Negative verbs

We make negative verbs with auxiliary verb + not.

• We have not forgotten you.

• It was not raining.

In an informal style, we use contracted negatives with n't .

• We haven't forgotten you. It wasn't raining.
• If there is no auxiliary verb, we use do with not.
• I like the salad, but I don't like the soup.

Imperatives
We make negative imperatives with do not or don't + infinitive.

• Don't worry — I'll look after you. (NOT Worry not . . .)
• Don't believe a word he says. Don't be rude.

Infinitives and -ing forms

We put not before infinitives and -ing forms. Do is not used.

• It's important not to worry. (NOT . . .  to don't worry.)
• The best thing on holiday is not working
  

Other negative words

Other words besides not can give a clause a negative meaning. Compare:

• He's not at home.
  
• He's never at home.
  
• He's seldom/rarely/hardly ever at home.

We do not use the auxiliary do with these other words. Compare:

• He doesn't work
  
• He never works. (NOT He does never work.)
  
• He seldom/rarely/hardly ever works.
  

some and any, etc

We do not usually use some, somebody, someone, something or somewhere in questions and negative sentences. Instead, we use any, anybody etc.  Compare:

• I've found some mushrooms.
• I haven't found any mushrooms.
  

think, believe, suppose, imagine and hope

When we introduce negative ideas with think, believe, suppose and imagine, we usually make the first verb (think etc) negative, not the second

• I don't think you've met my wife. (NOT I think you haven't met my wife.)
• I don't believe she's at home.
  

Hope is an exception

I hope it doesn 't rain. (NOT I don't hope it rains.) Short answers are possible with not after the verb. 'Will it rain?' I hope not'