Negative sentences - ESL worksheet by xcharo - Free Printable

Let's solve this exercise step by step.

The task is to make negative sentences using the structure shown in the example:

> EXAMPLE: I speak English, but I don’t speak German.

So, we need to negate the second part of each sentence while keeping the first part as it is. The key is to use the correct form of "do not" (don't), "does not" (doesn't), "did not" (didn't), "can't", "hasn't", etc., depending on the verb and subject.

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Here’s the completed worksheet with explanations:

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1. He likes tea, but he doesn’t like coffee.
→ *likes* is present simple, third person singular → use doesn't like

2. I can skate, but I can’t ski.
→ *can* → negative: can’t

3. She likes cooking, but she doesn’t like cleaning.
→ *likes* → third person singular → doesn't like

4. He plays football, but he doesn’t play tennis.
→ *plays* → third person singular → doesn't play

5. They get up early, but they don’t get up early at weekends.
→ *get up* → plural subject → don’t get up

6. She goes to bed late on Saturday, but she doesn’t go to bed late on weekdays.
→ *goes* → third person singular → doesn't go

7. She’s writing to Susan, but she isn’t writing to Mary.
→ *is writing* → present continuous → isn’t writing

8. She studies Maths, but she doesn’t study History.
→ *studies* → third person singular → doesn't study

9. He buys the newspaper, but he doesn’t buy any magazines.
→ *buys* → third person singular → doesn't buy

10. She’s cleaning the sitting-room, but she isn’t cleaning the kitchen.
→ *is cleaning* → present continuous → isn’t cleaning

11. They were in the cinema, they weren’t in the theatre.
→ *were* → past tense → weren’t

12. She has coffee for breakfast, she doesn’t have anything to eat.
→ *has* → third person singular → doesn't have

13. I go to work by bus, I don’t go by train.
→ *go* → first person → don’t go

14. I can drive a car, but I can’t drive a lorry.
→ *can* → negative: can’t drive

15. I’ve got two brothers, I haven’t got any sisters.
→ *have got* → negative: haven’t got

16. I like Susan, but I don’t like her friends.
→ *like* → first person → don’t like

17. I can write with my right hand, but I can’t write with my left hand.
→ *can* → negative: can’t write

18. In Italy, they eat spaghetti, they don’t eat rice.
→ *eat* → plural subject → don’t eat

19. He smokes, but he doesn’t smoke too much.
→ *smokes* → third person singular → doesn't smoke

20. I am with Peter, I am not with Tom.
→ *am* → negative: am not (or aren't is incorrect here — must be am not)

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✔ Final Answers:

1. doesn’t like
2. can’t ski
3. doesn’t like
4. doesn’t play
5. don’t get up
6. doesn’t go
7. isn’t writing
8. doesn’t study
9. doesn’t buy
10. isn’t cleaning
11. weren’t
12. doesn’t have
13. don’t go
14. can’t drive
15. haven’t got
16. don’t like
17. can’t write
18. don’t eat
19. doesn’t smoke
20. am not

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🔍 Explanation Summary:

- Use don’t/doesn’t/didn’t for present simple.
- Use can’t for modal verbs.
- Use isn’t/wasn’t/aren’t for be-verbs.
- Use haven’t got for possession (negative).
- Always match the subject and verb form correctly.

Let me know if you'd like this as a printable version!