Negative verbs are formed by adding a hostile auxiliary, usually “non,” to the main verb. The auxiliary is not always necessary in positive affirmations or agreements. The negative verb simply turns a statement upside down, indicating a negative outlook.
The truth is that no one can always be positive, and that goes for verbs too. There’s really only one way for any verb to show a negative side, and that’s in the form of what’s called a negative verb. The term is misleading, however, because the verb remains its usually solar self and simply wears a hostile auxiliary, most typically in the form of non. A child who goes to school most days, for example, but has a sore throat, doesn’t go to school until the doctor says it’s okay to go back.
It should be noted that it is no longer often attached to a form of have, be or do in the creation of a negative verb. This combination of have + not, is + not, or do + not is the auxiliary of the main verb in the sentence, which does not change. Therefore, when discussing a meal at a lavish restaurant, a happy diner might report that the meal tastes wonderful, while a less happy diner might complain to the waiter that the food doesn’t taste very good, considering the expense. The first diner, however, does not use the auxiliary in the positive affirmation saying that the meal tastes good.
In English, it is possible to use an auxiliary in a positive way. An example is expressing agreement with something that has just been stated. If the happy diner’s companion had just said that his meal was great, one way to agree is to say, “Yes, the food tastes good.”
Ironically, the auxiliary can also be used outside the negative verb formation to express disagreement. For example, if the happy diner overheard the unhappy diner complaining about the food, he might counter the complaint by stating that the food really does taste great. Most of the time, however, English speakers leave the auxiliary for simple positive affirmations.
In the past, present, or future, the only job the negative verb has to do is turn a statement upside down. A busy CEO will growl at a subordinate, “We don’t have time for this nonsense,” and it doesn’t necessarily mean that time is up, but that the CEO’s outlook is negative. A child who wants to be in the pool will make a fuss when it’s time to leave by proclaiming, “I’m not leaving!” The child’s exasperated parent might reply, “I don’t want to hear that.” In all cases, the meaning of the negative verbal unit is clear.
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