Welcome! Let’s Learn to Ask and Say "No"

In our last lessons, we learned how to make simple sentences like "I like cats" or "You are a student." But what happens if you don't like cats? Or what if you want to ask a friend if they like cats?
In this chapter, we will learn how to turn regular sentences into Negative Sentences (saying "no") and Question Sentences (asking things). Don't worry if it seems tricky—once you see the patterns, it’s like solving a fun puzzle!

1. Saying "No": Negative Sentences

A negative sentence is just a way to say that something is not true. In English, we usually add the word not to the sentence.

Using "Not" with Be-Verbs

When you use words like am, is, or are, you simply put not right after them.
• "I am happy." \(\to\) "I am not happy."
• "He is a doctor." \(\to\) "He is not a doctor."
• "They are hungry." \(\to\) "They are not hungry."

Using "Don't" and "Can't"

For other action words (like run, play, or like), we often use do not (or the short version don't) to make it negative. If we are talking about what we are able to do, we use cannot (or can't).
• "I like milk." \(\to\) "I do not like milk." (or "I don't like milk.")
• "I can swim." \(\to\) "I cannot swim." (or "I can't swim.")

Quick Review: To make a sentence negative, look for the "helper" word and add not!

2. Asking "Yes or No" Questions

When we want to ask a question that can be answered with a "Yes" or a "No," we usually change the order of the words or add a "helper" word at the very beginning.

The "Switch" Rule (Be-Verbs)

For sentences with is, am, or are, we move the verb to the front of the sentence.
• Sentence: "You are hungry."
• Question: "Are you hungry?"

• Sentence: "It is a cat."
• Question: "Is it a cat?"

The "Do" and "Can" Helpers

If there is no be-verb, we put Do or Can at the beginning of the sentence to turn it into a question.
• Sentence: "You like apples." \(\to\) Question: "Do you like apples?"
• Sentence: "You can play guitar." \(\to\) Question: "Can you play guitar?"

Did you know? In English, we always put a question mark (?) at the end of a written question so the reader knows our voice should go up at the end!

3. Using Question Words (Who, What, Where...)

Sometimes, "Yes" or "No" isn't enough. We might want to know more information. For this, we use special Wh-words at the very start of the sentence.

Here are the most common ones you will use:
• Who: Used for people. ("Who is your teacher?")
• What: Used for things. ("What is this?")
• When: Used for time. ("When is your birthday?")
• Where: Used for places. ("Where is the park?")
• Why: Used for reasons. ("Why are you tired?")
• How: Used for the way something is. ("How are you?")

Note: To learn more about these specific words, check out the chapter on "Wh-Question Sentences"!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting the Question Mark: When writing, always use a ? at the end. Without it, your question looks like a normal sentence!
2. Double Negatives: You only need one "not." Instead of saying "I don't not like it," just say "I don't like it."
3. Word Order: Remember that in questions, the "helper" (like Do, Are, or Can) likes to be the leader and stand at the front!

Summary Table

Positive: I am a student.
Negative: I am not a student.
Question: Are you a student?

Positive: I like soccer.
Negative: I don't like soccer.
Question: Do you like soccer?

Key Takeaways

• Use not or don't to make a sentence negative (saying "no").
• Move Are/Is to the front or add Do/Can at the beginning to ask a "Yes/No" question.
• Use Wh-words (Who, What, Where...) at the very start to ask for specific information.
• Practice speaking these out loud! Your voice usually goes up at the end of a question.