Language/Gujarati/Grammar/Negation

Gujarati Grammar - Negation

Hi Gujarati learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be delving into the topic of negation in the Gujarati language. Understanding this topic is crucial in developing a strong foundation in the language. Let's get started!

Negation

In the Gujarati language, negation is expressed by adding the word "નહીં" (nahi) before the verb. For example:

Gujarati	Pronunciation	English
હું ગુજરાતી બોલતો નથીં	Huṁ Gujarati boltō nathi	I don't speak Gujarati
મારી પાસે પૈસા નથીં	Mārī pāsē paisā nathi	I don't have money
તેને શક નથીં હતો	Tēnē śaka nathi hato	He/she couldn't do it

In negative sentences, the word order is the same as in affirmative sentences.

Negation with Infinitives

When negating infinitives, the word "નહીં" is placed after the infinitive.

Gujarati	Pronunciation	English
વિસ્તાર કરવું નથીં	Vistāra karvum nathi	I don't want to expand
સમજાવવું નથીં	Samajāvavum nathi	I don't want to explain
કામ કરવું નથીં	Kām karvum nathi	I don't want to work

Negation with Perfect Tense

When negating perfect tense, the word "નથીં" is placed after the past participle.

Gujarati	Pronunciation	English
હું ચાય પીવ્યો નથીં	Huṁ chāy pīvyō nathi	I haven't drunk tea
તેંને પુસ્તક વાંચી નથીં હતી	Tēnnē pustak vān̄cī nathi hatī	He/she hasn't read the book
હું ટીવી જોઈ નથીં	Huṁ ṭīvī jō'ī nathi	I haven't watched TV

Negation with Modal Verbs

Negation with modal verbs is also achieved using the word "નથીં" after the modal verb.

Gujarati	Pronunciation	English
હું કોઈને જબરજસ્તી કરવી નથીં હતો	Huṁ kō'īnē jabarajastī karvī nathi hato	I couldn't force anyone
તેને તમારી મદદ કરવી જરૂરી નથીં હતી	Tēnē tamārī madad karvī jarūrī nathi hatī	He/she didn't need your help

Examples in Context

To better understand negation, let's see it used in a dialogue:

• Person 1: તમે ક્યારેય વિશ્વાસ કરતા નથીં. (Tame kyārēya viśvās karatā nathi.) (You never believe me.)
• Person 2: ના, હું તો થોડો થોડો વિશ્વાસ કરું છું. (Nā, huṁ tō thōḍō thōḍō viśvās karuṁ chuṁ.) (No, I believe you a little bit at a time.)

Conclusion

Negation is a fundamental aspect of the Gujarati language, and mastering it is essential in developing fluency. We hope that this lesson has provided you with the necessary knowledge to properly use negation in your conversations. Remember, practice makes perfect! Don't be afraid to utilize the resources available to you, such as Polyglot Club. Find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have!

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Sources

• Gujarati language
• Gujarati grammar
• Grammatical conjugation