Language/Italian/Grammar/Negation

Italian Grammar - Negation

Hi Italian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will explore negation in Italian grammar. Negation is a crucial part of language learning as it allows us to express negative thoughts and actions. We will cover various ways to negate sentences, including adverbial negation, verb negation, indefinite pronouns, and more. Let's get started!

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Adjectives, Present Tense of Irregular Verbs, Do and Say & Indefinite Articles in Italian.

Adverbial Negation

In Italian, we use the adverb "non" to negate verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. It means "not" in English. Let's see some examples:

Italian	Pronunciation	English
Non mi piace la pizza	/non mi ˈpjaːtʃe la ˈpittsa/	I don't like pizza
Non sono felice	/non ˈsono ˈfeliːtʃe/	I'm not happy
Non si parla inglese	/non si ˈparla iŋˈɡleːze/	English is not spoken here

Note that "non" usually comes before the verb in a sentence, but it can follow auxiliary verbs like "essere" (to be) and "avere" (to have). Also, keep in mind that there are some exceptions to this rule, such as the verb "potere" (can), which requires "non" to come after the infinitive.

Verb Negation

Apart from using "non," we can also negate a sentence by putting "non" before the verb and changing its ending. This is known as verb negation. Let's see some examples:

Italian	Pronunciation	English
Non mangio carne	/non ˈmaddʒo ˈkarne/	I don't eat meat
Non parlo italiano	/non ˈparlo itaˈljano/	I don't speak Italian
Non camminiamo veloci	/non kammiˈnjaːmo ˈvelotʃi/	We don't walk fast

In verb negation, we replace the verb ending with "o" for first-person singular, "i" for second-person singular, "a" for third-person singular feminine, "e" for third-person singular masculine, and "ano" for third-person plural.

For example, the verb "mangiare" (to eat) would become "non mangio" (I don't eat), "non mangi" (you don't eat), "non mangia" (she/he doesn't eat), and "non mangiamo" (we don't eat).

Double Negation

In standard Italian, double negation is not allowed. This means that we cannot use more than one negative word in a sentence. However, some dialects and informal speech might use double negation for emphasis. Here is an example:

• Non vedo niente (I don't see anything)
• Non vedo niente affatto (I don't see anything at all)

The second sentence is not grammatically correct in standard Italian, but it is used in some regions.

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are another way to negate a sentence. We use them to talk about things that are unknown or do not exist. The main indefinite pronouns in Italian are "nessuno" (nobody), "nulla" (nothing), and "niente" (nothing). Let's see some examples:

Italian	Pronunciation	English
Non c'è nessuno qui	/non tʃɛ nesˈsuːno kwi/	There is nobody here
Non ho nulla da dire	/non ɔ ˈnulːa da ˈdiːre/	I have nothing to say
Niente funziona	/ˈnjente funtsjoˈna/	Nothing works

Note that "nessuno" and "niente" are used with "non," while "nulla" is used without "non." Also, keep in mind that "nulla" and "niente" have the same meaning but "niente" is more commonly used in everyday language.

Impersonal Sentences

Impersonal sentences are another way to negate a sentence. They do not refer to a specific subject but express a general idea. Examples of impersonal sentences in Italian include:

• Non si può fumare qui (Smoking is not allowed here)
• Non si sa mai (You never know)
• Non si può avere tutto (You can't have everything)

These sentences use "si" as an impersonal pronoun, followed by "non" and the verb in the third-person singular form.

Exercise

Let's practice negation with a dialogue:

• Person 1: Non ti piace questo ristorante? (Don't you like this restaurant?)
• Person 2: No, non mi piace affatto. (No, I don't like it at all.)
• Person 1: Non vuoi andare al cinema? (Don't you want to go to the cinema?)
• Person 2: No, non voglio andare. (No, I don't want to go.)

Now it's your turn! Use negation to express the opposite of each sentence below:

• Mi piace il sushi. (I like sushi.)
• Vado spesso al mare. (I often go to the sea.)
• Parlate inglese molto bene. (You speak English very well.)

Conclusion

Negation is an essential part of Italian grammar, and mastering it will allow you to express more complex ideas and opinions. Remember to use "non" for adverbial negation, verb negation, and indefinite pronouns, and to use impersonal sentences when referring to general concepts. Keep practicing and try to use negation in everyday conversations with native speakers to improve your Italian skills!

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➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Sources

• Negative sentences – Italian grammar lesson
• Negatives | Learning Italian Grammar | Collins Education
• Italian Negation

Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: When to use GLI or LI in Italian?, Plurals, Passato Prossimo & How to Use Be.

Other Lessons

• How to Use be
• Conditional Tense
• Definite Articles
• Nouns
• Present Tense
• Plural
• Prepositions
• When use LI and GLI
• Plurals