Negative Adverbs

What are Negative Adverbs?

Negative Adverbs are used to "describe or modify" the meaning of a verb, adjective, another adverb, or an entire clause in a "negative way".

There are the two most common Negative Adverbs:

No and Not

Many scholars say that the words “no” and “not” should not be classed as adverbs, but most grammarians on the other hand would argue that they should be. Let’s find out why.

Either no or not is often used to make a certain statement negative.

example:

Somebody says,

           "We should tolerate bullying."

This sentence tells us that they can and should tolerate bullying by doing so.

If this is to be opposed, no or not will be used to modify the main verb negatively. The main verb here is “tolerate”.

So, it will turn into:

             "We should not tolerate bullying."

What a difference the word no or not makes!

The word “not” here acted as the modifier of the verb. It described the case of the verb as negative, so it is an adjective. And those grammarians who stood firm arguing that no and not should be classed as adverbs are correct.

It is not just the adverbs no or not that can be used to negate a certain statement.

There are also some other adverbs that are almost equal to no/not like:

hardly, barely, and scarcely for almost no

and

no longer, barely ever, hardly ever,  and never for completely no.

example:

       "I can read the words."

If it is to be made something negative, the words hardly, barely, or scarcely can be used before the main verb “read” to mean: I cannot almost read the words.

       "I can hardly read the words."      

If it is to be addressed that: I cannot completely read the words, then any of these above adverbs (no longer, barely ever, hardly ever,  and never) can be used and say:

      "I cannot read the words."

or

       "I can never read the words."

or

      "I can hardly ever read the words."