Negative to Affirmative: Part 1

1. None but / Nothing but / Not more than / Nowhere but → Only / Alone

1.

• Negative: None but I was present there.
• Affirmative: Only I was present there.

2.

• Negative: It begets nothing but the worst.
• Affirmative: It begets only the worst.

3.

• Negative: She had not more than three goats.
• Affirmative: She had only three goats.

4.

• Negative: A deer is found nowhere but in the zoo now.
• Affirmative: A deer is found only in the zoo now.

5.

• Negative: None but Ali was in the field.
• Affirmative: Ali was alone in the field.

Exercise for Practice:

Instructions: Rewrite the following negative sentences into affirmative ones.

1. None but the captain knew the secret.
2. Nothing but hard work leads to success.
3. He had not more than two pencils.
4. They went nowhere but the park.
5. None but the teacher could answer the question.
6. She had not more than one hour to finish.
7. The patient eats nothing but fruits.
8. None but the brave deserve the award.
9. The animals are found nowhere but in the jungle.
10. I have not more than five rupees.

2. Never → Always

Explanation: Replace “never” with its affirmative counterpart, “always,” while maintaining the positive outcome or sentiment.

1.

• Negative: Their contribution will never be forgotten.
• Affirmative: Their contribution will always be remembered.

2.

• Negative: He never tells lies.
• Affirmative: He always speaks the truth.

3.

• Negative: We never ignore the poor.
• Affirmative: We always help the poor.

4.

• Negative: She never fails to attend class.
• Affirmative: She always attends class.

5.

• Negative: I never forget my duties.
• Affirmative: I always remember my duties.

Exercise for Practice:

Instructions: Replace "never" with its affirmative counterpart "always" to retain the meaning.

1. He never misses a prayer.
2. They never arrive late.
3. She never forgets her birthday.
4. The manager never neglects his duties.
5. I never disrespect my parents.
6. We never break promises.
7. The teacher never scolds without reason.
8. He never stops trying.
9. She never avoids responsibility.
10. They never eat outside.

3. Using Antonym

Explanation: Replace the negative verb + not with its opposite (antonym) in the affirmative form.

1.

• Negative: Computer is not a curse.
• Affirmative: Computer is a blessing.

2.

• Negative: He is not weak.
• Affirmative: He is strong.

3.

• Negative: It is not impossible.
• Affirmative: It is possible.

4.

• Negative: This book is not boring.
• Affirmative: This book is interesting.

5.

• Negative: She is not dishonest.
• Affirmative: She is honest.

Exercise for Practice:

Instructions: Change the sentence by replacing the negative form with a suitable antonym.

1. He is not poor.
2. It is not false.
3. She is not rude.
4. He is not ugly.
5. The food is not tasteless.
6. This movie is not dull.
7. They are not lazy.
8. She is not selfish.
9. The road is not rough.
10. It is not wrong.

4. Cannot but → Must / Cannot help but → Must

Explanation: "Cannot but" and "cannot help but" imply compulsion or necessity. These are affirmatively rephrased with “must” or “have to.”

1.

• Negative: We cannot but work hard to be established in life.
• Affirmative: We must work hard to be established in life.

2.

• Negative: He cannot but obey his parents.
• Affirmative: He must obey his parents.

3.

• Negative: I cannot help admiring her courage.
• Affirmative: I must admire her courage.

4.

• Negative: She could not but cry.
• Affirmative: She had to cry.

5.

• Negative: They could not but attend the meeting.
• Affirmative: They had to attend the meeting.

Exercise for Practice:

Instructions: Replace the negative expression with a form of necessity or compulsion.

1. I cannot but follow his advice.
2. He could not help but laugh.
3. We cannot help but accept the offer.
4. She could not but agree.
5. They cannot but try harder.
6. I could not but apologize.
7. He cannot but respect her.
8. She cannot help but admire the view.
9. We could not help but be proud.
10. They cannot but believe him.

5. Without + Gerund → By + Gerund

Explanation: “Without doing something” in a negative sentence becomes “By doing something” in the affirmative.

1.

• Negative: Without reading books, we cannot enrich our minds.
• Affirmative: By reading books, we can enrich our minds.

2.

• Negative: Without practicing regularly, you cannot improve.
• Affirmative: By practicing regularly, you can improve.

3.

• Negative: Without working hard, he won’t succeed.
• Affirmative: By working hard, he will succeed.

4.

• Negative: Without saving money, you cannot build a future.
• Affirmative: By saving money, you can build a future.

5.

• Negative: Without listening to teachers, students won’t learn well.
• Affirmative: By listening to teachers, students can learn well.

Exercise for Practice:

Instructions: Change the sentence using "by + gerund" instead of "without + gerund."

1. Without studying, you cannot succeed.
2. Without exercising, you can't stay fit.
3. Without sleeping well, we can’t perform well.
4. Without planning, the event cannot be successful.
5. Without listening carefully, you won’t understand.
6. Without saving regularly, they can't buy a house.
7. Without practicing daily, you can’t master the skill.
8. Without watering the plants, they won't grow.
9. Without learning English, you can’t communicate globally.
10. Without being punctual, you can’t earn respect.

6. No / Nobody / None → Everyone / All / Always

Explanation: Replace negative terms like "nobody," "no one," or "none" with universal affirmatives like "everybody," "all," etc.

1.

• Negative: Nobody dislikes him.
• Affirmative: Everybody likes him.

2.

• Negative: None of the students failed.
• Affirmative: All of the students passed.

3.

• Negative: No one hates freedom.
• Affirmative: Everyone loves freedom.

4.

• Negative: Nobody wants war.
• Affirmative: Everybody wants peace.

5.

• Negative: None of them were absent.
• Affirmative: All of them were present.

Exercise for Practice:

Instructions: Replace the negative subject with a universal affirmative equivalent.

1. Nobody respects a liar.
2. No one trusts a cheater.
3. None of the books were boring.
4. Nobody rejected the offer.
5. No one likes being ignored.
6. None of the players gave up.
7. Nobody missed the class.
8. None of them failed.
9. Nobody wants to lose.
10. No one complained.

7. Degree Comparison

Explanation: Change negative comparative degree into affirmative comparative or positive form.

1.

• Negative: A boat is not so large as a ship.
• Affirmative: A ship is larger than a boat.

2.

• Negative: This room is not as clean as that one.
• Affirmative: That room is cleaner than this one.

3.

• Negative: He is not so tall as his brother.
• Affirmative: His brother is taller than him.

4.

• Negative: This book is not as interesting as the other.
• Affirmative: The other book is more interesting.

5.

• Negative: Gold is not so cheap as silver.
• Affirmative: Silver is cheaper than gold.

Exercise for Practice:

Instructions: Change the sentence using affirmative comparison.

1. A lion is not as fast as a cheetah.
2. This pen is not as costly as that one.
3. My car is not so new as yours.
4. The story is not as exciting as the movie.
5. This dress is not as bright as the red one.
6. Your handwriting is not as neat as hers.
7. The mountain is not as high as Everest.
8. My performance is not so good as his.
9. That road is not as wide as this one.
10. This room is not so big as that one.

8. Too —— to → So —— that

Explanation: Convert “too + adjective + to” into “so + adjective + that,” making it affirmative. Or rephrase to affirm capability.

1.

• Negative: She is so foolish that she cannot understand the simple math.
• Affirmative: She is too foolish to understand the simple math.

2.

• Negative: The news was so shocking that I could not speak.
• Affirmative: The news was too shocking to speak.

3.

• Negative: He is so weak that he cannot carry the bag.
• Affirmative: He is too weak to carry the bag.

4.

• Negative: The problem is so difficult that we cannot solve it.
• Affirmative: The problem is too difficult to solve.

5.

• Negative: She was so tired that she couldn’t walk.
• Affirmative: She was too tired to walk.

Exercise for Practice:

Instructions: Rephrase using "too + adjective + to" form.

1. He is so ill that he cannot attend school.
2. The box was so heavy that we couldn’t lift it.
3. The boy was so lazy that he couldn’t pass.
4. The mountain was so steep that we couldn’t climb it.
5. She was so nervous that she couldn’t speak.
6. The noise was so loud that we couldn’t hear.
7. The train was so crowded that we couldn’t enter.
8. He is so busy that he can’t talk to us.
9. The glass was so hot that I couldn’t touch it.
10. The weather was so cold that we couldn’t go outside.

Exercise in Action [Grade 6 to 8]

Change the following negative sentences into affirmative without changing the meaning.

1. He never leaves me in danger. (Affirmative) 
2. In Bangladesh, its standard is not high (Affirmative).
3. We can hardly find a person who doesn't use mobile phone. (Affirmative)
4. A good student shouldn't be unconscious of politics (Affirmative).
5. It is not a human act. (Affirmative)
6. A life without an assignment is not an actual life. (Affirmative) None can receive any reward unless he works hard.  
7. A frugal man does not like to spend money without reasons. (Make it an affirmative sentence)
8. Now, we cannot but take the help of computer. (Make it an affirmative sentence) 
9. No man is free from error. (Make it an affirmative sentence)
10. Nobody likes an angry man. (Affirmative) 
11. None should contaminate it. (Affirmative)
12. No other school is as famous as ours in this district. (Affirmative)
13. No other school is as famous as ours in this district.
14. A boat does not run faster than a ship. (Make it affirmative)

Exercise in Action [Grade 9 & 10]

Change the following negative sentences into affirmative without changing the meaning.

1. Isn’t it the symbol of love and beauty? (Affirmative)
2. Haji Mohammad Muhsin was not an unkind man at all. (Affirmative)
3. This habit is rarely disliked. (Affirmative)
4. The later could not climb up a tree. (Affirmative)
5. He leaves no stone unturned to teach them morality. (Affirmative)
6. He cannot remain sitting in the class. (Affirmative)
7. Their contribution will never be forgotten. (Affirmative)
8. Nothing but books can remove the darkness of ignorance. (Affirmative sentence)
9. One day he could not but go to a market. (Affirmative) 
10. He didn’t marry. (Affirmative)
11. It is not an easy thing. (Affirmative)
12. Nobody is absolutely happy on earth. (Affirmative)
13. A patriot fears none but the Creator. (Affirmative)
14. There is no student without a smart phone. (Affirmative)
15. We cannot but depend on it. (Affirmative) 
16. So, everybody cannot but be conscious of his health. (Affirmative)
17. He did not marry. (Affirmative)
18. He did not disguise himself as a rich traveller to survive. (Affirmative)
19. Their contribution will never be forgotten. (Affirmative) 
20. Who doesn't like the moon? (Affirmative)
21. We cannot help reading newspaper daily. (Affirmative)
22. A student should not write irrelevant answers. (Affirmative) 
23. It is not unpleasant. (Affirmative)
24. Surface water is not safe for drinking. (Affirmative)
25. Its functions are not only smooth but also rapid. (Affirmative)
26. It is not an easy thing. (Affirmative)