Language/Lithuanian/Grammar/Negation

Lithuanian Grammar - Negation

Hi Lithuanian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be exploring negation in Lithuanian grammar. Negation is the process of negating or denying something. Negation is an essential part of daily communication and is necessary to convey meaning accurately. We will be exploring different forms of negation and their usage in Lithuanian.

Negation with "Nė"

The most common and straightforward way to negate a sentence in Lithuanian is by using the word "nė". This word means "not" in English and is usually placed before the verb that needs negating. For example, if we want to say "I do not speak Lithuanian," we would say:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
Aš nėkalbu lietuviškai	["aʃ neːkalbu lʲɪɛtʊˈvʲiʃkaɪ]	I do not speak Lithuanian

Here, the word "nė" is placed before the verb "kalbu," which means "speak." This negates the sentence, and we are left with the intended meaning.

Another example would be:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
Tu nėra lietuvis	[tu ˈnærɐ lʲɪɛˈtʊvʲɪs]	You are not Lithuanian

Here, "nė" is placed before "ra," which is a form of "to be." This negates the sentence and gives us the intended meaning.

Negation with "Ne"

Another way to negate a sentence in Lithuanian is by using the word "ne". This word also means "not" in English, but it is used in situations where "nė" cannot be used. For example, if we want to say "I am not a doctor," we would say:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
Aš neesu gydytojas	["aʃ neːɛˈsu ɡɪdʲɪˈtɔjas]	I am not a doctor

Here, "ne" is used before "esu," which is a contraction of "to be." "Nė" cannot be used in this case, and "ne" is the only appropriate option.

Another example would be:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
Jonui neprisimena jos vardo	[ˈjɔnʊɪ neprɪsɪˈmɛna jɔs ˈvardɔ]	Jon can't remember her name

Here, "ne" is used before "prisimena," which means "to remember." Again, "nė" cannot be used in this context, and "ne" is the correct option.

Negation with "Nevienas"

"Nevienas" is a compound word made up of "ne" and "vienas," which means "one." This word is the equivalent of the English word "nobody." It is used to negate a sentence in situations where "nė" or "ne" cannot be used. For example, if we want to say "Nobody knows where he is," we would say:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
Nei vienas nežino, kur jis yra	[ˈneɪ ˈvʲɪɛnɐs nʲeˈʒɪnɔ kʊr jɪs ˈiːrɐ]	Nobody knows where he is

Here, "nei" means "not even one" and is used before "vienas" to form the word "nevienas." This word is then used before the verb "žino," which means "knows."

Negation in Questions

In Lithuanian, negation is also used in questions. For example, if we want to ask "Don't you speak Lithuanian?" we would say:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
"Ar jūs neskalbate lietuviškai?"	[ˈar jʊs nʲɛskalˈbaːtɛ lʲɪɛtʊˈvʲiʃkaɪ]	Don't you speak Lithuanian?

Here, "neskalbate" is the negative form of "kalbate," which means "speak." The word "ne" is used to negate the sentence, and the word "ar" is used to make it a question.

Dialogue

Here's a dialogue to help you practice negation:

• Person 1: Aš mėgstu rašyti laiškus. (I like to write letters.)
• Person 2: Ar nebijai, kad kažkas perskaitys tavo laiškus? (Aren't you afraid someone will read your letters?)
• Person 1: Ne, nes aš visada užrakinu savo spintelę. (No, because I always lock my desk.)

Conclusion

Negation is an essential part of Lithuanian grammar, and it is crucial to learn how to use it correctly. The words "nė," "ne," and "nevienas" can be used to negate a sentence, depending on the situation. Negation can also be used in questions to convey meaning accurately.

To improve your Lithuanian Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Lithuanian grammar
• Negation in grammar
• Lithuanian language
• Lithuanian grammar: Tenses and moods
• Lithuanian grammar: Nouns