Difference between revisions of "Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Negation"
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<div class="pg_page_title"> Negation in Afrikaans </div> | |||
Negation is, very simply put, the so-called “negative form” in a language. We use it when we want to express the ''opposite'' of a positive or affirmative statement. What is the negative form in Afrikaans? Let’s dig in! | |||
One of the most fascinating features of the Afrikaans language is its use of the double negative, which means that two negatives resolve into one negative. For instance, in English one would say, “He cannot speak Afrikaans,” and only use the word ‘not’ once. However, to express the negative in Afrikaans, we usually have to use the negating word ''twice'': | |||
* ''Sy kan '''nie''' Afrikaans praat '''nie'''.'' | |||
Literally: “She cannot Afrikaans speak not.” | |||
The exact origins of the double negative in Afrikaans are still not fully understood. | |||
In the description that follows, the term "scope marker" is used to refer to the second negative particle, '''nie''', where one is required, whereas the first is called the "'''negator'''". | |||
<span link>Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson:</span> [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Nouns|Nouns]], [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Give-your-Opinion|Give your Opinion]], [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]] & [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Questions|Questions]]. | |||
==The negators== | ==The negators== | ||
The following words negate: | The following words negate: | ||
===geen/g'n=== | ===geen/g'n=== | ||
<blockquote> no, not a/any</blockquote> | <blockquote>no, not a/any</blockquote> | ||
===geeneen === | ===geeneen === | ||
<blockquote> not one | <blockquote>not one</blockquote> | ||
===geensins=== | ===geensins=== | ||
<blockquote> by no means, not in any way</blockquote> | <blockquote>by no means, not in any way</blockquote> | ||
===nerens === | ===nerens === | ||
<blockquote> nowhere</blockquote> | <blockquote>nowhere</blockquote> | ||
===nie=== | ===nie=== | ||
<blockquote> not</blockquote> | <blockquote>not</blockquote> | ||
===niemand=== | ===niemand=== | ||
<blockquote> no-one,nobody</blockquote> | <blockquote>no-one,nobody</blockquote> | ||
===niks=== | ===niks=== | ||
<blockquote> nothing</blockquote> | <blockquote>nothing</blockquote> | ||
===nooit=== | ===nooit=== | ||
<blockquote> never</blockquote> | <blockquote>never</blockquote> | ||
In certain limited contexts they function alone, but in the majority of cases they are complemented by a nie (the scopemarker), which demarcates the extent of the negation. | |||
==Rules for the use and position of the scope marker== | ==Rules for the use and position of the scope marker== | ||
If a sentence consists of only a subject and a finite verb, only the negator is required, e.g. | |||
If a | |||
*Ek weet nie | *Ek weet nie | ||
<blockquote> I don't know. </blockquote> | <blockquote>I don't know. </blockquote> | ||
*Hy bid nooit. | *Hy bid nooit. | ||
<blockquote> He never prays. </blockquote> | <blockquote>He never prays. </blockquote> | ||
If it consists of only a subject, verb and a pronominal object, once again only the negator is required, e.g. | |||
If it consists of only a subject, verb and a pronominal object, once again | |||
*Weet jy dit nie? | *Weet jy dit nie? | ||
<blockquote> Don't you know that? </blockquote> | <blockquote>Don't you know that? </blockquote> | ||
*Ek ken hom nie. | |||
<blockquote>don't know him. </blockquote> | |||
==Source== | ==Source== | ||
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110863154.401/html | https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110863154.401/html | ||
==Other Lessons== | |||
* [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Definite-article|Definite article]] | |||
* [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/The-Rule-of-“Two-Knees”|The Rule of “Two Knees”]] | |||
* [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Common-Errors|Common Errors]] | |||
* [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Adjectives|Adjectives]] | |||
* [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Nouns|Nouns]] | |||
* [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Sentence-Structure|Sentence Structure]] | |||
* [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Gender|Gender]] | |||
* [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/The-Rule-of-“One-Knee”|The Rule of “One Knee”]] | |||
* [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Questions|Questions]] | |||
* [[Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Conditional-Mood|Conditional Mood]] | |||
<span links></span> | |||
Latest revision as of 18:31, 9 November 2023
Negation is, very simply put, the so-called “negative form” in a language. We use it when we want to express the opposite of a positive or affirmative statement. What is the negative form in Afrikaans? Let’s dig in!
One of the most fascinating features of the Afrikaans language is its use of the double negative, which means that two negatives resolve into one negative. For instance, in English one would say, “He cannot speak Afrikaans,” and only use the word ‘not’ once. However, to express the negative in Afrikaans, we usually have to use the negating word twice:
- Sy kan nie Afrikaans praat nie.
Literally: “She cannot Afrikaans speak not.”
The exact origins of the double negative in Afrikaans are still not fully understood.
In the description that follows, the term "scope marker" is used to refer to the second negative particle, nie, where one is required, whereas the first is called the "negator".
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Nouns, Give your Opinion, Pronouns & Questions.
The negators[edit | edit source]
The following words negate:
geen/g'n[edit | edit source]
no, not a/any
geeneen[edit | edit source]
not one
geensins[edit | edit source]
by no means, not in any way
nerens[edit | edit source]
nowhere
nie[edit | edit source]
not
niemand[edit | edit source]
no-one,nobody
niks[edit | edit source]
nothing
nooit[edit | edit source]
never
In certain limited contexts they function alone, but in the majority of cases they are complemented by a nie (the scopemarker), which demarcates the extent of the negation.
Rules for the use and position of the scope marker[edit | edit source]
If a sentence consists of only a subject and a finite verb, only the negator is required, e.g.
- Ek weet nie
I don't know.
- Hy bid nooit.
He never prays.
If it consists of only a subject, verb and a pronominal object, once again only the negator is required, e.g.
- Weet jy dit nie?
Don't you know that?
- Ek ken hom nie.
don't know him.
Source[edit | edit source]
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110863154.401/html
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Definite article
- The Rule of “Two Knees”
- Common Errors
- Adjectives
- Nouns
- Sentence Structure
- Gender
- The Rule of “One Knee”
- Questions
- Conditional Mood