Language/Panjabi/Grammar/Negation

◀️ Asking Questions — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Festivals and Celebrations ▶️

Panjabi → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Negation

Welcome to our lesson on Negation in Panjabi Grammar! Understanding how to express negation is a critical part of mastering any language, and Panjabi is no exception. Whether you're trying to say that something is not true, that you don't want to do something, or simply denying a statement, knowing how to use negative forms effectively will enhance your communication skills significantly.

In this lesson, we will explore how to negate sentences in Panjabi using negative words like "no," "not," and "never." We will break down the structure of negative sentences and provide you with plenty of examples to illustrate how negation works in various contexts. By the end of this lesson, you will be equipped with the knowledge to negate sentences confidently and correctly.

Understanding Negation

Negation in Panjabi is quite straightforward, but like any linguistic feature, it comes with its rules and nuances. The primary negative word used in Panjabi is "ਨਹੀਂ" (nahīṁ), which means "not." This word is essential in forming negative sentences.

In English, we often use "no," "not," and "never" to create negation. In Panjabi, while "ਨਹੀਂ" is the most common term, other negative expressions exist, which we will explore in detail.

Structure of Negative Sentences

When negating a sentence in Panjabi, the structure typically remains the same as the affirmative sentence, with the addition of the negative word. The most common structure is:

Subject + Verb + Object + ਨਹੀṁ (nahīṁ)

For example:

• She eats an apple. (ਉਹ ਸੇਬ ਖਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ। - Uḥ sēb khāndī hai.)

• She does not eat an apple. (ਉਹ ਸੇਬ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਂਦੀ। - Uḥ sēb nahīṁ khāndī.)

It's essential to note that the position of "ਨਹੀਂ" is crucial. It often appears directly after the verb in the sentence.

Negative Words in Panjabi

Besides "ਨਹੀਂ," Panjabi uses other negative expressions, such as "ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀṁ" (ko'ī nahīṁ - no one), "ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀṁ" (kujh nahīṁ - nothing), and "ਕਦੇ ਨਹੀṁ" (kade nahīṁ - never). Let's take a closer look at these expressions.

Common Negative Words

Here’s a quick rundown of some common negative words in Panjabi:

• ਨਹੀਂ (nahīṁ) - not

• ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀṁ (ko'ī nahīṁ) - no one

• ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀṁ (kujh nahīṁ) - nothing

• ਕਦੇ ਨਹੀṁ (kade nahīṁ) - never

• ਨਾ (nā) - no (used as a standalone response)

Examples of Negation

To solidify your understanding, let’s dive into some examples! Below is a table showcasing various sentences in Panjabi along with their pronunciations and English translations.

Panjabi	Pronunciation	English
ਉਹ ਸੇਬ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਂਦੀ।	Uḥ sēb nahīṁ khāndī.	She does not eat an apple.
ਮੈਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦਾ।	Maiṁ nahīṁ ā'undā.	I do not come.
ਉਹ ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ।	Uḥ ko'ī nahīṁ.	He is no one.
ਮੈਂ ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਂਦਾ।	Maiṁ kujh nahīṁ khāndā.	I eat nothing.
ਉਹ ਕਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੱਸਦੀ।	Uḥ kade nahīṁ hasdī.	She never laughs.
ਤੁਸੀਂ ਨਾ ਆਓ।	Tusīṁ nā ā'ō.	Don’t come.
ਉਹ ਸਕੂਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਂਦੀ।	Uḥ sakūl nahīṁ jāndī.	She does not go to school.
ਮੈਂ ਖੇਡ ਨਹੀਂ ਰਿਹਾ।	Maiṁ khēḍ nahīṁ rihā.	I am not playing.
ਉਹ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਣਦਾ।	Uḥ mainū nahīṁ jāndā.	He does not know me.
ਉਹ ਚਿੱਟਾ ਨਹੀਂ।	Uḥ ciṭṭā nahīṁ.	It is not white.

Exercises

Now that we've explored the mechanics of negation in Panjabi, it's time to put your learning into practice. Below are some exercises designed to reinforce your understanding of negation.

Exercise 1: Translate to Panjabi

Translate the following sentences into Panjabi, using negation where appropriate.

1. I do not like this food.

2. She never drinks tea.

3. They are not my friends.

4. We do not understand.

5. He has nothing.

Solutions:

1. ਮੈਂ ਇਹ ਖਾਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਸੰਦ ਕਰਦਾ। (Main ih khāṇā nahīṁ pasand kardā.)

2. ਉਹ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਚਾਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਪੀਂਦੀ। (Uḥ kadē vī chāh nahīṁ pīndī.)

3. ਉਹ ਮੇਰੇ ਦੋਸਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਨ। (Uḥ mērē dōsat nahīṁ han.)

4. ਅਸੀਂ ਸਮਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਾਂਦੇ। (Asīṁ samajh nahīṁ pāndē.)

5. ਉਸ ਕੋਲ ਕੁਝ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। (Us kol kujh vī nahīṁ hai.)

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate negative word.

1. ਮੈਂ __________ ਜਾਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ।

2. ਉਹ __________ ਸੱਚ ਨਹੀਂ।

3. ਇਹ __________ ਸਹੀ ਹੈ।

4. ਮੈਂ __________ ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਰੀਦਿਆ।

5. ਉਹ __________ ਖੁਸ਼ ਹੈ।

Solutions:

1. ਮੈਂ ਨਾ ਜਾਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ। (Nā)

2. ਉਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੱਚ ਨਹੀਂ। (Nahīṁ)

3. ਇਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਹੀ ਹੈ। (Nahīṁ)

4. ਮੈਂ ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਰੀਦਿਆ। (Kujh)

5. ਉਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਖੁਸ਼ ਹੈ। (Nahīṁ)

Exercise 3: Sentence Conversion

Convert the following affirmative sentences into negative sentences.

1. She goes to the market.

2. He likes this movie.

3. They play cricket.

4. We eat vegetables.

5. I see the stars.

Solutions:

1. ਉਹ ਬਜ਼ਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਂਦੀ। (Uḥ bazār nahīṁ jāndī.)

2. ਉਹ ਇਸ ਫਿਲਮ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਸੰਦ ਕਰਦਾ। (Uḥ is phim nū nahīṁ pasand kardā.)

3. ਉਹ ਕ੍ਰਿਕਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਖੇਡਦੇ। (Uḥ krikaṭ nahīṁ khēḍdē.)

4. ਅਸੀਂ ਸਬਜ਼ੀਆਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਂਦੇ। (Asīṁ sabzī'āṁ nahīṁ khāndē.)

5. ਮੈਂ ਤਾਰੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਵੇਖਦਾ। (Maiṁ tāre nahīṁ vēkhda.)

Exercise 4: Identify the Negation

Read the sentences below and identify the negative word used.

1. ਉਹ ਕਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੌਂਦੀ।

2. ਮੈਂ ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦਾ।

3. ਤੁਸੀਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦੇ?

4. ਉਹਨਾਂ ਕੋਲ ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ।

5. ਮੈਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਣਦਾ।

Solutions:

1. ਕਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ (kade nahīṁ)

2. ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀਂ (kujh nahīṁ)

3. ਨਹੀਂ (nahīṁ)

4. ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ (ko'ī nahīṁ)

5. ਨਹੀਂ (nahīṁ)

Exercise 5: Create Negative Sentences

Use the words provided to create negative sentences.

1. (ਮੈਨੂੰ, ਕੁਝ, ਨਹੀਂ)

2. (ਉਹ, ਬਜ਼ਾਰ, ਨਹੀਂ, ਜਾਂਦਾ)

3. (ਸਾਨੂੰ, ਸੱਚ, ਨਹੀਂ)

4. (ਤੁਸੀਂ, ਕਦੇ, ਨਹੀਂ, ਖੇਡਦੇ)

5. (ਉਹ, ਚਾਹ, ਨਹੀਂ, ਪੀਤੀ)

Solutions:

1. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਤਾ। (Mainū kujh nahīṁ patā.)

2. ਉਹ ਬਜ਼ਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਂਦਾ। (Uḥ bazār nahīṁ jāndā.)

3. ਸਾਨੂੰ ਸੱਚ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਤਾ। (Sānū sach nahīṁ patā.)

4. ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਖੇਡਦੇ। (Tusīṁ kadē nahīṁ khēḍdē.)

5. ਉਹ ਚਾਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਪੀਤੀ। (Uḥ chāh nahīṁ pīṭī.)

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this lesson on negation in Panjabi! You’ve learned how to negate sentences using the negative word "ਨਹੀਂ" and other expressions. Remember, practice makes perfect, so be sure to apply what you've learned in real conversations. Negation is an essential part of expressing your thoughts accurately, and mastering it will significantly enhance your Panjabi language skills.

Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to revisit this lesson whenever you need a refresher. Next up, we will explore Panjabi customs and traditions, further enriching your understanding of the culture behind the language.

Table of Contents - Panjabi Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Panjabi Script

• Gurmukhi Alphabet
• Gurmukhi Matra

  ---

Basic Words and Phrases

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Time
• Days and Months

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Object-Verb Order
• Nouns and Pronouns
• Adjectives and Adverbs

  ---

Everyday Vocabulary

• Colors and Shapes
• Food and Drinks
• Clothing and Accessories
• Family and Relationships

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Directions and Places
• Accommodation and Reservations

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Asking Questions
• Negation

  ---

Panjabi Customs and Traditions

• Festivals and Celebrations
• Food and Cuisine
• Traditional Clothing

  ---

Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Sports and Exercise
• Arts and Entertainment
• Outdoor Activities

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Panjabi Literature and Media

• Folklore and Legends
• Panjabi Literature
• Panjabi Media

  ---

Health and Emergencies

• Health and Illness
• Emergencies

  ---

Expressing Opinions and Emotions

• Likes and Dislikes
• Emotions and Feelings

Other Lessons

• How to Use Be
• Subject Object Verb Order
• Likes and Dislikes
• Gender
• Gurmukhi Alphabet
• Nouns
• Present Tense
• Nouns and Pronouns
• Conditional Mood
• Adjectives and Adverbs

◀️ Asking Questions — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Festivals and Celebrations ▶️