Denial and

affirmation
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WHAT IS THIS TOPIC ABOUT?
In this topic we learn about;

Negative sentences
Affirmation
Short affirmation
Denial
Short denial
Affirmation and denial
Negative sentences
Negative sentences are the statements of disapproval or
disagreement. The part of a sentence or clause which follows the
negative word is called scope of negation. The scope of negation
can be further described below ;

He certainly hasn’t written back to her. (it is definite he hasn’t)

He hasn’t certainly written back to her . (its not definite that he
has)
in these examples we can clearly notice that there is
difference in meaning of sentences because the use of word
‘certainly’ is in and out the scope of negotiation. Some of the other
examples we can notice are:

I really don’t care about my dress. (I don’t care at all.)

I don’t really care about my dress. (I do care but not to much.)
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Inside the scope of negation any-words like any, yet, ever are used
For example,
I didn’t like any of the designs.

Outside the scope of negation some words like some , already ,

sometimes are used after the negative word.
For example,
I didn’t like some of the designs.

Occasionally, negative word doesn’t have scope in clause or

sentence at all. Instead it applies its meaning only to a phrase or
part of phrase in a sentence.

No food at all is better than unwholesome food.

affirmation
The act of saying yes or writing statements that are true is called affirmation. To place a positive
meaning on sentence put intonation on the operator usually for contrast when someone has assumed or
suggested negative

For example;

(A) So you two haven’t met before? (B) well, we have met- but it was ages ago.

If the response is not straight forward denial , but contains positive information it is stressed by a fall-
rise tone

(B) Are you sure you haven’t seen him? (B) No, but maybe sita could have seen him at class.

If there is no operator use “do” as dummy operator.

I cannot sing very well . But I do dance on rare occasions.

Short affirmation
There is a shortened type of affirmation when you are simply agreeing to a
question or a statement , and do not need to repeat what has already been
said;

● This picture is beautiful

= Yes , it is
● Can you cook?
= Well, I can
● Have I missed the class?
= Yes , I am certain you have.

To agree with a negative statement , we use a negative operator

● She doesn’t look happy.

= No, she doesn’t , as I am known.
denial
Denial are the conscious way of saying when speakers want to deny the truth of something by
using negative sayings. To deny something you can place intonation in the operator , but this
time in the negative one.
For example;

When did grandmother arrived?

= Well actually, she hasn’t arrived.

Are they going to win tonight?

= There’s no chance they’re going to win tonight especially not since they lost their start player.

Sometimes when negative is not contracted, the nucleus falls on not.

E.G .
Well , actually , she has not arrived.
Short denial
Shortened statement are also used to deny a question or statement in a quick time without matter of
long thinking. Short denial usually conclude the question without any uncertainty.

(A) You look good with specs.

= No, I don’t
(B) I will probably fail the exam
= No, you won’t

To deny a negative statement , you can use the positive operator with a rising tone.
(B) I don’t have nice shoes
= Yes, you do.
(B) She is not a nice person.
= I bet she is.
If the sentence consist operator +not . In this case nucleus is on not.
(A) Is she okay?
= No, she is not.

A denial can sometime seen blunt and impolite unless we tone it down in some way. We can make denial
polite by adding the contrary view.
You don’t like science , do you? = Well I prefer other subjects more.
= Actually, I love history.
Affirmational adverbs Denial adverbs

Any
Yes Never
Certainly Not
Surely No
Verily Contradictorily
Definitely Nothing
Indeed Not at all
Obviously Rarely
scarcely
Truly
Denial combined with affirmation

The statement used to deny one idea and to confirm contrasting idea is the
statement of denial combined with affirmation.

The last piece of candy is not for me, but to my brother.

I do like cakes but not on birthdays.

We can notice that a nucleus can be operator in both negative and positive
clause;

I don’t like science , but do enjoy English.

excercise
 Read the sentence below and try to identify the adverbs of negation
and affirmation.

(1) She is certainly going through hard time.

(2) There was no visibility during the rains.
(3) Teachers should never agree to the illogical demands of the students.
(4) Eager to know his sons progress he will definitely attend the parents teachers
meeting .
(5) The moon is very clearly visible from the terrace of my house.
(6) Things turned out to be exactly same as expected.
(7) On my all visits to the forest, I rarely spotted a tiger.
(8) The generator I have is scarcely ever used.
(9) With the kind of dedication he has , he surely will be rewarded at work.
(10) After, the principal’s resignation the students can hardly be controlled.
Adverbs of Affirmation and Negation - Definitio
n, Examples and Exercises (teachingbanyan.com
)

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Thank you!!!