Affirmative easement- an easement which entitles its holder to do a physical act on the
land of another.
Ex. A owns Blackacre. He gives B a right of way over Blackacre so that B can pass from
his property to a highway which adjoins Blackacre. B holds an affirmative easement,
since he is permitted to make physical use of A’s property.
Negative Easement- an easement which enables its holder to prevent the owner of land
from making certain uses of that land. Such easements are comparatively rare, and do
not permit the holder of the easement actually to go upon the property
Ex. A owns Whiteacre, which is right next to the ocean. B owns Blackacre, which is
separated from the ocean by Whiteacre. A gives B an easement of “light and air,” which
assures B that A will not build any structure on Whiteacre which will block B’s view of
the ocean. This is a negative easement, since it does not authorize B to go on A’s
property, but allows B to restrain a from certain uses of A’s property.