Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To make a sentence negative with 'am', 'is', or 'are', simply put the word 'not' immediately after the verb.
- Use 'am not' for I (e.g., I am not cold).
- Use 'is not' or 'isn't' for he, she, it (e.g., She isn't here).
- Use 'are not' or 'aren't' for you, we, they (e.g., They aren't ready).
Overview
be.be is one of the first things you'll use in English. It allows you to say 'no' to states, identities, and locations. While it sounds simple, it carries a lot of weight.not. Whether you're texting a friend that you aren't ready or telling a boss you am not available for a Sunday meeting, this pattern is everywhere.How This Grammar Works
be (am, is, are) as a powerful engine. To make it go into 'reverse' (negative), we simply add the word not immediately after it. It’s like a little anchor that holds the verb back from being positive.do or does (e.g., I *do not* like), the verb be is a strong, independent verb. It doesn't need any help! It just takes not and carries on with its day.
Formation Pattern
be: Match your subject to am, is, or are.
not: Place it right after the verb.
I am not a gamer. | 저는 게이머가 아니에요.
You are not late. | 너는 늦지 않았어.
He is not my brother. | 그는 내 남동생이 아니야.
She is not at home. | 그녀는 집에 없어.
It is not a bug. | 그건 버그가 아니야.
We are not lost. | 우리는 길을 잃지 않았어.
They are not ready. | 그들은 준비되지 않았어.
I'm not. There is no such thing as 'I amn't' (unless you're in specific parts of Ireland, but for standard English, stay away!).
He's not or He isn't.
They're not or They aren't.
When To Use It
- Identity & Jobs: When someone thinks you're the IT guy but you're actually the CEO (or vice versa).
I'm not the manager. - Feelings & States: When your friend asks if you're angry because you didn't like their TikTok.
I'm not mad, I'm just tired. - Locations: When you're lost and trying to find the gym.
I am not at the entrance. - Nationalities & Descriptions: When someone assumes you're British because of your accent but you're actually Australian.
He isn't English.
I'm not free on Saturday sounds much better than just saying 'No'.
Common Mistakes
- The 'No' Trap: Saying
I no am happyorHe no is here. In English, 'no' is for answers, butnotis for verbs. - The Placement Problem: Saying
He not is my friend. Remember, the verbbealways comes first! It’s the leader.He is not my friend. - The Missing Verb: Saying
I not hungry. This is very common in texting, but it's grammatically 'illegal'. You need thatam!I am not hungry. - The Double Negative: Don't worry, we won't get too technical, but avoid saying things like
I am not no student. One negative is enough to do the job.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
be + not versus do + not. Here’s the gold rule: If you're describing a *state* (who, where, how), use be. If you're describing an *action* (what you do), use do.I am not a student.(State - who you are)I do not study.(Action - what you do)
be a chef, but today you don't cook. At the A1 level, this is the #1 mistake that makes people sound like AI from the 90s. Master this, and you'll sound 10x more natural.Quick FAQ
Can I say She's not and She isn't?
Yes! Both are perfect. She's not focuses more on the 'not' (more emphatic), while She isn't is a bit more standard. Use She's not if you're really trying to make a point.
Is I am not formal?
Yes, using the full form without contractions sounds more serious or formal. If you're writing a legal document or a very polite email, go for the full version. If you're texting your group chat, use the contraction.
Why is there no amn't?
English is just quirky like that! It's one of those weird historical leftovers. Just remember: I'm not is the only way to go.
Does You aren't sound mean?
Not necessarily! It depends on your tone. If you say it with a smile while someone offers you a third slice of cake (I really aren't that hungry!), it's totally fine.
Can I use this for the past?
Nope! This is only for the present. For the past, you'll need was not or were not, but we'll save that for another day. Stick to the 'now' for now!
2. Full Negative Forms
| Subject | Verb (Be) | Negative Particle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
not
|
I am not late.
|
|
You
|
are
|
not
|
You are not late.
|
|
He / She / It
|
is
|
not
|
He is not late.
|
|
We
|
are
|
not
|
We are not late.
|
|
They
|
are
|
not
|
They are not late.
|
Contractions (Short Forms)
| Subject | Contraction Option A | Contraction Option B |
|---|---|---|
|
I
|
I'm not
|
N/A
|
|
You
|
You're not
|
You aren't
|
|
He
|
He's not
|
He isn't
|
|
She
|
She's not
|
She isn't
|
|
It
|
It's not
|
It isn't
|
|
We
|
We're not
|
We aren't
|
|
They
|
They're not
|
They aren't
|
Meanings
The primary way to negate identity, location, or state in English when using the verb 'to be'. It denies that a subject has a certain quality or is in a certain place.
Negating Identity
Used to say who or what someone is not.
“He is not my brother.”
“They are not doctors.”
Negating Location
Used to say where someone or something is not located.
“The keys are not on the table.”
“She is not at home.”
Negating State or Feeling
Used to describe how someone does not feel or a condition that does not exist.
“I am not tired.”
“It is not hot today.”
Reference Table
| 주어 | be동사 형태 | 부정형 | 줄임말 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
am not
|
I'm not
|
|
You
|
are
|
are not
|
aren't
|
|
He
|
is
|
is not
|
isn't
|
|
She
|
is
|
is not
|
isn't
|
|
It
|
is
|
is not
|
isn't
|
|
We
|
are
|
are not
|
aren't
|
|
They
|
are
|
are not
|
aren't
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
Mr. Smith is not in the office today. (Workplace/General)
He isn't at work today. (Workplace/General)
He's not here. (Workplace/General)
He ain't here. (Workplace/General)
be동사 부정문 만들기
단수
- I'm not I am not
- He isn't He is not
- She isn't She is not
- It isn't It is not
복수
- You aren't You are not
- We aren't We are not
- They aren't They are not
사용법
- 사실 부정하기 I'm not a student.
- 상태 묘사하기 She isn't happy.
- 위치 말하기 It isn't here.
줄임말 vs. 줄이지 않은 형태
be동사 부정문 만드는 법 흐름도
주동사가 'am', 'is', 'are' 중 하나인가요?
주어는 무엇인가요?
be동사 부정형
나(I)
- • I'm not
- • I am not
그/그녀/그것(He/She/It)
- • isn't
- • is not
너/우리/그들(You/We/They)
- • aren't
- • are not
흔한 사용법
- • 사실 부정하기
- • 감정 표현하기
- • 위치 말하기
- • 부재 묘사하기
수준별 예문
I am not a student.
Yo no soy estudiante.
She is not at home.
Ella no está en casa.
They are not happy.
Ellos no están felices.
It is not a cat.
No es un gato.
We aren't ready for the exam.
No estamos listos para el examen.
He isn't my boss anymore.
Él ya no es mi jefe.
I'm not sure about this.
No estoy seguro de esto.
The shops aren't open on Sundays.
Las tiendas no están abiertas los domingos.
It's not that I'm angry, I'm just tired.
No es que esté enojado, solo estoy cansado.
They aren't as tall as I thought.
No son tan altos como pensaba.
She isn't usually this late.
Ella no suele llegar tan tarde.
You aren't allowed to smoke here.
No se permite fumar aquí.
The results aren't exactly what we expected.
Los resultados no son exactamente lo que esperábamos.
I'm not going to lie, it was difficult.
No voy a mentir, fue difícil.
He isn't being very helpful today.
Él no está siendo muy servicial hoy.
Aren't you coming to the meeting?
¿No vienes a la reunión?
It isn't so much a problem as it is an opportunity.
No es tanto un problema como una oportunidad.
I'm not half the man I used to be.
No soy ni la mitad del hombre que solía ser.
The implications aren't immediately obvious.
Las implicaciones no son obvias de inmediato.
She isn't one to complain.
Ella no es de las que se quejan.
The truth is not always palatable.
La verdad no siempre es agradable.
I'm right, aren't I?
Tengo razón, ¿verdad?
It is not for me to say.
No me corresponde a mí decirlo.
Were it not for your help, I would fail.
Si no fuera por tu ayuda, fallaría.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners often use 'no' to negate a verb because many languages use the same word for 'no' and 'not'.
Once learners learn 'don't', they try to use it for everything.
Learners get confused between 'He's not' and 'He isn't'.
자주 하는 실수
I no am happy.
I am not happy.
She not is a doctor.
She is not a doctor.
They don't are here.
They aren't here.
I amn't tired.
I'm not tired.
It's no cold.
It isn't cold.
I am not more tall.
I am not taller.
Am I not right, aren't I?
I'm right, aren't I?
문장 패턴
I am not ___.
It isn't ___ today.
They aren't ___.
You aren't ___ enough.
Real World Usage
I'm not ready yet! Give me 5 mins.
This isn't what I ordered.
I am not currently employed, but I am volunteering.
The flight isn't on the board.
This isn't a sponsored post.
I'm not feeling well today.
줄임말을 사용해요
“amn't”는 안 돼요!
강조할 땐 줄이지 않은 형태
I am NOT happy about this!라고 하면 정말 내 불만을 확실히 전달할 수 있죠.
She is NOT listening.
줄임말은 비격식적임을 나타내요
Smart Tips
Avoid contractions. Use 'is not' and 'are not' to sound more professional.
Stress the word 'not' and do not contract it.
Use 'aren't I' for negative questions, even though it sounds strange.
Remember: 'No' is for the answer, 'not' is for the verb.
발음
Contraction of 'is not'
The 'i' in 'isn't' is a short sound like 'bit'. The 't' is often very soft or silent in fast speech.
Contraction of 'are not'
The 'aren't' sounds like 'arnt'. The 'e' is silent.
Emphatic Negation
I am NOT going!
Stress the word 'not' to show strong disagreement or anger.
암기하기
기억법
Remember 'BAN': Be Always Next (to 'not'). The verb 'Be' is always next to the word 'not'.
시각적 연상
Imagine a red 'STOP' sign (the word NOT) standing right behind three people named Am, Is, and Are. They are walking in a line, and the STOP sign is always following them.
Rhyme
With Am, Is, Are, don't look too far. Just add a NOT, and you've hit the spot!
Story
A little robot named 'Be' was very agreeable and said 'yes' to everything. One day, he found a hat labeled 'NOT'. Every time he put the hat on, he started saying the opposite of everything! 'I am happy' became 'I am (hat) not happy'.
Word Web
챌린지
Look around your room. Find 5 things and say what they ARE NOT. (e.g., 'The chair is not blue. The window isn't open.')
문화 노트
In the UK, 'aren't I' is the standard way to ask a negative question for 'I am', even though 'am' and 'are' are different verbs.
The word 'ain't' is frequently used as a substitute for 'am not', 'is not', and 'are not'. While very common, it is considered informal or uneducated in professional settings.
In international business, using the full 'is not' or 'are not' is preferred to avoid misunderstandings that can happen with fast-spoken contractions.
The word 'not' evolved from the Old English 'nāwiht', which meant 'no whit' or 'nothing'.
대화 시작하기
Are you a student?
Is it cold in your city today?
Are your friends at home right now?
Am I late for the meeting?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
My cat ___ a fan of baths.
Find and fix the mistake:
We isn't going to the party.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella no es mi hermana.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Score: /4
연습 문제
8 exercisesI ___ a doctor. I am a nurse.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
They don't are at home.
not / the / is / coffee / hot
Nosotros no estamos cansados.
He / You / I
Select the incorrect form.
A: Are you from London? B: No, I ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
13 exercisesThe Wi-Fi here ___ very fast.
You am not allowed to park here.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'No estamos listos para la cena.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct negative form:
My phone ___ charged, so I can't call.
Hey, I not feeling great today.
Which of these statements is correct?
Translate into English: 'Esto no es posible.'
Put the words in the right order:
We ___ going to make it on time if we don't hurry.
The weather today not good.
Score: /13
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
No, 'amn't' is not used in standard English. You must say `I am not` or `I'm not`.
There is no difference in meaning. Both are correct. 'He's not' is slightly more common in the US.
The verb 'to be' is a special auxiliary verb. It doesn't need the helper verb 'do'.
Yes, but it is very informal slang. You should avoid it in school, exams, or at work.
It always goes immediately after the verb `am`, `is`, or `are`.
No. You use 'no' for short answers, but 'not' to make the verb negative.
You put the contraction at the start: `Aren't you hungry?` or `Isn't she here?`.
It's not about politeness, but formality. 'Are not' is better for formal letters.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
No soy / No estoy
Word order: Spanish is 'No + Verb', English is 'Verb + Not'.
Je ne suis pas
English only uses one word (not) after the verb.
Ich bin nicht
German word order can change significantly in dependent clauses.
ではありません (dewa arimasen)
In Japanese, the 'no' comes at the end; in English, it's in the middle.
ليس (laysa)
Arabic negates the whole sentence structure with one specific 'negative verb'.
不是 (bù shì)
Like Spanish, Chinese puts the negative particle before the verb.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
관련 동영상
02:22 Crash Course Latin American Literature Preview
08:53 Why your favorite movies fake their locations
02:01 2024 Year In Review | Talks at Google
영어 왕초보 필수! be동사 부정문 am not, isn't, aren't 완벽 정리
이지영어 TV
헷갈리는 영어 부정문, 'am not' 'isn't' 'aren't' 실수 줄이는 법
원어민처럼 말하기
3분 영어 문법: be동사 부정문 간단 정리와 연습
영어쌤 Lily
Related Grammar Rules
영어 부정문: 'not'을 올바르게 사용하는 방법
`I not like coffee`라고 말하고 당황스러운 시선을 받은 적이 있나요? 영어를 배우기 시작할 때 누구나 겪는 일입니다. "아니요...
Can: 질문과 부정
핸드폰 배터리가 다 됐는데 충전기가 필요해서 당황했던 적 있어? 아니면 파티에서 게임에 끼워달라고 말하고 싶을 때라든지 말...
'How' 질문하기 (How much, many, often, long, old)
낯선 도시의 메뉴판을 보면서 현금이 충분한지 고민해 본 적 있어? 아니면 내일 출근하기 전에 넷플릭스 신작을 몇 에피소드나...
복합 부가의문문: 사회적 확인 (aren't I, shall we)
Overview 문자를 보낸 뒤에 상대방의 동의가 절실히 필요했던 적이 있나요? 그렇다면 당신은 본질적으로 '부가 의문문(question...
정중함의 극치: 간접 의문문 마스터하기
### Overview 영어 학습의 중급 단계인 B2 레벨에 도달하면, 단순히 의사를 전달하는 수준을 넘어 '어떻게 하면 더 세련되고,...
