A few Rules of Affirmative- Negative Sentences by Mr. Rupjyoti Goswami

 A Few Rules of transforming Affirmative into Negative Sentences prepared by Mr. Rupjyoti Goswami, PGT (English),

HN Seminary Model HS School Bagribari, Dhubri.

 

This topic has already been published in "Shikhya Jyoti", an annual mouthpiece of Dhubri District Higher Secondary Teacher & Employees Association on 6th November, 2022.

The use of negative words is a familiar method of making a sentence negative in structure. However there are certain techniques which can keep the meaning unchanged while making the sentences negative. The words which are most commonly seen in Negative Sentences are: no, not, never, nothing, none, no one, nobody, nowhere, neither...nor, not only... but also etc. The rules of transforming Affirmative into Negative Sentences are mentioned below for the convenience of learners.

1. An Affirmative sentence is transformed into a Negative Sentence by using a Negative word along with the opposite form of the Main word. The main word can be a verb, an adjective or a noun (in rare situation). (এটা Affirmative Sentence ক Negativeকৰিবলৈ Main word ৰ বিপৰীতাৰ্থক শব্দৰ লগত Negative Word ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়। Main word টো ক্ৰিয়াপদ, বিশেষণ বা বিশেষ্য পদো হ'ব পাৰে। উদাহৰণস্বৰূপে-) For example,
(a) She is intelligent. = She is not dull.
(b) He is a strong man. = He is not a weak man.
(c) He is doubtful. = He is not sure.
(d) He is an honest person = He is not a dishonest person.
(e) England won the World Cup Cricket in 2019. = England did not lose the World Cup Cricket in 2019.
(f) He agreed to my proposal. = He did not disagree to my proposal.

2. There are some words which do not have proper and matching antonyms. The sentences appear to be awkward if some words are forcefully brought as 'antonyms'. The best alternative of making such sentences Negative, is by using the structure "do/does/did + not fail to + 1st form of the verb "For example, (এনে কিছুমান শব্দ আছে যিবোৰৰ কোনো উপযুক্ত আৰু খাপখোৱা বিপৰীতাৰ্থক শব্দ নাথাকে। বলপূৰ্বকভাবে বিপৰীতাৰ্থক শব্দ ব্যৱহাৰ কৰিলেও বাক্যটো বিকৃত বা অদ্ভুত হোৱা যেন লাগে। এনেক্ষেত্ৰত আটাইতকৈ উত্তম বিকল্পটো হ'ল do/does/did + not fail to + Verb1 গঠনটো ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা। উদাহৰণস্বৰূপে-)
(a) He visited the Taj Mahal. = He did not fail to visit the Taj Mahal.
(b) I saw a snake crawling on the floor. = I did not fail to see a snake crawling on the floor.
(c) Mr Das  reads newspapers regularly. = Mr Das does not fail to read newspapers regularly.
(d) Be sincere and punctual. = Don't fail to be sincere and punctual.

3. Affirmative sentences having "only" or "alone" anywhere in the structure, are transformed into Negative by replacing these two words with "None but" (if it denotes persons) and "Nothing but" (if it denotes things, objects). For example, (কোনো Affirmative বাক্যৰ যিকোনো অংশত only/alone থাকিলে ব্যক্তিৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত None but আৰু বস্তুৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত Nothing but ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি Negative Sentence লৈ ৰূপান্তৰ কৰিব পাৰি। উদাহৰণস্বৰূপে-)
(a) God alone can save him. = None but God can save him.
(b) He plays only chess. = He plays nothing but chess.
(c) Only Niharika can solve this problem. = None but Niharika can solve this problem.

4. If the word "only" used in an affirmative sentence refers to number, quantity and age, then it is replaced by "not more than" or "not less than" to make it Negative. For example, (যদিহে Affirmative বাক্যত ব্যৱহাৰ হোৱা ONLY শব্দটোৱে সংখ্যা, পৰিমাণ বা বয়সক বুজায়, তেতিয়া Only ৰ স্থানত Not more than/Not less than ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি বাক্যটো Negativeকৰা হয়। উদাহৰণস্বৰূপে-)
(a) She is only fourteen. = She is not more than fourteen/She is not less than fourteen.
(b) They have only two cars. = They have not more than two cars/They have not less than two cars.
(c) He bought only two umbrellas. = He bought not more than two umbrellas.

5. Sentences that have "Both...and" in their structures, are made Negative by replacing these with "Not only... but also" and vice versa. For example, (Both...And থকা বাক্যবোৰক Negative কৰিবলৈ "Not only...but also" ৰ ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) She is both beautiful and intelligent. = She is not only beautiful but also intelligent.
(b) Both Dhoni and Ganguly are great captains. = Not only Dhoni but also Ganguly is a great captain.
(c) He can speak both Greek and Spanish. = He can not only speak Greek but also Spanish.

6. Affirmative sentences that have "too + adjective + to + Verb1" or "too + adjective + for + pronoun/noun (me, her, him, them, Ram etc.) + Verb1 expression are turned into Negative Sentences by replacing it with "so + adjective + that + subject + auxiliary + not + Verb1" and vice versa. For example ("Too + adjective + to + V1 বা  too + adjective + for + pronoun/noun(me, her, him, them, Ram) + V1 গাঠনিৰ বাক্যবোৰক Negative কৰিবলৈ So + adjective + that ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) The box is too heavy for me to lift. = The box is so heavy that I can not lift it.
(b) The ceiling is too high for him to touch. = The ceiling is so high that he can not touch it.
(b) The old man is too weak to walk. = The old man is so weak that he can not walk.

7. There are some affirmative sentences that use "so + adjective + that" structure without adding any Negative word. These are transformed into Negative Sentences by using "too + adjective + not to + Verb1" structure. For example (কিছুমান Affirmative বাক্য আছে যিবোৰত so + adjective + that গাঠনি ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা স্বত্তেও কোনো Negative শব্দ ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা নহয়। এইবিলাক বাক্যক Negative কৰিবলৈ "too + adjective + not to + V1 টো ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) The milk in the pot is so hot that it can burn your fingers. = The milk in the pot is too hot not to burn your fingers.
(b) The potato is so hot  that it will burn your mouth. = The potato is too hot not to burn your mouth.
(c) The viper is so poisonous that it can kill anyone. = The viper is too poisonous not to kill anyone.

8. Affirmative sentences beginning with "What if" are turned into Negative by replacing it with "It does not matter if" expression. For example, (What if ৰে আৰম্ভ হোৱা বাক্যক Negative কৰিবলৈ It doesn't matter if ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) What if I am late. = It does not matter if I am late.
(b) What if I fail in the examination. = It does not matter if I fail in the examination.
(c) What if he loses all the money in gambling. = It does not matter if he loses all the money in gambling.

9. If an affirmative sentence begins with "As soon as", it is made Negative by replacing it with "No sooner did/does/do/had..... than" according to tense of the verb and number of the person and vice versa. For example: (As soon as ৰে আৰম্ভ হোৱা বাক্যক Negative কৰিবলৈ No sooner than ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি Tense আৰু person (বচন) অনুসৰি do/did/does/had ৰ ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) As soon as he saw me he began to weep. (Affirmative)
Ans:- No sooner did he see me than he began to weep. (Negative)
(b) As soon as he had reached the station, the  train left. (Affirmative)
Ans:-No sooner had he reached the station than the train left. (Negative)
(c) As soon as he reaches office,he starts shaking  hands with everyone. (Affirmative)
Ans:- No sooner does he reach his office, he starts shaking hands with everyone. (Negative)

10. Unless + Affirmative = If + negative
Affirmative sentences in which "Unless" is used in the subordinate clause, are transformed into Negative Sentences by replacing it with "If" and adding a negative word with the verb. Other necessary changes will also be made. For example: (Unless যুক্ত Affirmative বাক্যবোৰক Negative কৰিবলৈ If ৰ সৈতে Verb ৰ Negative ৰূপ ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়। এইক্ষেত্ৰত Unless ৰ ঠাইত If বহুৱাই অন্যান্য আৱশ্যকীয় পৰিবৰ্তনসমূহ কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) Unless you work hard, you will fail. = If you do not work hard, you will fail.
(b) Unless you walk fast, you will miss the train. = If you do not walk fast you will miss the train.

11. Sometimes, affirmative sentences are turned into Negative Sentences by changing the Degrees of Comparison. Several processes are involved in it. (কেতিয়াবা Affirmative বাক্যবোৰক Negative কৰিবলৈ Degrees of Comparison ৰ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰা হয়। ইয়াত কেইবাটাও প্ৰক্ৰিয়া নিহিত হৈ আছে।)
(i) By changing the Superlative Degree into Positive Degree beginning with "No other".  For examples: (বাক্যৰ আৰম্ভণিত No other ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি Positive Degree লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰিলেই বাক্যটো Negative হৈ যায়। যেনে-)
(a) Mount Everest is the highest mountain peak in the world. (Superlative)
Ans:- No other mountain peak in the world is as high as Mount Everest. (Positive)
(b) Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest of all batsmen in world cricket. (Superlative)
Ans:- No other batsman in world cricket is as great as Sachin Tendulkar. (Positive)

(ii) By changing into Comparative Degree when the structure in the Positive Degree is "as  + adjective + as". Examples:
(a) Rita is as beautiful as Sita. (Positive)
Ans:- Sita is not more beautiful than Rita. (Comparative)
(b) He is as intelligent as I am. (Positive)
Ans:- I am not more intelligent than he. (Comparative)

(iii) When comparison is made between two persons or objects in Comparative Degree, then the part succeeding "than" is brought forward and placed in front of the structure "not so/as + adjective in the Positive Degree + as + Subject of the sentence". For example, (যেতিয়া দুটা বস্তু বা দুজন ব্যক্তিৰ মাজত তুলনা কৰা হয়, তেতিয়া THAN ৰ পাছৰ অংশটো আগলৈ অনা হয় আৰু তাৰ ঠিক পিছতেই Not so/a + Adjective in Positive Degree + as + Subject of the sentence-এই গাঠনিটো ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) He is taller than I am. (Comp) = I am not as/so  tall as he. (Negative)
(b) Gold is more valuable than silver. (Comp) = Silver is not so/as valuable as gold. (Negative)
(c) Easier said than done. (Comp) = Doing is not so/as easy as saying. (Negative)

(iv) When comparison is made among many persons or objects in Comparative Degree, using the expression "than any other/all", the sentence is transformed into Negative by using "No other" in the Positive Degree. For example: (Comparative Degree ত যদি বহুত ব্যক্তি বা বহুত বস্তুৰ মাজত তুলনা কৰি than any other/all ৰ ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা হয়, তেতিয়া বাক্যটোৰ আগত NO OTHER বহুৱাই Positive Degree লৈ ৰূপান্তৰ কৰিলেই Negative হৈ যায়। যেনে--)
(a) He is taller than any other boy in the class. (Comp) = No other boy in the class is as tall as he is. (Negative)
(b) The Ganga is longer than any other river in India. (Comp) = No other river in India is as long as the Ganga. (Negative)

(v) Some sentences in the Comparative Degree are written using the structure "less + adjective in the Positive Degree + than". Such types of sentences are transformed into Negative Sentences by replacing "LESS" with "NOT AS" and "THAN" with "AS. For example, (Comparative Degree ৰ কিছুমান বাক্যত LESS+ADJECTIVE+THAN ৰ ব্যৱহাৰ হোৱা দেখা যায়। এইবিলাক বাক্যত LESS ৰ স্থানত NOT AS আৰু THANৰ ঠাইত AS বহুৱাই Negative লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰা হয়। যেনে--)
(a) He is less intelligent than you said.(Comparative)
Ans:- He is not as intelligent as you said. (Negative)
(b) She is less beautiful than you described.(Comparative)
Ans:- She is not as beautiful as you described.(Negative)

12. Some affirmative sentences are made negative by replacing "EVERY/ALL" with "NO" and adding the "UN" prefix to Verbs. For example, (কিছুমান বাক্যত থকা every বা all ৰ স্থানত no ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি একে সময়তে verb টোৰ আগত  un বহুৱাই Negative বাক্যলৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) He tried every plan. (Affirmative) = He left no plan untried. (Negative)
(b) He answered all questions. (Affirmative) = He left no question unanswered.(Negative)
(c) The CID solved every mystery. (Affirmative) = The CID left no mystery unsolved. (Negative)

13. There are some affirmative sentences in which "Double Negatives" are used to transform them into Negative Sentences. The structure generally followed in such situations, is: "Helping Verb + Not without + noun". For examples: (কিছুমান বাক্য আছে য'ত double negative ৰ ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি Negative sentence লৈ পৰিবৰ্তন কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) I love Jane. (Affirmative) = I am not without love for Jane. (Negative)
(b) Jane loved him. (Affirmative) = Jane was not without love for him. (Negative)
(c) He has money and wealth. (Affirmative) = He is not without money and wealth. (Negative)
(d) The students respect the Principal. (Affirmative) = The students are not without respect for the Principal.

14. Affirmative sentences beginning with "EVERY" are transformed into Negative by using the structure "There is no + noun + without". For example: (EVERY ৰে আৰম্ভ হোৱা Affirmative বাক্যত "There is no + noun + without" ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি Negative লৈ ৰূপান্তৰ কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) Every Rose has a thorn. (Affirmative) = There is no Rose without a thorn. (Negative)
(b) Every cloud has a silver lining. (Affirmative) = There is no cloud without a silver lining. (Negative)
(c) Every fire has smoke. (Affirmative) = There is no fire without smoke. (Negative)

15. When a universal truth is expressed in an Affirmative Sentence, it can be transformed into a Negative-Interrogative sentence. For example (Affirmative বাক্যত চিৰন্তন সত্য ঘটনাৰ প্ৰকাশ পালে সিহঁতক একেসময়তে Negative আৰু Interrogative sentence লৈ ৰূপান্তৰ কৰি Negative কৰা হয়। যেনে-)
(a) The Earth moves round the Sun. = Doesn't the Earth move round the Sun? / Does the Earth not move round the Sun?
(b) Everyone wishes to be happy. = Who does not wish to be happy?
(d) Everyone has heard of Shakespeare. = Who has not heard of Shakespeare?

16. Miscellaneous changes in words in Affirmative - Negative Sentences. (Affirmative ৰ পৰা Negative লৈ নিওতে হোৱা শব্দৰ অন্যান্য পৰিবৰ্তনসমূহ। যেনে-)
Sometimes--Not always, always--never, All--No, Many--Not a few, Much--Not a little, A few--Not many, For good/forever--Never, A little--Not much, Must/have to/has to---Cannot but (OR) Cannot help +V1> ing
Examples for better understanding:
(a) He is sometimes unhappy. = He is not always happy.
(b) He has many friends. = He has not a few friends.
(c) She is much /very tired. = She is not a little tired.
(d) There is a little milk in the glass. = There is not much milk in the glass.
(e) We must respect our elders. = We cannot but respect our elders.

Question Answers for Quick Reference:-
Negative into Affirmative:-
1. No sooner did the train stop than I got into it.
Ans:- As soon as the train stopped, I got into it.
2. She was so ill that she could not attend college yesterday,
Ans:- She was too ill to attend college yesterday.
3. I am not taller than you.
Ans:- You are as tall as I am.
4. No man in the street came forward to help the blind man.
Ans:- Every man in the street hesitated to help the blind man.
5. He did not fail to see the Taj Mahal.
Ans:- He saw the Taj Mahal.
6. The knife is not sharp.
Ans:- The knife is blunt.
7. This young lady is not incompetent for the post.
Ans:- This young lady is competent for the post.
8. None but a fool can act thus.
Ans:- Only a fool can act thus.
9. No one can deny that Zubeen is a good musician.
Ans:- Everyone must admit that Zubeen is a good musician.
10. My mother is not a little tired.
Ans:- My mother is very tired.
11. My grandfather never fails to get up early in the morning.
Ans:- My grandfather always gets up early in the morning.
12. Bandana is not always wise.
Ans:- Bandana is sometimes unwise.
13. No one can escape his destiny.
Ans:- Everyone must face his destiny.
14. I saw nothing in the bag but husks and dust.
Ans:- I saw only husks and dust in the bag.
15. There is nobody but believes in his honesty.
Ans:- Everybody believes in his honesty.
16. There is nothing wrong with me.
Ans:- Is there anything wrong with me?
17. Who does not know that the Sun rises in the east?
Ans:- Everyone knows that the Sun rises in the east.
18. No sooner did she see me than she began to weep.
Ans:- As soon as she saw me, she began to weep.
19. Is there any nation in the world that is not taking notice of India today?
Ans:- Every nation in the world is taking notice of India today.
20. No one found the play uninteresting.
Ans:- Everyone found the play interesting.
21. Every mother cannot but love her child.
Ans:- Every mother must love her child.
22. None of them were bad. > Each of them was good.
23. No other boxer in India is as great as Mary Kom.
Ans:- Mary Kom is the greatest boxer in India.
24. No one can deny that Tendulkar is a great cricketer.
Ans:- Everyone must admit that Tendulkar is a great cricketer.
25. I am not as/so rich as you are.
Ans:- You are richer than I am.

Affirmative into Negative:-
1. You are the only person fit for the post.
Ans:- None but you are the person fit for the post.
2. Can their glory ever fade?
Ans:- Their glory can never fade
3. He is sometimes careless.
Ans:- He is not always careful.
4. Where there is smoke there is fire.
Ans:- There is no smoke without fire.
5. I came here for the last time.
Ans:- I shall never come here again.
6. The brave alone deserve the fair.
Ans:- None but the brave deserve the fair.
7. Only students are allowed to enter the hall.
Ans:- None but the students are allowed to enter the hall.
8. Chennai is hotter than Mumbai.
Ans:- Mumbai is not so/as hot as Chennai.

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Mr. Rupjyoti Goswami
Post Graduate Teacher (English)
Bhogeswar Hazarika Girls' Higher Secondary School, Bebejia, Nagaon, Assam.
Email: rupjyotigoswami983@gmail.com
Mobile: 9864425896.
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