Negative I Word Adverb Nɒt Nɑːt Not/Didn’t It’s

• she did not/didn’t see him.
• it’s not/it isn’t raining.
• it's cold, isn't it?
• don't you eat meat?

not

1. used with be, do or have to form the negative of verbs; used to form the negative of modal verbs like can or must
• She did not/didn’t see him.
• It’s not/It isn’t raining.
• It's cold, isn't it?
• Don't you eat meat?
• I can't see from here.
• He must not go.
2. used to give the following word or phrase a negative meaning, or to reply in the negative
• He warned me not to be late.
• I was sorry not to have seen them.
• Not everybody agrees.
• They had still not decided.
• ‘Who's next?’ ‘Not me.’
• ‘What did you do at school?’ ‘Not a lot.’
• It's not easy being a parent (= it's difficult).
• It's not every day you get to meet a famous actor.
3. used after hope, expect, believe, etc. to give a negative reply
• ‘Will she be there?’ ‘I hope not.’
• ‘Is it ready?’ ‘I'm afraid not.’
• ‘Does he know?’ ‘I believe not.’
4. used to show a negative possibility
• I don't know if he's telling the truth or not.
• Whether you succeed or not depends on the how skilled you are.
5. used to say that you do not want something or will not allow something
• ‘Some more?’ ‘Not for me, thanks.’
• ‘Can I throw this out?’ ‘Certainly not.’
6. even less than
• She was standing not three feet in front of me.
7. used to suggest that the opposite of the following word or phrase is true
• This could all happen in the not too distant future (= soon).
• His view on the matter was not a million miles away from (= close to) mine.
8. used to emphasize the opposite of a statement
• Well, that sounds like a fun evening—not!
9. used for emphasis to mean ‘no thing or person’
• He didn't speak to me—not one word.
10. used to politely accept thanks or to agree to something
• ‘Thanks a lot.’ ‘Not at all.’
• ‘Will it bother you if I smoke?’ ‘Not at all.’
11. used to emphasize that something else is also true
• She not only wrote the text but also selected the illustrations.
• He not only read the book, but also remembered what he had read.
12. used to state that you are not suggesting something
• She hasn't written—not that she said she would.

Word Origin

• Middle English: contraction of the adverb nought.