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WesternAmerican Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
I not want/People don't want
Hello guys,
One of my students asked me today why isn't it possible to add a 'not' after a subject, and frankly, I couldn't really explain.
She also asked me when do we add 'don't' and when do we add 'not' in a sentence.
These are the example sentences that confonuded her so much:
Popcorn is not eaten by people.
People don't eat popcorn.
Please, enlighten me.
One of my students asked me today why isn't it possible to add a 'not' after a subject, and frankly, I couldn't really explain.
She also asked me when do we add 'don't' and when do we add 'not' in a sentence.
These are the example sentences that confonuded her so much:
Popcorn is not eaten by people.
People don't eat popcorn.
Please, enlighten me.
Top answer
) and forms of be -- and also forms of do or have used as auxiliaries. , can only be used when accompanied by an operator. To negate a sentence without an operator, the operator do must be added together with not .
- ) and forms of be -- and also forms of do or have used as auxiliaries.
- , can only be used when accompanied by an operator.
- To negate a sentence without an operator, the operator do must be added together with not .
- The technical term for the addition of a form of do is do -support.
- Operators underlined below.
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8 Answers
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Note the definition: Operators are the modals (can, could, will, would, etc.) and forms of be -- and also forms of do or have used as auxiliaries.
The negative adverb not can only be carried by an operator, i.e., can only be used when accompanied by an operator. To negate a sentence without an operator, the operator do must be added
The negative adverb not can only be carried by an operator, i.e., can only be used when accompanied by an operator. To negate a sentence without an operator, the operator do must be added
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WesternAmericanHello guys,One of my students asked me today why it isn't possible to add a 'not' after a subject, and
One of my students asked me today why isn't it possible to add a 'not' after a subject, and frankly, I couldn't really explain.
These are the example sentences that confonuded (typo?) her so much:
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Thank you Jim, hi Liat!
Yes, it was a typo, sorry.
I didn't understand anything, Jim....
Yes, it was a typo, sorry.
I didn't understand anything, Jim....
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Keep reading it a few times -- slowly -- step by step. Eventually it will sink in! You have to understand what counts as an 'operator' or none of the rest of it will make sense.
Otherwise, you'll need to wait for someone else to explain it differently!
Otherwise, you'll need to wait for someone else to explain it differently!
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Jim, that you very much.
I've read it a couple of times, and it finally sank in!
In general, whenever I want to negate a sentence, I need to look for an operator.
If I can't find an operator, I have to add a 'do' followed by a 'not' (don't) after the subject in order to negate the sentence.
If I want to negate a sentence that has an operator in it, I
I've read it a couple of times, and it finally sank in!
In general, whenever I want to negate a sentence, I need to look for an operator.
If I can't find an operator, I have to add a 'do' followed by a 'not' (don't) after the subject in order to negate the sentence.
If I want to negate a sentence that has an operator in it, I
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Just tell your students that "not" can never stand alone, it always requires a verb.
Popcorn is not eaten by people. ( is + not )
People don't eat popcorn. ( do + not )
Popcorn is not eaten by people. ( is + not )
People don't eat popcorn. ( do + not )
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Thanks, but this is a rather old thread!
I think that I posted it a month ago.
I think that I posted it a month ago.
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