Language/Ewe/Grammar/Negation
Hi Ewe learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about Negation. Negation is the act of making negative sentences, which negate (deny) the existence or truth of something.
Negation is important because it allows us to add more complexity to our sentences, express negation or denial, and confirm or deny something. Learn more about Ewe Grammar.
Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: How to Use "Have", Geography, Conditional Mood & Plurals.
Negating Verbs[edit | edit source]
To negate verbs, the word "nye" or "eme" is added after the subject. "nye" is used in the present and imperfect tenses while "eme" is used in the perfect and pluperfect tenses.
| Ewe | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mawu nye dzide | /ˈmawu ɲɛ d͡zi.dɛ/ | God does not exist |
| Lisa eme dzodze | /ˈli.sa ˈɛ.mɛ dzo.dze/ | Lisa did not come yet |
| Mi tso nye shishiwo | /mi t͡so ɲɛ ʃi.ʃi.wɔ/ | I do not eat yam |
| Mi yra eme fia | /mi ja.ra ˈɛ.mɛ ˈfi.a/ | I have not traveled |
Negative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Negative pronouns are used to replace the noun in a negative sentence. They are used only in negative constructions. Here are some examples:
| Ewe | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| nye me | /ɲɛ mɛ/ | No one |
| nye o | /ɲɛ ɔ/ | Nothing |
| vinye eve | /vi.ɲɛ ˈɛ.vɛ/ | Never |
| kple nye a | /kp͡le ɲɛ a/ | Nowhere |
Negative Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Ewe, negative adjectives are formed by adding the prefix "a-" before an adjective. This prefix transforms a positive adjective into a negative adjective. Here are some examples:
| Ewe | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| agbleoo | /aˈɡblɛɔ/ | bad |
| alikuu | /aˈli.ku.u/ | ugly |
| atsofui | /aˈt͡so.fu.i/ | difficult |
| adzi | /aˈd͡zi/ | nothing (to be) happy about |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Mi nye fiawo lokui. (I didn't go to the market.)
- Person 2: Wokpɔla! Nyɔnu dzeŋu lɔhe. (Okay! What did you do instead?)
- Person 1: Mi emewɔ tsofiaga. (I didn't eat fufu yesterday.)
- Person 2: Wofasa! Dzi gbe kuku? (Sorry! Was there no food at all?)
Tips for learners[edit | edit source]
- When negating a verb in a sentence, always use "nye" in the present and imperfect tenses, while "eme" is used in the perfect and pluperfect tenses.
- When using negative pronouns, remember to use them only in negative constructions.
- Negative adjectives are formed by adding the prefix "a-" before an adjective.
- To improve your Ewe Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources[edit | edit source]
- introduction to the structure of the Ewe language and "reasonable ...
- Negation in Ewe (Tongugbe) agent nominalization