Transformation Practice Negative to Affirmative

Affirmative and Negative Sentences

Basic Rules

Rules of transforming Affirmative into Negative Sentences or vice versa:

1.      Sentences with ‘only/alone’, changes into ‘none but/nothing but/not more than/not less than’

Examples:

a.      Affirmative: A brave man alone can do this.

Negative: None but a brave man can do this.

b.      Affirmative: I need a book only.

Negative: I need nothing but a book.

c.       Affirmative: I need ten taka only.

Negative: I don’t need more than ten taka.

2.       ‘Must/have to/can’ turns into ‘cannot but’

Examples:

Affirmative: You have to drink clean water.

Negative: You cannot but drink clean water.

3.       ‘And/both’ becomes ‘not only ..but also’

Example:

Affirmative: He ate eggs and vegetables.

Negative: He ate not only eggs but also vegetables.

4.       ‘Every’ becomes ‘there in no ...but’

Example:

Affirmative: Every mother loves her child.

Negative: There is no mother but loves her child.

Note:

In case of ‘everybody’, an affirmative sentence can also be changed into negative using ‘nobody’ and ‘opposite of verb/adjective’:

Example:

Affirmative: Everybody likes flowers.

Negative: Nobody dislikes flowers.

5.      ‘Always’ in affirmative becomes ‘never + opposite word’ in negative statements:

Example:

Affirmative: I am always against of smoking.

Negative: I am never in favour of smoking.

6.      Universal truths are changed into ‘interrogative negative sentences’:

Example:

Affirmative: Knowledge is power

Negative: Isn’t knowledge power?

7.      Many affirmative can be changed into negative by using negative word ‘Not’ and an ‘opposite word’ of the verb:

Example:

Affirmative: I missed the train.

Negative: I could not catch the train.

8.      ‘Sometimes’ in affirmative becomes ‘not always’ in negative:

Example:

Affirmative: The poor are sometimes happy.

Negative: The poor are not always happy.

9.      ‘Many’ becomes ‘not a few’:

Example:

Negative: I don’t have many dolls.

Affirmative: I have a few dolls.

10.      ‘Too..to’ in affirmative becomes ‘so ... that ...+ cannot + verb’:

Example:

Affirmative: He is too weak to walk.

Negative: He is so weak that he cannot walk.

11.      ‘As soon as’ in Affirmative becomes ‘No sooner had...than’ in Negative:

Example:

Affirmative: As soon as he came, the students stood up.

Negative: No sooner had he came than the students stood up.

12.  ‘As+ adjective + as’ in affirmative becomes ‘not less + adjective... than’ in negative sentence:

Example:

Affirmative: Rahim is as good as Karim.

Negative: Rahim is not less good than Karim.

Exceptional:

Affirmative: Where there is smoke, there is fire.

Negative: There can be no smoke without fire.

Affirmative: All must die.

Negative: None can escape death.

Affirmative: I come here for the last time.

Negative: I will never come here again.

Exercise:

Negative to Affirmative

Transform the following sentences into affirmative

1. He did not marry.

2. A lie never lies hidden.

3.He is never late in attending his classes.

4.We should not disturb social order.

5.The ship did not come nearer.

6. Peace and prosperity is not possible without being industrious.

7.Her parents could not but like her.

8. He is not well paid.

9. No person can be happy without friends.

10.The boy could not but go to  Dhaka yesterday.

11.Everybody can not but be conscious of health.

12. It is not a big village.

13. Their contribution will never be forgotten.

14.We can’t stop the effects of the green-house gas emissions that have already taken place.

15.He could not but feel pity for the lion.

16. No one can prosper in life without industry.

17.It is not very often seen  beside human habitation.

18.No person can be happy without friends.

19. Raju found out that it was not easy to light the fire.

20.He is never late to attend his classes.

21. Everybody cannot but be conscious of health.

22.They cannot help loving you if you be kind and friendly.

23. The criminals show no mercy in throwing  acid to  a  face they were in love with  a few days ago .

24.  We cannot but depend on computers.

Answer:

Negative to Affirmative

1.       He was a bachelor.

He was unmarried.

2.       Does a lie ever lie hidden?

3.       He is always punctual in attending his classes.

4.       We should obey social order.

5.       The ship stayed afar.

6.       Peace and prosperity is impossible without being industrious.

7.       Her parents must have liked her.

8.       He is under paid./He is poorly paid.

9.       Every person needs friends to be happy.

10.    The boy must have gone to Dhaka yesterday.

11.    Everybody must be conscious of health.

12.    It is a small village.

13.    Their contribution will always be remembered.

14.    We are to face the effects of the green-house gas emission that have already taken place.

15.    He must have felt pity for  the lion.

16.    Can anyone prosper in life without industry?

17.    It is sometimes seen beside human habitation.

18.    Every person needs friends to be happy.

19.    Raju found out that it was difficult to light the fire.

20.    He is always punctual to attend his classes.

21.    We must depend on computers.

22.    They must love you, if you be kind and friendly

23.    The criminals are merciless in throwing acid to a face they were in love with a few days ago.

24.    Everybody must be conscious of health.