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<div class="pg_page_title">Hebrew Grammar - Negation</div>
<div class="pg_page_title">Hebrew Grammar - Negation</div>
Hi [https://polyglotclub.com/language/hebrew Hebrew] learners! 😊<br>In this lesson, we will be discussing the basics of negation in Hebrew. Negation is an important part of any language, and it is essential to understand how to use it correctly in order to communicate effectively. We will look at the different ways to express negation in Hebrew, as well as some examples of how to use them. So let's get started! __TOC__


==Negation in Hebrew==
Hi [https://polyglotclub.com/language/hebrew Hebrew] learners! 😊<br>
Negation in Hebrew is expressed in a few different ways. The most common way is by using the word ''lo'' (לא). This word can be used to negate verbs, adjectives, and nouns. For example:  
In this lesson, we will focus on Hebrew Grammar Negation. You will learn how to form negatives, the use of אֵין (ein) and how to use negation in sentences. We will also include some cultural information and interesting facts. Let's get started!
 
__TOC__
 
 
<span link>With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Nouns|Nouns]], [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Future-Tense|Future Tense]], [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]] & [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Reading-Practice|Reading Practice]].</span>
== Basics of Negation ==
 
To create a negative sentence in Hebrew, we use the word לא (lo), which means "no" or "not." Here are some examples:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Hebrew !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
! Hebrew !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|  לֹא דיברתי || lo dibarti || I did not speak
|-
|-
| אני לא יודע || Ani lo yodea || I don't know
| לֹא הבנתי  || lo hivanti || I did not understand
|-
|-
| הדבר לא קשה || Ha-davar lo kasheh || The thing is not difficult
| לֹא אוכל  || lo ochel || I do not eat
|-
| החדר לא גדול || Ha-hadar lo gadol || The room is not big
|}
|}


Another way to express negation in Hebrew is by using the word ''ein'' (אין). This word is used to negate nouns and adjectives. For example:  
*Note that the word לֹא (lo) comes before the verb. If the verb begins with a vowel, use לֹא ו in its place.
 
== אֵין (ein) ==
 
The word אֵין (ein) means "no" or "there is no." It is used to negate the existence of objects, people or concepts. Here are some examples:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Hebrew !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
! Hebrew !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
| אֵין כָּאן קֶשֶׁה || ein kan kase || There is no problem here.
|-
| אין מטבח || Ein mata'ach || There is no kitchen
|-
|-
| אין חם || Ein cham || It is not hot
| אֵין אוויר || ein avir || There is no air.
|-
|-
| אין מספר || Ein mispar || There is no number
| אֵין לִי אָח || ein li ach || I have no brother.
|}
|}


Finally, the word ''me'' (מא) can be used to negate verbs. For example:  
== Negation in Sentences ==
 
When negating sentences, there are a few things to keep in mind.
 
=== 1. אֵין (ein) Vs. לֹא (lo) ===
אֵין (ein) is used to negate the existence of something, while לֹא (lo) is used to negate actions, events or states of being. For example:


{| class="wikitable"
*אֵין שָׁם סוכנות.  (ein sham sukhanut) - "There is no agency there."
|-
 
! Hebrew !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
In this sentence, אֵין (ein) is used to negate the existence of something (an agency).
|-
 
| אני מא אומר || Ani me omer || I don't say
*אני לֹא רוֹצֶה לצאת היום. (ani lo rotse latset hayom) - "I don't want to go out today."
|-
 
| הוא מא רוצה || Hu me rotseh || He doesn't want
In this sentence, לֹא (lo) is used to negate the action of going out.
|-
 
| הם מא יודעים || Hem me yodeim || They don't know
=== 2. Words typically used with negatives ===
|}
Certain words are typically used with negatives and carry an implied negative when standing alone as an answer.  Here is an example:
 
*!אני לא יודע כלום  (ani lo yodea klum) - "I don't know anything!"
*!מה אתה יודע? - כלום - "What do you know? - [Not] anything (i.e. nothing).
(This should not be confused with the notion of double negatives found for example in languages such as Afrikaans or Bulgarian, or certain English dialects such as AAVE where a negating word appears twice in the sentence.)
 
=== 3. Placement of לֹא (lo) ===
In Hebrew, לֹא (lo) usually appears before the main verb in a sentence. However, in some cases, it can appear after the main verb. In this case, the word את (et) is inserted before the object of the sentence. Here are some examples:
 
*אכל לא אמרתי. (achal lo amarti) - "Did not eat, I said." (Literally: "Ate not, I said.")
 
*אני מכיר אותה לא. (ani mekhir ota lo) - "I know her not."
 
== Interesting Fact and Cultural Information ==
 
Hebrew is a Semitic language, an ancient language family that also includes Arabic, Amharic, and Aramaic. It is the official language of Israel, and it is spoken by around nine million people worldwide. Hebrew is written right to left. Due to having been used exclusively for religious study for many centuries rather than as an everyday language, Hebrew has not evolved substantially from ancient times and Biblical Hebrew remains intelligible to Modern Hebrew speakers although somewhat old-fashioned sounding.
 
== Dialogues ==
 
Here is a dialogue to help you see negation in context.
 
* Person 1: לֹא אוכל לחם. (Lo ochel lechem) ("I don't eat bread.")
* Person 2: למה? (Lama?) ("Why?")
 
* Person 1: אני משתנה לא מעט בחיים האחרונים. (Ani mishtane me'at ba'hayim ha'acheronim) ("I've changed quite a bit in the recent years.")
* Person 2: זה לא מפחיד אותי. (Ze lo mafchid oti) ("It doesn't scare me.")
 
<span class='maj'></span>
==Sources==
* [https://uhg.readthedocs.io/en/latest/particle_negative.html Particle Negative — unfoldingWord® Hebrew Grammar 1 ...]
* [https://www.hebrewpod101.com/blog/2021/08/10/hebrew-negation/ Hebrew Negation: Learn How to Form Negative Sentences]
* [https://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu/docman/rendsburg/585-ehll-negation/file ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HEBREW LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS]
 
{{#seo:
|title=Hebrew Grammar - Negation
|keywords=Hebrew, Grammar, Negation, אֵין, לֹא
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to form negatives, the use of אֵין (ein) and how to use negation in sentences.
}}
 
<hr>➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.<br>➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
 
==Videos==
 
===Biblical Hebrew Grammar 15: Word Order & Negative Commands ...===
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQJOqAQUpek</youtube>


==Conclusion==
==Other Lessons==
Negation is an important part of any language, and it is essential to understand how to use it correctly in order to communicate effectively. In Hebrew, negation is expressed in a few different ways, such as using the words ''lo'', ''ein'', and ''me''. With practice and repetition, you will soon be able to use these words correctly and confidently in your conversations. <hr>➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.<br>➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Verb-to-Have|Verb to Have]]
* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Nouns|Nouns]]
* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Conditional-Mood|Conditional Mood]]
* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Adjectives|Adjectives]]
* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Personal-pronouns-and-the-present-tense|Personal pronouns and the present tense]]
* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Personal-pronouns|Personal pronouns]]
* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Plurals|Plurals]]
* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Future-Tense|Future Tense]]
* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be|How to Use Be]]


{{Hebrew-Page-Bottom}}
{{Hebrew-Page-Bottom}}
<span links></span>

Latest revision as of 19:09, 23 May 2024

Hebrew-Language-PolyglotClub.png
Hebrew Grammar - Negation

Hi Hebrew learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on Hebrew Grammar Negation. You will learn how to form negatives, the use of אֵין (ein) and how to use negation in sentences. We will also include some cultural information and interesting facts. Let's get started!


With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Nouns, Future Tense, Pronouns & Reading Practice.

Basics of Negation[edit | edit source]

To create a negative sentence in Hebrew, we use the word לא (lo), which means "no" or "not." Here are some examples:

Hebrew Pronunciation English
לֹא דיברתי lo dibarti I did not speak
לֹא הבנתי lo hivanti I did not understand
לֹא אוכל lo ochel I do not eat
  • Note that the word לֹא (lo) comes before the verb. If the verb begins with a vowel, use לֹא ו in its place.

אֵין (ein)[edit | edit source]

The word אֵין (ein) means "no" or "there is no." It is used to negate the existence of objects, people or concepts. Here are some examples:

Hebrew Pronunciation English
אֵין כָּאן קֶשֶׁה ein kan kase There is no problem here.
אֵין אוויר ein avir There is no air.
אֵין לִי אָח ein li ach I have no brother.

Negation in Sentences[edit | edit source]

When negating sentences, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. אֵין (ein) Vs. לֹא (lo)[edit | edit source]

אֵין (ein) is used to negate the existence of something, while לֹא (lo) is used to negate actions, events or states of being. For example:

  • אֵין שָׁם סוכנות. (ein sham sukhanut) - "There is no agency there."

In this sentence, אֵין (ein) is used to negate the existence of something (an agency).

  • אני לֹא רוֹצֶה לצאת היום. (ani lo rotse latset hayom) - "I don't want to go out today."

In this sentence, לֹא (lo) is used to negate the action of going out.

2. Words typically used with negatives[edit | edit source]

Certain words are typically used with negatives and carry an implied negative when standing alone as an answer. Here is an example:

  • !אני לא יודע כלום (ani lo yodea klum) - "I don't know anything!"
  • !מה אתה יודע? - כלום - "What do you know? - [Not] anything (i.e. nothing).

(This should not be confused with the notion of double negatives found for example in languages such as Afrikaans or Bulgarian, or certain English dialects such as AAVE where a negating word appears twice in the sentence.)

3. Placement of לֹא (lo)[edit | edit source]

In Hebrew, לֹא (lo) usually appears before the main verb in a sentence. However, in some cases, it can appear after the main verb. In this case, the word את (et) is inserted before the object of the sentence. Here are some examples:

  • אכל לא אמרתי. (achal lo amarti) - "Did not eat, I said." (Literally: "Ate not, I said.")
  • אני מכיר אותה לא. (ani mekhir ota lo) - "I know her not."

Interesting Fact and Cultural Information[edit | edit source]

Hebrew is a Semitic language, an ancient language family that also includes Arabic, Amharic, and Aramaic. It is the official language of Israel, and it is spoken by around nine million people worldwide. Hebrew is written right to left. Due to having been used exclusively for religious study for many centuries rather than as an everyday language, Hebrew has not evolved substantially from ancient times and Biblical Hebrew remains intelligible to Modern Hebrew speakers although somewhat old-fashioned sounding.

Dialogues[edit | edit source]

Here is a dialogue to help you see negation in context.

  • Person 1: לֹא אוכל לחם. (Lo ochel lechem) ("I don't eat bread.")
  • Person 2: למה? (Lama?) ("Why?")
  • Person 1: אני משתנה לא מעט בחיים האחרונים. (Ani mishtane me'at ba'hayim ha'acheronim) ("I've changed quite a bit in the recent years.")
  • Person 2: זה לא מפחיד אותי. (Ze lo mafchid oti) ("It doesn't scare me.")

Sources[edit | edit source]

➡ 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. 😎

Videos[edit | edit source]

Biblical Hebrew Grammar 15: Word Order & Negative Commands ...[edit | edit source]

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]


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