‘Be’ in Present Simple: negative

 

To make negative sentences using be in the Present Simple, we just add not after the verb.

 

Singular	Plural
I am not (’m not) you are not (aren’t) he/she/is not (isn’t)	we are not (aren’t) you are not (aren’t) they are not (aren’t)

 

The verb be takes the same form in positive and negative sentences. The only difference is that we add not.

• I’m not a pupil, I’m a student.
• They are not at home.
• She isn’t in London, she’s in Paris.
• We are not happy about this.

 

Note: “Is not” and “are not” can be contracted in two ways. The subject and verb can be contracted, or the verb and ‘not’. You are not a doctor. (full form) You’re not a doctor. You aren’t a doctor. She is not here right now. (full form) She isn’t here right now. She’s not here right now.

 

When we want to make a negative impersonal statement with ‘there + be’, we can add not or no depending on the noun that follows.

• There is no money in your wallet.
• There aren’t any chairs at the table.
• There isn’t enough food for everyone.