Negation Exercise & Practice with Explanation

1. I like her a lot.

I am not liking her a lot.	I don’t like her a lot.
I didn’t like her a lot.	I haven’t liked her a lot.
Correct Answer: I don’t like her a lot.
Explanation: The given sentence is in present indefinite tense and so the negative form should be in that tense as well.

2. He is working on it.

He was not working on it.	He hasn’t worked on it.
He isn’t working on it.	He won’t be working on it.
Correct Answer: He isn’t working on it.
Explanation: The given sentence is in present continuous tense and so the negative form should be in present continuous tense as well.

3. We have decided to go there.

We didn’t decide to go there.	We will not decide to go there.
We are not deciding to go there.	We haven’t decided to go there.
Correct Answer: We haven’t decided to go there.
Explanation: The given sentence is in present perfect tense and so the negative form should be in present perfect tense as well.

4. You have been my best friend since we know each other.

You haven’t been my best friend since we know each other.	You are not my best friend since we know each other.
You were not my best friend since we know each other.	You will not be my best friend since we know each other.
Correct Answer: You haven’t been my best friend since we know each other.
Explanation: You will not be my best friend since we know each other.

5. She lied to me last night.

She wasn’t lying to me last night.	She hadn’t lied to me last night.
She didn’t lie to me last night.	She hasn’t lied to me last night.
Correct Answer: She didn’t lie to me last night.
Explanation: The given sentence is in past indefinite tense and so the negative form should be in past indefinite tense as well.

6. They were playing soccer in the rain.

They aren’t playing soccer in the rain.	They hadn’t played soccer in the rain.
They will not be playing soccer in the rain.	They weren’t playing soccer in the rain.
Correct Answer: They weren’t playing soccer in the rain.
Explanation: The given sentence is in past continuous tense and so the negative form should be in past continuous tense as well.

7. He had done everything that was asked of him.

He hadn’t been doing everything that was asked of him.	He hadn’t done everything that was asked of him.
He wasn’t doing everything that was asked of him.	He isn’t doing everything that was asked of him.
Correct Answer: He hadn’t done everything that was asked of him.
Explanation: The given sentence is in past perfect tense and so the negative form should be in past perfect tense as well.

8. I had been working there for 3 years.

I hadn’t worked there for 3 years.	I didn’t work there for 3 years.
I hadn’t been working there for 3 years.	I haven’t been working there for 3 years.
Correct Answer: I hadn’t been working there for 3 years.
Explanation: The given sentence is in past perfect continuous tense and so the negative form should be in past perfect continuous tense as well.

9. They will come to visit you whenever possible.

They will come to visit you whenever possible.	They won’t be coming to visit you whenever possible.
They weren’t coming to visit you whenever possible.	They weren’t coming to visit you whenever possible.
Correct Answer: They will come to visit you whenever possible.
Explanation: The given sentence is in future indefinite tense and so the negative form should be in future indefinite tense as well.

10. She will be back home soon.

She won’t be baking home soon.	She won’t be back home soon.
She won’t have been back home soon.	She wasn’t back home soon.
Correct Answer: She won’t be back home soon.
Explanation: The given sentence is in future indefinite tense and so the negative form should be in future indefinite form as well.

11. He will be running late for the meeting.

He won’t run late for the meeting.	He won’t have been run late for the meeting.
He wasn’t running late for the meeting.	He won’t be running late for the meeting.
Correct Answer: He won’t be running late for the meeting.
Explanation: The given sentence is in future continuous tense and so the negative form will be in future continuous tense as well.

12. You will have finished it without any difficulties.

You won’t have finished it without any difficulties.	You won’t be finishing it without any difficulties.
You won’t finish it without any difficulties.	You weren’t finishing it without any difficulties.
Correct Answer: You won’t have finished it without any difficulties.
Explanation: The given sentence is in future perfect tense and so the negative form should be in future perfect tense as well.

13. They will have been trying for years.

They won’t have tried for years.	They won’t be trying for years.
They won’t be trying for years.	They haven’t been trying for years.
Correct Answer: They won’t be trying for years.
Explanation: The given sentence is in future perfect continuous tense and so the negative form should be in future perfect continuous tense as well.

14. I can do this.

I couldn’t do this.	I can’t do this.
I won’t do this.	I wouldn’t do this.
Correct Answer: I can’t do this.
Explanation: “Can” has been used as a modal auxiliary verb in the given sentence. So it can be made negative by simply adding “not” with the modal auxiliary verb.

15. We must read for the exam.

We didn’t read for the exam.	We haven’t read for the exam.
We mustn’t read for the exam.	We shouldn’t read for the exam.
Correct Answer: We mustn’t read for the exam.
Explanation: “Must” has been used as a modal auxiliary verb in the given sentence. So it can be made negative by simply adding “not” with the modal auxiliary verb.

16. Anyone can do this.

Anyone can’t do this.	Everyone can’t do this.
Anyone wouldn’t do this.	No one can do this.
Correct Answer: No one can do this.
Explanation: The word “anyone” can be replaced by “no one” while making the sentence negative.

17. Anything can go wrong today.

Nothing can go wrong today.	Anything wouldn’t go wrong today.
Anything shouldn’t go wrong today.	Anything doesn’t go wrong today.
Correct Answer: Nothing can go wrong today.
Explanation: The word “anything” can be replaced by “nothing” while making the sentence negative.

18. I should forgive her.

I don’t forgive her.	I shouldn’t forgive her.
I shouldn’t have forgiven her.	I couldn’t forgive her.
Correct Answer: I shouldn’t forgive her.
Explanation: “Should” has been used as a modal auxiliary verb in the given sentence. So it can be made negative by simply adding “not” with the modal auxiliary verb.

19. She might come back to me.

She shouldn’t come back to me.	She won’t come back to me.
She mightn’t come back to me.	She hasn’t come back to me.
Correct Answer: She mightn’t come back to me.
Explanation: “Might” has been used as a modal auxiliary verb in the given sentence. So it can be made negative by simply adding “not” with the modal auxiliary verb.

20. I would accept her for what she is.

I shouldn’t accept her for what she is.	I couldn’t accept her for what she is.
I haven’t accepted her for what she is.	I wouldn’t accept her for what she is.
Correct Answer: I wouldn’t accept her for what she is.
Explanation: “Would” has been used as a modal auxiliary verb in the given sentence. So it can be made negative by simply adding “not” with the modal auxiliary verb.

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