Unlike the transformation of affirmative sentences into negative sentences, transforming conditional sentences into negative sentences is not that simple. It cannot be done just by adding ‘not’ to the verb. To help you understand and learn how to do the transformation, this article will help you with the rules of transformation along with examples.

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Transforming a Conditional Sentence into a Negative Sentence – Rules to Be Followed with Examples

Conditional sentences, as the name suggests, are sentences that express a condition. These sentences are normally seen to begin with conjunctions such as ‘if’ or ‘unless’ when it is a complex sentence and modal verbs such as ‘should’, ‘must’ and ‘need’ when it is a simple sentence and conjunctions such as ‘or’, ‘otherwise’ when it is a compound sentence.

To convert a conditional sentence into a negative sentence, you have to be mindful of the following.

  • If the modal verb ‘must’ is used, turning the sentence into negative can be done by using ‘cannot but’ or ‘cannot help’.
    • For example:

You must obey your elders. (Affirmative)

You cannot but obey your elders. (Negative)

  • If you find the words ‘have to’, ‘had to’ or ‘has to’ used to express a condition, you can use ‘cannot but’ or cannot but help’ to transform the conditional sentence into a negative sentence.
    • For example:

You have to inform the class teacher. (Affirmative)

You cannot but inform the class teacher. (Negative)

  • Converting complex conditional sentences into negative can be done by simply adding ‘not’ to both the dependent clause and the independent clause.
    • For example:

If you practise well, you will perform well. (Affirmative)

If you do not practise well, you will not perform well. (Negative)

  • Transforming a conditional sentence that expresses the condition with the conjunction ‘only if’, you can change it into a negative sentence by adding ‘not’ to the verb followed by the conjunction ‘unless’.
    • For example:

You will succeed only if you are determined. (Affirmative)

You will not succeed unless you are determined. (Negative)

Frequently Asked Questions on the Transformation of a Conditional Sentence into a Negative Sentence

Q1

What is a conditional sentence?

A conditional sentence is one that expresses a condition that has to be followed by the subject in order to achieve a certain end.

Q2

How can we transform a conditional sentence into a negative sentence?

In order to transform a conditional sentence into a negative sentence, you will need to do the following.

  • Remove the main verb or modal verb that indicates the condition and add ‘cannot but’ or ‘cannot but help’.
  • Conditional sentences with ‘only if’ should be replaced with ‘not..unless’.
  • Conditional sentences beginning with ‘if’ can be made negative by adding ‘not’ to the verbs in both the dependent and independent clauses.
Q3

Give three examples of transformation of a conditional sentence into a negative sentence.

Here are three examples to help you understand how to transform a conditional sentence into a negative sentence.

    • If you study everything, you will be able to answer all the questions.

If you do not study everything, you will not be able to answer all the questions.

    • You will win only if you practise continuously.

You will not win unless you practise continuously.

    • You must work out every problem.

You cannot but work out every problem.