not + description

Saying a State Is Not True

Level 1

Not can negate an adjective or identifying phrase without a spoken be verb: This one not spicy. It does not automatically replace don't before every action verb.

How It Works

Not can negate a describing or identifying predicate without a spoken be. This one not spicy denies the spicy description. The sentence can be complete in its setting even though is is unspoken.

Compare not spicy with don't eat spicy food: the first denies a state, while the second denies an action or habit. The full form This one is not spicy remains available. Read the entire predicate before choosing a negative. In particular, do not teach not as a universal replacement for every negative auxiliary in an English-derived sentence.

Examples (4)

  1. This one not spicy.

    This one is not spicy.

  2. The shop not open yet.

    The shop is not open yet.

  3. That bag not mine.

    That bag is not mine.

  4. Today not so crowded.

    It is not so crowded today.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

not + descriptionLevel 1Saying a State Is Not True

Learn This First

Recognize the adjective predicate before denying the description with not.