at home.
- And with several people:
- They aren't late.
- With to be you don't need do or does.
Typical mistakes when negating with to be
I amn't ready.
I'm not ready.
With I the only contraction is I'm not.
She not is at home.
She isn't at home.
Not goes after the verb, not before it.
I don't be tired.
I'm not tired.
To be does not need do to make a negative.
He doesn't is my teacher.
He isn't my teacher.
Doesn't and is are never combined.
I'm no hungry.
I'm not hungry.
English negates with not, not with no.
She'sn't ready.
She isn't ready.
You contract only once: she isn't or she's not.
Practice: put not in its place
Tap the gap where not should go. When you answer you will see the full sentence and its contraction. Hint: find am, is or are first.
Make it negative: I am hungry.
Iamhungry.
With I there is only one contraction: I'm not.
Make it negative: My sister is at work.
Mysisterisatwork.
The subject has two words, but not always goes after is.
Make it negative: Tom and Lucy are in the kitchen.
TomandLucyareinthekitchen.
Plural subject with are: the contraction is aren't.
Make it negative: This exercise is very difficult.
Thisexerciseisverydifficult.
Adverbs like very go after not.
Make it negative: You are late today.
Youarelatetoday.
With you there are two valid contractions: you aren't and you're not.
Make it negative: The shops are open on Sundays.
TheshopsareopenonSundays.
Many languages negate the action verb, but English negates to be open: aren't open.
Want more sentences? There are negative exercises with to be in the last stage of the path, and the big picture in the guide to the verb to be.
Frequently asked questions about the negative of the verb to be
How is the negative of the verb to be formed?
You add not after am, is or are: I am not, she is not, we are not. In conversation the contractions I'm not, she isn't and we aren't are used.
Why is there no «amn't»?
It is not used in standard English. With I the negative is contracted as I'm not. In negative questions, aren't I? is used instead: I'm late, aren't I?.
What is the difference between isn't and 's not?
They mean the same and both are correct: She isn't ready and She's not ready. The form with 's not puts a little more emphasis on the negation and is very common in speech.
What does ain't mean?
Ain't is a colloquial form that replaces am not, isn't or aren't (and also haven't and hasn't). You will hear it in songs and films, but it is not standard English: avoid it in exams and formal writing.
Can you say «I don't be»?
No. The verb to be forms its negative without do: I'm not tired, not I don't be tired. Don't be only appears in commands: Don't be late.
How do you answer «no» with the verb to be?
With No + subject + am, is or are + not, usually contracted: Are you busy? No, I'm not. Is it far? No, it isn't. The verb in the answer is the same as in the question.
Verb to be learning path · Step 3 of 8
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