Transformation of Conditional Sentences into Negative Sentences: Rules with Examples

Transformation of Conditional Sentences into Negative Sentences involves changing a positive conditional statement into its negative form without altering its original meaning. Conditional sentences usually have an ‘if’ clause and a main clause. To negate them, we insert negative words like ‘not,’ ‘never,’ or ‘no’ appropriately. For example, ‘If he works hard, he will succeed’ becomes ‘If he does not work hard, he will not succeed.’ This helps in understanding sentence structures more clearly.

What are Conditional Sentences?

Complex sentences include conditional sentences.  A condition (usually introduced by if or unless) and a result make up its two components.

The outcome shows us what will happen if the condition occurs.  In the statement ‘If it rains, we will stay indoors,’ for example, ‘if it rains’ is the condition and ‘we will stay indoors’ is the result.

Also Read: What are Conditional Sentences in English Grammar?

Types of Conditional Sentences:

Conditional sentences are sentences that express a condition and its possible result. They usually have two parts:

• If-clause (the condition)
• Main clause (the result)

Structure: If + condition, result Or Result + if + condition

Types	If clause (condition)	Main Clause (Result)	Example
Zero conditional	Simples Present	Simple Present	If water boils, it turns to steam.
First conditional	Simple Present	Will+Base Verb	If it rains, I will take an umbrella.
Second conditional	Simple Past	Would + Base Verb	If I won the lottery, I would travel
Third conditional	Past Perfect	Would+ have+ past participle	If I had studied, I would have passed
Mixed conditional	Past Perfect/Simple Past	Would + Base Verb?Would have + past participle	If I had worked harder, I would be successful now.

What are Negative Sentences?

A negative sentence is one that signifies that a topic lacks a certain quality, that an action is not taking place, or that something no longer exists.  The phrases ‘not,’ ‘no,’ ‘nobody,’ ‘nothing,’ ‘nowhere,’ ‘no one,’ and ‘none’ are typically acceptable to identify it.  To have a better understanding of what a negative sentence is, let’s examine a few examples.

Examples of Negative Sentences:

Here are some examples of Negative Sentences 

• I do not like apples
• I am not a chemical engineer.
• They were not happy to move to the city.
• She was not happy to be left alone in the desert.

Transformation of Conditional Sentences into Negative Sentences: Rules

To transform conditional sentences into negative sentences, you need to add ‘not’ to the verb in either the if-clause (condition) or the main clause (result), depending on what you want to make negative.  You must consider the following steps when converting a conditional sentence to a negative sentence.

Case 1: When the modal verb ‘must’ is in use, the phrases ‘cannot but’ or ‘cannot help’ can be used to change the sentence to a negative.

For example:

Affirmative: You must speak the truth.

Negative: You cannot but speak the truth.

Case 2: You can change a conditional sentence into a negative sentence by using the phrases ‘cannot but’ or ‘cannot but help’ if you see the terms ‘have to,’ ‘had to,’ or ‘has to’ being used to convey a condition.

For example: 

Affirmative: She must tell the truth.

Negative: She cannot but tell the truth.

Case 3: Just adding ‘not’ to the independent and dependent clauses will turn complicated conditional phrases into negatives.

For example:

Affirmative: If he studies hard, he will pass the exam.

Negative: If he does not study hard, he will not pass the exam.

Case 4: You may change a conditional statement that makes use of the conjunction ‘only if’ to indicate a condition into a negative sentence by adding ‘not’ to the verb and then using the conjunction ‘unless.’

For example:

Affirmative: You will get the job only if you attend the interview.

Negative: You will not get the job unless you attend the interview.

Also Read: Present Unreal Conditional Tense Examples

Exercise on Transformation of Conditional Sentences into Negative Sentences

Here is an exercise to understand the transformation of conditional sentences into negative sentences: 

Instructions: Rewrite each sentence in its negative form while keeping the conditional meaning intact.

1. If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.

_________________________________________________

2. If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic. _________________________________________________
3. If he works overtime, he will earn extra money.
   _________________________________________________
4. If they arrive early, they will get good seats.

 _________________________________________________

5. If you touch that wire, you will get an electric shock.

 _________________________________________________

6. If I see her, I will tell her the news.

_________________________________________________

7. If the teacher explains it again, we will understand.

_________________________________________________

8. If we take a taxi, we will reach on time. _________________________________________________
9. If she invites me, I will go to the party.
   _________________________________________________
10. If they don’t hurry, they will miss the bus.
    _________________________________________________

Sample Answers: 

1. If she doesn’t study hard, she won’t pass the exam.
2. If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, we won’t cancel the picnic.
3. If he doesn’t work overtime, he won’t earn extra money.
4. If they don’t arrive early, they won’t get good seats.
5. If you don’t touch that wire, you won’t get an electric shock.
6. If I don’t see her, I won’t tell her the news.
7. If the teacher doesn’t explain it again, we won’t understand.
8. If we don’t take a taxi, we won’t reach on time.
9. If she doesn’t invite me, I won’t go to the party.
10. If they hurry, they won’t miss the bus. (already negative, reversed)

Also Read: Past Unreal Conditional Examples: Definition, Structure

FAQs

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What are Conditionals in English Grammar?	If Clause: Know Conditionals Meaning, Types & Usage
Tenses Rules in English: Charts & Tenses PDF	Check 17+ ‘Unless’ Conjunction Examples with Meaning
Present Indefinite Tense Examples: Definition; Exercise	What is Mood in English Grammar?

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