Betekenis van not In het Nederlands

• 0 used to form a negative phrase after verbs like "be", "can", "have", "will", "must", etc., usually used in the short form "n't" in speech:

  • He's not fat!

  • I won't tell her.

  • I can't go.

  • Don't you like her?

  • It isn't hard (= it is easy).

  • I'm just not interested.

  • He's not bad-looking (= he is fairly attractive).

  • He's not as tall as his father.

  • I told you not to do that.

  • I like most vegetables but not cabbage.

  • "Come and play, Dad." "Not now, Jamie."

  • It was Yuko who said that, not Richard.

  • "Is he coming with us?" "I hope not."

  • "Are you done?" "I'm afraid not."

  • I hope to see you there but, if not, I'll call you.

  • Are you going to reply or not?

  • I still don't know whether she's coming or not.

  • That was the best meal I've ever had - not!

• 1 used to make a word or group of words negative, or to give a word or words an opposite meaning:

  • Her life was not happy.

  • If it’s not yours, whose is it?

  • He’s not bad-looking (= He is attractive).

  • She was not only an excellent teacher but (also) a brilliant researcher (= she was both these things).

  • Not that I mind (= I do not mind), but why didn’t you call yesterday?

  • They plan to have children in the not-too-distant future.