Transformation Practice Affirmative to Negative / Affirmative to Negative Rules and Exercises

Affirmative and Negative Sentences

Basic Rules

Rules of transforming Affirmative into Negative Sentences or vice versa:

✅ Rule 1: Only / alone / merely → Replaced by → None but (person) / nothing but (thing) / not more than (number)

Aff: Only Allah can help us.

Neg: None but Allah can help us.

Aff: He has only a ball.

Neg: He has nothing but a ball.

Aff: He has only ten taka.

Neg: He has not more than ten taka.

Aff: She has only one chance left.

Neg: She has not more than one chance left.

Aff: They only have a small car.

Neg: They have nothing but a small car.

Aff: The only solution is to leave.

Neg: None but leaving is the solution.

✅ Rule 2: Must → Replaced by → Cannot but / Cannot help + (verb+ing)

Aff: We must obey our parents.

Neg: We cannot but obey our parents.

Aff: I must study hard for the exam.

Neg: I cannot help studying hard for the exam.

Aff: She must visit her grandmother.

Neg: She cannot but visit her grandmother.

Aff: We must be on time for the meeting.

Neg: We cannot help being on time for the meeting.

Aff: He must leave immediately.

Neg: He cannot help leaving immediately.

✅ Rule 3: Both – and / And (joining words) → Replaced by → Not only – but also

Aff: Both Dolon and Dola were excited.

Neg: Not only Dolon but also Dola was excited.

Aff: He was obedient and gentle.

Neg: He was not only obedient but also gentle.

Aff: She is talented and hardworking.

Neg: She is not only talented but also hardworking.

Aff: The book and the pen are on the table.

Neg: Not only the book but also the pen is on the table.

Aff: The movie was exciting and funny.

Neg: The movie was not only exciting but also funny.

✅ Rule 4: Everyone / Every / All → Replaced by → There is no + noun + but

Aff: Every mother loves her child.

Neg: There is no mother but loves her child.

Aff: All students attended the class.

Neg: There is no student but attended the class.

Aff: Everyone in the room was happy.

Neg: There is no person in the room but was happy.

Aff: Every person needs food.

Neg: There is no person but needs food.

Aff: All the children play outside.

Neg: There is no child but plays outside.

✅ Rule 5: As soon as → Replaced by → No sooner had – than

Aff: As soon as the thief saw the police, he ran away.

Neg: No sooner had the thief seen the police than he ran away.

Aff: As soon as the bell rang, the students left.

Neg: No sooner had the bell rung than the students left.

Aff: As soon as I finished my homework, I went to bed.

Neg: No sooner had I finished my homework than I went to bed.

✅ Rule 6: Superlative Degree → Replaced by → No other + noun + so + positive adjective + as

Aff: Dhaka is the biggest city in Bangladesh.

Neg: No other city is so big as Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Aff: This is the best book I’ve ever read.

Neg: No other book is so good as this one.

Aff: He is the most talented musician.

Neg: No other musician is so talented as he.

Aff: She is the richest woman in the town.

Neg: No other woman is so rich as she in the town.

✅ Rule 7: Change with opposite word + ‘not’

Aff: I shall remember you.

Neg: I shall not forget you.

Aff: He always helps others.

Neg: He does not ignore others.

Aff: She enjoys dancing.

Neg: She does not hate dancing.

Aff: They will meet soon.

Neg: They will not miss the meeting.

✅ Rule 8: Always → Replaced by → Never

Aff: Raven always attends the class.

Neg: Raven never misses the class.

Aff: He is always punctual.

Neg: He is never late.

Aff: I always go to the gym.

Neg: I never skip the gym.

Aff: They always help their neighbors.

Neg: They never ignore their neighbors.

✅ Rule 9: Too – to → Replaced by → So – that + cannot / could not

Aff: He is too weak to walk.

Neg: He is so weak that he cannot walk.

Aff: The box is too heavy to carry.

Neg: The box is so heavy that I could not carry it.

Aff: The problem is too complex to solve.

Neg: The problem is so complex that we could not solve it.

Aff: She is too busy to attend the party.

Neg: She is so busy that she cannot attend the party.

✅ Rule 10: As – as → Replaced by → Not less – than

Aff: Simi was as wise as Rimi.

Neg: Simi was not less wise than Rimi.

Aff: He is as tall as John.

Neg: He is not less tall than John.

Aff: This book is as interesting as the previous one.

Neg: This book is not less interesting than the previous one.

Aff: Her dress is as beautiful as the other.

Neg: Her dress is not less beautiful than the other.

✅ Rule 11: Universal truths → Changed into negative interrogative

Aff: The Sun sets in the west.

Neg: Doesn’t the Sun set in the west?

Aff: Water boils at 100°C.

Neg: Doesn’t water boil at 100°C?

Aff: Earth revolves around the Sun.

Neg: Doesn’t Earth revolve around the Sun?

Aff: Birds migrate in winter.

Neg: Don’t birds migrate in winter?

✅ Rule 12: Sometimes → Replaced by → Not always

Aff: I sometimes eat junk food.

Neg: I don’t always eat junk food.

Aff: Raven sometimes visits me.

Neg: Raven doesn’t always visit me.

Aff: We sometimes go out for dinner.

Neg: We don’t always go out for dinner.

✅ Rule 13: Many → Replaced by → Not a few

Aff: I have many friends.

Neg: I do not have a few friends.

Aff: There are many people in the park.

Neg: There are not a few people in the park.

✅ Rule 14: A few → Replaced by → Not many

Aff: Bangladesh has a few scholars.Neg: Bangladesh doesn’t have many scholars.

Aff: There are a few students in the class.

Neg: There aren’t many students in the class.

✅ Rule 15: Much → Replaced by → Not a little

Aff: He eats much food.Neg: He doesn’t eat a little food.

Aff: We have much time left.

Neg: We don’t have a little time left.

✅ Rule 16: A little → Replaced by → Not much

Aff: I have a little time.

Neg: I don’t have much time.

Aff: He has a little patience.

Neg: He doesn’t have much patience.

Exercise:

Affirmative to Negative

Transform the following sentence into negative

1. Only a healthy man can have a healthy mind.

2. He is always dependent on his employer.

3. The lack of knowledge of nutrition is the only cause of malnutrition.

4. Anger begets only the worst.

5. Everybody wants friends

6. His contribution to Bengali literature is incomparable.

7. He was a monarch without a crown.

8 In fact, love always brings love.

9. Corruption has become a common affair here.

10. As soon as the neighbours heard the hue and cry, they rushed to the spot.

11. Only education gives us the light of knowledge.

12. A computer is a blessing on earth.

13. All men must die.

14.They are always attentive to their duties.

15. Walking is beneficial to health.

16. The brave alone deserve the fair.

17. The lands were fertile

18. The carter was a lazy fellow.

19. The crow looks very ugly.

20. Every patriot loves his country.

21.We must learn English

22. Her parents loved her.

23.All hate him

24.She will remember the stranger

25.Everybody dislikes him.

26.He is the best player.

27. A truthful person cares nobody.

 28.The teaching  staff of this school are qualified.

29. In a word a moonlit night is very pleasant .

30. We always remember their memories.

31. Literacy rate in Bangladesh is very poor.

32.Mohammad Mushin was a kind man.

33. He inherited vast property from his father and sister.

34.Plato’s  poetical works were full of patriotism and optimism.

35.Only those who leave this straight road will fall into pit.

36. Her parents liked her very much.

37. Some TV programmes present vulgar sights.

38.We should be honest in our life.

39.The teachers are very friendly with the students.

40.The bee lives together.

41.She is always attentive to her study.

Answer

Affirmative to Negative

1.       None but a healthy man can have a healthy mind.

2.       He is never independent of his employer.

He is not sometimes dependent on his employer

3.       Nothing but the lack of knowledge of nutrition is the cause of malnutrition.

4.       Anger begets nothing but the worst.

5.       There is nobody who does not want friends.

Is there anybody who does not want friends?

6.       His contribution to Bengali literature is not comparable.

Isn’t his contribution to Bengali literature incomparable?

7.       He was a monarch but he did not have any crown.

He was not a monarch with a crown.

He was a monarch having no crown.

8.       In fact, love never brings hatred.

9.       Corruption hasn’t become an uncommon affair here.

10.    No sooner had the neighbours heard the hue and cry than they rushed to the spot.

11.    Nothing but education gives us the light of knowledge.

12.    A computer is not a curse on earth.

13.    No men can escape death

All men cannot but die.

14.    They are never inattentive to their duties.

15.    Isn’t walking beneficial to health?

Walking is not harmful to health.

16.    None but the brave deserve the fair.

17.    The lands were not infertile.

18.    The carter wasn’t an active fellow.

19.    The crow doesn’t look beautiful.

20.    There is no patriot who doesn’t love his country.

21.    We can’t but learn English

22.    Her parents didn’t hate her.

23.    Nobody likes him

24.    She will not forget the stranger

25.    Nobody likes him.

26.    No other player is so good as he.

27.    A truthful person doesn’t care anybody.

28.    The teaching staff of this school are not unqualified.

29.    In a word a moonlit night is not unpleasant.

30.    We never forget their memories

31.    Literacy rate in Bangladesh is not at all high.

32.    Mohammad Mushin was not an unkind man.

33.    He didn’t inherit a little property from his father and sister.

34.    Plato’s poetical works didn’t lack patriotism and optimism.

35.    None but the deserters of this straight road will fall into pit.

None but those who leave this straight road will fall into pit.

36.    Her parents didn’t dislike her at all.

Her parents didn’t like her a little

37.    All TV programmes do not present vulgar sight.

38.    We should not be dishonest in our life.

39.    The teachers are not at all unfriendly with the students

40.    Doesn’t the bee live together?

The bee doesn’t live alone.

41.    She is never inattentive to her study.

Some Common Opposite Words

Main word	Opposite word	Main word	Opposite word
Sincere	Insincere	Real	Unreal
Punctual	Late	Hard	Easy
Literate	Illiterate	Respon sible	Irrespons ible
Possible	Impossible	Doubtful	Sure
Pleased	Displeased	Remember	Forget
Honesty	Dishonesty	Honour	Dishonor
Good	Bad	Honest	Dishonest
Regular	Irregular	Moral	Immoral
Active	Inactive	Pleasant	Unpleasant
Mortal	Immortal	Comfort able	Uncomfor table
Willing	Unwilling	Obey	Disobey
Solvent	Insolvent	Right	Wrong
Fact	Fiction	Safe	Unsafe
Young	Old	Sorrow	Joy
Rise	Fall	Import	Export
Equal	Unequal	Correct	Incorrect
Arrive	Depart	Fat	Thin
Depend ent	Independ ent	Liable	Asset
Lazy	Active	Clean	Dirty
Kind	Unkind	Quickly	Slowly
Different	Similar	Mad	Sane
Polite	Impolite	Wise	Unwise
New	Old	Correctly	Incorrectly
Abundant	Scarce	Appear	Disappear
Accurate	Inaccurate	Artificial	Natural
Advan tage	Disadvan tage	Bent	Straight
Admit	Deny	Lend	Borrow
Alive	Dead	Build	Destroy
Ancient	Modern	Boundless	Limited
Attractive	Repulsive	Captive	Free
Awake	Asleep	Common	Rare
Cheerful	Sad	Feeble	Strong
Harsh	Mild	Intelligent	Stupid
Perma nent	Temporary	Private	Public
Patient	Impatient	Serious	Trivial
Shallow	Deep	Strict	Lenient
Take	Give	Zenith	Nadir
War	Peace	Visible	Invisible
Absent	Present	Obedient	Disobedi ent
Happy	Unhappy	Fertile	Barren
Grateful	Ungrateful	Valid	Invalid
Love	Hate	Top	Bottom
Rich	Poor	Freedom	Bondage
Present	Absent	Able	Unable
Wise	Unwise	Reason able	Unreason able
Friend	Foe/enemy	favorable	Unfavor able
Always	Never	Early	Late
Ordinary	Extraordi nary	Push	Pull
Necessary	Unnecessary	Fortunate	Unfortunate
Smooth	Unsmooth	Loyal	Disloyal
Apart	Together	Optimist	Pessimist
Ascend	Descend	Impure	Pure
Blame	Praise	Satisfactory	Unsatisfac tory
Bless	Curse	Tame	Wild
Bitter	Sweet	Zip	Unzip
Brighten	Fade	Voluntary	Compulsory
Cheap	Expensive	Clever	Stupid

Exceptional rules

Affirmative	Negative
a. He is the only boy of 15.	No other boy than/but he is of 15.
b. I read only English.	I read no other subject than English.
c. Water is liquid.	Water is neither solid nor gaseous.
d. Milk is white.	Milk has no other colour without white.
e. Iron is solid.	Iron is neither liquid nor gaseous.
f. Where there is fire, there is smoke.	There is no smoke without fire.
g. He tried all plans.	He left no stone unturned.
h. He has given up smoking for good.	He will never smoke again.
i. He is less ugly than you said.	He is not as ugly as you said.
j. You are less good than he said.	You are not as good as he said.
k. He has left the village forever.	He will never come to his village again.
l. All must submit to death.	No one can escape death.
m. Where there is fire, there is smoke.	There is no smoke without fire.
n. I am unable to attend their needs.	I cannot attend their needs.
o. I missed the train.	I could not catch the train.
p. Everyone admits that he is a good musician.	No one can deny that he is a good musician.
q. Everybody will admit that I am right.	Nobody will deny that I am right.
r. It is often difficult in company to speak frankly.	It is not always easy in company to speak frankly.
s. I refused to wait any longer.	I would not wait any longer.
t. More attacks followed.	This was not his last attack.
u. I was doubtful if he would come.	I was not sure that he would come.
v. He always minds his lessons.	He never neglects his lessons.
w. It always pours when it rains.	It never rains but pours.
x. You are the only person fit for the post.	No other person but you are fit for the post.
y. I come here for the last time.	Never again I shall come here.
z. In all respects this morning was like any other.	This morning did not differ from any other in any respect.
aa. He will go only under compulsion.	He will go unless he is compelled.
bb. Chance and accidents are only aliases of ignorance.	Chance and accidents are nothing but aliases of ignorance.
cc. Jim was always on time.	Jim never late.
dd. I saw only but husks and dust in the bag.	I saw nothing in the bag but husks and dust.
ee. It was the only school for males.	There was no other school for males.
ff. A little boy is always innocent..	A little boy is never guilty.
gg. There are many people here.	There are not a few people here.
hh. We sold a little honey.	We did not sell much honey.
ii. I come here for the last time.	I shall never come here
jj. Then I saw him last.	I have never seen him since then.
kk. I warn you for the last time.	I shall never warn you.
ll. I have given up smoking forever.	I shall never smoke again.
mm. He came here for the last time.	He never came here again.