/ˈneɡətɪv/
Translation
Saying no, or seeing only the bad side of things; the opposite of positive.
Word origin
From Latin negativus, from negare meaning to deny or to say no.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- negativus
- English cognates
- deny, neglect
Examples
, .
Here "negative" means the answer was no.
.
Here it means seeing only the bad side.
.
In this use, the thing the doctors looked for was not there.
Used in
Grammar articles
(34)Adverb position in English: before the verb, after be, and the just, still and already traps
Both, either and neither in English: the two-of-something words, agreement traps, and Me neither
British vs American grammar: have got, gotten, the team are, and the other quiet differences
Cleft sentences in English: it was X who, what I need is, and how to move the emphasis
Ellipsis and substitution in English: I think so, neither do I, and the words you are allowed to leave out
Emphasis in English: I do like it, my own, the very, and how to push back
For, since, already, yet and still in English: which word, and where it goes in the sentence
Future continuous and future perfect in English: will be doing vs will have done
Future tense in English: will, going to and more explained
Gradable and ungradable adjectives: why very furious sounds wrong, and which intensifier goes where
English grammar test: 30 questions with answers (A2-B2)
Hedging and vague language in English: sort of, a bit, -ish, stuff and or so
Inversion and word order in English: the subject-verb-object spine and when it flips
Modal verbs in English: rules, examples and how to use them
Modals of deduction in English: must be, might be, could be and can't be
Participle clauses in English: -ing and -ed clauses, and the dangling participle trap
Passive voice in English: rules, examples and when to use it
Past continuous tense: was and were plus -ing, and when to use it instead of the past simple
Past modals in English: should have, could have, must have and might have
Past perfect tense: had plus past participle, and when English actually needs it
Past simple tense: rules, examples and when to use it
Present continuous tense: form, spelling and uses
Present perfect continuous: have been doing, and how it differs from the present perfect
Present perfect tense: rules, examples and when to use it
Present simple tense: rules, examples and when to use it
Quantifiers in English: some, any, much, many and more
Question tags in English: the mirror rule, aren't I, and tags after let's and imperatives
Reported speech in English: backshift, questions and commands
Reporting verbs in English: admit, deny, suggest, promise, and the pattern welded to each one
The subjunctive and the unreal past in English: I suggest he go, if I were you, and it's time we left
Used to, would and be used to: talking about past habits and states in English
Verb patterns with objects in English: want somebody to do, make somebody do, and see somebody doing
Wish and if only in English: wish + past, wish + past perfect, wish + would, and why I wish I would is wrong
Word formation with prefixes: un-, in-, im-, dis-, re-, over-, under- and mis-
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 40.