negative

n. in linguistics, the form of a sentence used to make a negative assertion about something rather than an affirmative statement or a question (see interrogative). In modern English, negatives are nearly always formed using not or no and an auxiliary verb (usually be, have, or do). The structural relationship between positive and negative forms of a statement (e.g., between I went and I did not go) is of major interest in generative grammar and psycholinguistics.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

December 23rd 2024

ABR

abbreviation for auditory brainstem response. See brainstem auditory evoked response.