12. Negative Agreement
Either and neither function in simple statements much like so and too in affirmative sentences. However, either and neither are used to indicate negative agreement. The same rules for auxiliaries, be and do, does, or did apply.
negative statement + and + subject + negative auxiliary or be +either /neither +positive auxiliary or be + subject |
I didn't see Mary this morning. John didn't see Mary this morning.
1 didn't see Mary this morning, and John didn't either.
I didn't see Mary this morning, and neither did John.
She won't be going to the conference. Her colleagues won't be going to the conference.
She won't be going to the conference, and her colleagues won't either.
She won't be going to the conference, and neither will her colleagues.
John hasn't seen the new movie yet. I haven't seen the new movie yet.
John hasn't seen the new movie yet, and I haven't either.
John hasn't seen the new movie yet, and neither have I.
Exercise 19: Negative Agreement
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of either or neither.
The children shouldn't take that medicine, and ____should she.
We don't plan to attend the concert, and do they.
I don't like tennis, and he doesn't
She didn't see anyone she knew, and did Tim.
The Yankees couldn't play due to the bad weather, and could the Angels.
Mary can't type well, and her sister can't
I'm not interested in reading that book, and. is she.
They won't have to work on weekends, and we won't
I can't stand listening to that music, and she can't
Michael doesn't speak English, and his family doesn't __________
Exercise 20: Negative Agreement
In the following sentences, supply the correct form of the missing verb.
1. That scientist isn't too happy with the project, and neither her supervisors.
We can't study in the library, and they either.
I haven't worked there long, and neither you.
You didn't pay the rent, and she either.
They didn't want anything to drink, and neither we.
John shouldn't go so fast, and neither you.
The students won't accept the dean's decision, and the faculty ________ either.
Your class hasn't begun yet, and neither mine.
She couldn't attend the lecture, and her sister either.
10. He didn't know the answer, and neither _____ I.
I 3. Negation
To make a sentence negative, add the negative particle not after the auxiliary or verb be. If there is no auxiliary or be, add the appropriate form of do, does, or did and place the word not after that.
John is rich. John is not rich.
Sandra is going to Hawaii. Sandra is not going to Hawaii.
Mark has seen Bill. Mark has not seen Bill.
Mary can leave now. Mary can not leave now.
The following examples contain no auxiliary, and thus use do, does, or did.
Marvin likes spinach. Marvin does not like spinach.
Isaac went to class. Isaac did not go to class.
They want to leave now. They do not want to leave now.
• Some/any: If there is a noun in the complement of a negative sentence, one should add the particle any before the noun. Note: the following rule applies to the use of some and any.
some - affirmative sentences
any- negative sentences and questions
John has some money. John doesn't have any money.
It is also possible to make sentences such as this negative by adding the negative particle no before the noun. In this case, the verb cannot be negative.
John has no money.
Exercise 20.1:Some/any
Insert some or any, making the appropriate compounds (for example, somebody, anything) if necessary.
There's . . . milk in that jug.
She wanted . . . stamps but there weren't... in the machine.
I'm afraid there isn't . . . coffee left; will you grind . . . ?
Is there . . . one here who speaks Italian?
I'd like to buy . . . new clothes but I haven't. . . money.
There's . . . gin in the cupboard but there aren't . . . glasses.
They can't have . . . more strawberries; I want... to make jam.
... one I know told me ... of the details.
Have you . . . idea who could have borrowed your bicycle?
I saw hardly . . . one I knew at the party, and I didn't get... thing to drink.
When would you like to come? ~ . . . day would suit me.
Are there . . . letters for me?
Don't let... one in. I'm too busy to see . . . body.
... thing tells me you've got. . . bad news for me.
I can't see my glasses . . . where.
We didn't think he'd succeed but he managed . . . how.
You're looking very miserable; has . . . thing upset you?
If you had . . . sense you wouldn't leave your car unlocked.
Scarcely . . . one was wearing a dinner jacket.
... one who believes what Jack says is a fool.
She put her handbag down . . . where and now she can't find it.
Will you have . . . pudding or ... fruit?
Haven't you got. . . friends in Rome? I feel sure you mentioned them once.
Haven't you got. . . friends here? You should join a club and get to know people.
I see you haven't . . . maps. Would you like to borrow ... of mine?
... one can tell you how to get there. (Everyone knows the way.)
Come and have supper with us if you aren't doing . . . thing tonight.
I ... how imagined the house would be much larger.
All the salaries are being paid much later now; it's . . . thing to do with the computer.
• Hardly, barely, rarely, seldom, etc.: Remember that in an English sentence it is usually incorrect to have two negatives together. This is called a double negative and is not acceptable in standard English. The following words have a negative meaning and, thus, must be used with a positive verb.
John rarely comes to class on time. (John usually does not come to class on time.)
Jerry hardly studied last night. (Jerry studied very little last night.)
She scarcely remembers the accident. (She-almost doesn't remember the accident.)
We seldom see photos of these animals. (We almost never see photos of these animals.)
Jane barely arrived on time. (Jane almost didn't arrive on time.)
I hardly ever go to sleep before midnight. (I usually don't go to sleep before midnight.)