5. Negative Response

 

 

Negative  Response Phrases

1.  I don't have time to + (verb)

2.  I was busy + (verb-ing)

3.  It's hard for me to + (verb)

4.  I'm having a hard time + (verb-ing)

5.  It's too bad that

6.  It's no use + (verb-ing)

7.  I'm not sure if (subject + verb)

8.  There is something wrong with + (noun)

9.  I'm not used to + (verb-ing)

10.  There's nothing + (subject) + can + (verb)

11.  Don't + (verb)

12.  There's no way + (subject + verb)

13.  I don't know what to + (verb)

14.  There's no need to + (verb)

 

1. I don't have time to + (verb)

 

The word 'don't' is a contraction of the words 'do not.' When adding 'have time to' you are simply stating that you have other obligations and all other things considered must wait.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"I don't have time to explain."

"I don't have time to eat."

"I don't have time to exercise."

 

You can also use the phrase 'I don't' to express things you do not like, things you do not understand, or things you do not do.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"I don't eat meat."

"I don't like the rain."

"I don't understand Spanish."

 

2. I was busy + (verb-ing)

 

When using the word 'was', you are referring to something in a past tense, or something that happened before. Combining it with the word 'busy' you can express something that was occupying you in a past time.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"I was busy thinking."

"I was busy working."

"I was busy cooking dinner."

 

By changing 'was' to 'am' you change your message from past tense to present tense and refer to something you are doing 'now.'

 

Here are some examples:

 

"I am busy working."

"I am busy cooking dinner."

"I am busy studying for my test."

 

 

3. It's hard for me to + (verb)

 

When saying that something is 'hard for me' you are informing someone that what you are talking about is difficult or challenging for you.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"It's hard for me to accept what you are telling me."

"It's hard for me to argue your point."

"It's hard for me to balance my check book."

 

4. I'm having a hard time + (verb-ing)

 

By stating you are having a hard time you are letting someone know you are having difficulty with something. This could be something physical or mental and something that could be overcome with effort.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"I'm having a hard time writing."

"I'm having a hard time understanding you."

"I'm having a hard time answering your question."

 

With the addition of an adverb you can express in more detail just how difficult something is for you.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"I'm having an extremely hard time trusting you."

"I'm having an extremely hard time with my wife."

"I'm having a very hard time finding a job."

 

 

5. It's too bad that

 

'Too bad' means regrettable or unfortunate. When using it in a sentence you are expressing a concern or regret for what has taken place. The topic being discussed could have happened to you, the person you are talking to, or someone or something else.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"It's too bad that she lost her job."

"It's too bad that you have to go."

"It's too bad that I found out about it."

 

6. It's no use + (verb-ing)

 

'It's' is a contraction for 'it is.' By stating 'it's no use' you are saying that what you or someone else is doing is not recommended or uncalled for.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"It's no use crying."

"It's no use separating them."

"It's no use talking to her."

 

 

7. I'm not sure if (subject + verb)

 

'I'm not sure' expresses a feeling of uncertainty or lack of confidence on a particular matter.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"I am not sure if they will offer me the job."

"I'm not sure if she'll return my call."

"I'm not sure if my wife will understand."

 

 

8. There is something wrong with + (noun)

 

You are informing someone that there is something not right or out of the ordinary.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"There is something wrong with my laptop."

"There is something wrong with my car."

"There is something wrong with my cell phone."

 

9. I'm not used to + (verb-ing)

 

Here you are using 'not used to' to inform someone that you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with a topic at hand.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"I'm not used to talking English."

"I'm not used to studying so much."

"I'm not used to being around new people."

 

 

10. There's nothing + (subject) + can + (verb)

 

'There's' is a contraction of the words 'there is.' When using the word 'nothing' you are suggesting that something cannot happen or be done.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"There's nothing you can harm."

"There's nothing the police can identify."

"There's nothing we can agree on."

 

By using the word 'cannot' or 'can't' you change the expression to mean that all is possible.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"There is nothing I cannot ask for."

"There's nothing we cannot accomplish."

"There's nothing our dog cannot open."

 

11. Don't + (verb)

 

The word 'don't' is a contraction of the words 'do not.' It is said to convey a message of what NOT should be done.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"Don't try and fool me."

"Don't allow this to happen."

"Don't watch scary movies before you go to bed."

 

 

12. There's no way + (subject + verb)

 

'There's' is a contraction of the words 'there is.' By stating 'there's no way' you are relaying a thought of doubt about an event taking place now or in the future.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"There's no way you finish on time."

"There's no way we complete on time."

"There's no way your mother approves."

 

13. I don't know what to + (verb)

 

You are letting someone know that you are not sure about what is being asked. You may also have no knowledge or opinion on a topic.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"I don't know what to eat for dinner."

"I don't know what to buy you for your birthday."

"I don't know what to say."

 

14. There's no need to + (verb)

 

The word 'there's' is a contraction of the words 'there is' or 'there has.' When expressing 'no need' you are stating that the action does not need to take place.

 

Here are some examples:

 

"There's no need to worry."

"There's no need to be upset."

"There's no need to act so strange."

 

 

Practice

Let's practice with the following phrases, Start and end of Conversation phrases.

 

1. I don't have time to + (verb)

"I don't have time to watch my favorite TV show."

"I don't have time to talk."

"I do not understand what you are saying."

"I do not like scary movies."

"I do not like sports." 

 

2.  I was busy + (verb-ing)

"I was busy talking on the phone."

"I was busy cleaning the house."

"I was busy studying for my test."

"I was busy thinking of ideas for our website."

"I was busy entertaining our neighbors."

"I was busy completing my housework."

"I was busy learning new things."

"I am busy completing housework."

"I am busy talking on the phone."

 

 

3.  It's hard for me to + (verb)

"It's hard for me to concentrate on the task."

"It's hard for me to consider your other options."

"It's hard for me to depend on you."

"It is hard for me to decide where to go tonight."

"It is hard for me to explain my actions."

"It is hard for me to guarantee your success."

"It is hard for me to handle so much pressure."

 

4.  I'm having a hard time + (verb-ing)

"I'm having a hard time downloading songs to my iPod."

"I'm having a hard time agreeing to the terms."

"I'm having a very hard time finding parts for my car."

 

5.  It's too bad that

"It's too bad we will not be there on time."

"It's too bad that tickets are all gone to that concert."

"It's too bad that it is supposed to rain."

"It's too bad that she got hurt."

"It's too bad that my work has to lay off people."

"It's too bad that you do not understand."

 

6.  It's no use + (verb-ing)

"It's no use whining about it."

"It's no use apologizing."

"It's no use attempting to please him."

"It's no use arguing about it."

"It's no use behaving that way."

"It's no use cleaning up."

"It's no use checking on it yet."

 

7.  I'm not sure if (subject + verb)

"I'm not sure if we will go out tonight."

"I'm not sure if I understand your question."

"I am not sure if I can handle it."

"I am not sure if it will happen."

"I am not sure if it will matter."

"I am not sure if my mom will notice."

"I am not sure if they will permit us to park there."

 

8.  There is something wrong with + (noun)

"There is something wrong with my head."

"There is s      omething wrong with your answering machine."

"There is something wrong with your way of thinking."

"There is something wrong with your attitude."

"There is something wrong with your dog."

"There is something wrong with our relationship."

"There is something wrong with our alarm clock."

 

9.  I'm not used to + (verb-ing)

"I'm not used to talking in front of groups of people."

"I'm not used to having so much stress."

"I'm not u     sed to traveling so much."

"I'm not used to working so early."

"I'm not used to having so much responsibility."

"I'm not used to drinking so much."

 

10.  There's nothing + (subject) + can + (verb)

"There's nothing we can join."

"There's nothing she can cook."

"There's nothing my dog can learn."

"There's nothing that truck cannot move."

 

 

11.  Don't + (verb)

"Don't cause any more trouble."

"Don't chew gum in class."

"Do not concern yourself with other people's problems."

"Do not behave that way."

"Do not announce your decision until you're ready."

"Do not argue with me."

"Do not arrive late for your meeting."

 

12.  There's no way + (subject + verb)

"There's no way no one claims it."

"There's no way they expect it."

"There's no way he can fix it."

"There's no way he can handle the news."

"There's no way your brother injured his ankle."

"There is no way that horse jumps it."

"There is no way he missed it."

 

13.  I don't know what to + (verb)

"I don't know what to do with my spare time."

"I don't know what to do for vacation."

"I do not know what to do to make you happy."

"I do not know what to do to help you understand."

"I do not know what to think."

"I do not know what to do to prevent this."

"I do not know what to order."

 

 There's no need to + (verb)

"There's no need to act so shy."

"There's no need to rush off."

"There's no need to talk now."

"There is no need to call this late."

"There is no need to bother him."

"There is no need to run away."

"There is no need to stop now."