Meaning & use
not poisonous
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Meaning
phrasenot comparable
not containing poison; safe to eat, touch, or be near
Grammar: Used as an adjective phrase before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
Patterns
- be not poisonous
- seem not poisonous
- not poisonous to someone
These mushrooms are not poisonous, so you can eat them.
The snake looks dangerous, but it is actually not poisonous.
Make sure the plant is not poisonous before you put it in your garden.
Common combinations
- not poisonous to humans
- The berries are not poisonous to humans.
- perfectly not poisonous
- The lab confirmed the substance was perfectly not poisonous.
- prove not poisonous
- Tests proved the chemical was not poisonous.
Synonyms and how they differ
- non-toxic
- More formal and often used for chemicals; 'not poisonous' is plainer and more general.
- harmless
- Broader: it can mean not causing any harm, not just poison; 'not poisonous' is more specific.
- safe
- Very general; 'not poisonous' focuses on the absence of poison.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: not poisonous or venomous?
not poisonous vs venomous
Venomous animals inject poison (like snakes), while poisonous animals or plants are harmful if you eat or touch them. 'Not poisonous' does not mean 'not venomous'.
Practice
You can eat these berries because they are ______.
Choose one answer.
We need an adjective phrase to describe the berries. 'Not poisonous' is the correct adjective. 'Not poison' is a noun, 'not poisoning' is a verb form, and 'not poisoned' means someone did not poison them, which is different.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “not poisonous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.