Syntax Development: Forming Negatives

Question 1

What did Bellugi find?

Answer 1

There are 3 different stages to children forming negatives

Question 2

What happens in the first stage of forming negatives?

Answer 2

Children use “no” or “not” at the start of an utterance

Question 3

How old are children in the first forming negatives stage?

Answer 3

18 months old

Question 4

What happens in stage 2?

Answer 4

Children still use ‘no’ and ‘not’ but also use auxiliary verb negative such as ‘can’t’ and ‘do’

Question 5

How old are children in the 2nd forming negatives stage?

Answer 5

2-3 years old

Question 6

What happens in the 3rd stage of forming negatives?

Answer 6

Children start to use correct tense for negatives

Question 7

How old are children older than when in the 3rd forming negatives stage?

Answer 7

Older than 3