Not: How to avoid using 'not' directly in sentence constructions

A very common word in English is not. According to an online dictionary, not can be used to express negation, denial, prohibition, or refusal. Thus, one could say: 

i. I wasn't at the party yesterday. (Negation)

ii. I was not part of the syndicate that robbed the old man. (Denial)

iii. Do not cross this line. (Prohibition)

iv. I will not take a bribe from you no matter how hard you try. (Refusal)

We shall now turn our attention to the 

different ways to use 'not' without using it (not) in a sentence. The instances include:

1. The use of 'never'

i. I have never taken a drug since this year began. 

ii. There has never been a time he visited before. 

2. The use of 'neither ... nor'

i. Neither Davido nor Beyonce is expected at the concert. 

ii. He neither came nor sent an apology. 

3. The use of 'none'

i. None of the guests attended. 

ii. I saw none of them. 

4. The use of the following negative prefixes: 

i. un- : unable, unhappy, undecided

He's been unable to make the journey for a while now. 

ii. in- : inability, incapable, incompetent

The newly employed staff has been rumored to be incompetent. 

iii. ill- : illegal, illogical, illicit 

The argument is baseless and illogical. 

iv. ir- : irresponsible, irrelevant,  irredeemable

What an irresponsible comment! 

v. im- : impossible, immortal, implausible

Man is mortal; God is immortal.  

vi. non- : noncombatant, nonconcomitant, nongovernmental 

The noncombatant officers will soon regroup. 

vii. a- : amoral, asocial, asymptomatic 

My interaction with John clearly shows he is asocial. 

viii. dis- : disloyal, discourage, discontinue 

Joe is disloyal to his boss. 

ix. de- : delist, declassified

The security agency only recently released declassified information on some of its covert operations. 

From the extracts below, eliminate the use of 'not' by making use of appropriate negative prefixes. 

For example:

He was not committed to the project. 

He was uncommitted to the project. 

With his condition not expected to escalate, he has been conducting daily business while self-isolating, including remaining in touch with his patronages and charities. 


It is not known whether the Queen has been tested. Buckingham Palace would only say that she “remains in good health” and is “following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare”.

Thank  you for reading. For consultation, questions, comments, observations, tutorials, etc., the blogger, Olabanji O. Odurombi, can be contacted on 08037699294.