Auxiliary Verbs and Negative Sentences

In Grammar 1-2, we learned about tenses.  When we use tenses, we use auxiliary verbs to help make the tense. In the present continuous, future: be going to, and the future: present continuous, we use the auxiliary verb, be.

  • I am 
  • You are
  • He is
  • She is
  • It is
  • We are
  • They are
 
 

Present Continuous

  • They are talking about the government.
  • He is sleeping now.

Future: Be Going To

  • He is going to come here soon.
  • We are going to play soccer tomorrow.

Future: Present Continuous

  • We are having dinner together tonight.
  • He is flying to Mexico tomorrow. 

When we make negative sentences, we add the word not after the auxiliary verb.  When speaking, English speakers often contract the auxiliary verb with not.

Present Continuous

They are talking about the government.

  • They are not talking about the government.
  • They aren't talking about the government.

He is sleeping now.

  • He is not sleeping now.
  • He isn't sleeping now.

Future: Be Going To

He is going to come here soon.

  • He is not going to come here soon.
  • He isn't going to come here soon.

We are going to play soccer tomorrow.

  • We are not going to play soccer tomorrow.
  • We aren't going to play soccer tomorrow.

Future: Present Continuous

We are having dinner together tonight.

  • We are not having dinner together tonight.
  • We aren't having dinner together tonight.

He is flying to Mexico tomorrow.

  • He is not flying to Mexico tomorrow.
  • He isn't flying to Mexico tomorrow.

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