FluencyCraft

not

"Not" is one of the most essential words in English — it's the main way to make something negative. It has a small number of uses, but you will see it in almost every conversation and text you encounter.

1adverbnegation of a verb

This is the most common use of 'not'. You place it after a helping verb (like 'is', 'do', 'will', 'can') to say that something is false, does not happen, or is refused. Think of it as a switch that flips a sentence from positive to negative.

everyday language · Modern, universally used

She is not coming to the party tonight.

I do not understand this question.

You should not leave the door open.

2adverbnegation of an adjective or phrase

You can also use 'not' directly before an adjective, noun, or phrase — not just a verb — to say something does NOT have that quality or belong to that group.

everyday language · Modern, universally used

The answer is not correct.

This is not a good time to talk.

He is not a doctor — he is a nurse.

3adverbused in short replies

In spoken English, 'not' is often used alone or in a short phrase to give a negative answer or contradict something, without repeating the whole sentence.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

Are you ready? — Not yet.

Is this the right road? — I think not.

Will it rain today? — Probably not.

4adverbused with 'only' to add emphasis

The phrase 'not only' is a very common pattern in English. You use it to say that one thing is true, AND something else is also true — often something surprising or extra. It adds emphasis and makes your sentences sound more sophisticated.

everyday language, writing · Modern, widely used

She is not only smart, but also very kind.

This app is not only free, but it also works offline.

He not only apologized, but he also fixed the problem.

Content generated by AI — may contain inaccuracies