Language/Slovak/Grammar/Negation
Hi Slovak learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be exploring negation in Slovak grammar. Negation refers to the process of expressing the opposite or absence of something. In Slovak, we use negation to express negative statements, which is a very important grammatical knowledge for intermediate learners to have. Negation is a critical part of Slovak grammar, so let's dive in!
Negative words in Slovak
To make a negative statement in Slovak, the word "nie" (no) is typically used before the verb. However, there are some negative words in Slovak that you should be aware of. These words can be used to express negation more effectively:
| Word | Pronunciation | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| nikto | [ˈɲiktɔ] | nobody |
| nič | [ɲit͡ʃ] | nothing |
| nijaký | [ˈnijakiː] | no (as in "not any") |
| nikde | [ˈɲikdɛ] | nowhere |
Negation in Present Tense
To make a negative statement in present tense, we typically place "nie" before the verb. Let's consider the following examples:
| Slovak | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| On hovorí po slovensky. | [ɔn ˈɦɔvɔriː pɔ ˈslovɛnski] | He speaks Slovak. |
| On ne hovorí po slovensky. | [ɔn nɛ ˈɦɔvɔriː pɔ ˈslovɛnski] | He does not speak Slovak. |
In the example above, the word "nie" is placed before the verb "hovorí" and indicates negation. This sentence simply means that "he does not speak Slovak".
Here's another example:
| Slovak | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| On píše knihu. | [ɔn ˈpiːʃɛ ˈkniɦu] | He writes a book. |
| On ne píše knihu. | [ɔn nɛ ˈpiːʃɛ ˈkniɦu] | He does not write a book. |
Negation in Past Tense
In past tense, negation is typically formed with the word "ne" and the past participle of the verb. Here are some examples:
| Slovak | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| On videl auto. | [ɔn ˈvidɛl ˈautɔ] | He saw a car. |
| On ne videl auto. | [ɔn nɛ ˈvidɛl ˈautɔ] | He did not see a car. |
| Kúpil som knihu. | [ˈkuːpil sɔm ˈkniɦu] | I bought a book. |
| Ne kúpil som knihu. | [nɛ ˈkuːpil sɔm ˈkniɦu] | I did not buy a book. |
Negation with Other Parts of Speech
Negation can also be used with other parts of speech in Slovak, such as adjectives and adverbs. Here are some examples:
| Slovak | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tento dezert je dobrý. | [ˈtɛntɔ ˈdɛzɛrt jɛ ˈdɔbriː] | This dessert is good. |
| Tento dezert nie je dobrý. | [ˈtɛntɔ ˈdɛzɛrt ɲɛ jɛ ˈdɔbriː] | This dessert is not good. |
| On kráča rýchlo. | [ɔn ˈkraːt͡ʃa ˈriːxlo] | He walks fast. |
| On ne kráča rýchlo. | [ɔn nɛ ˈkraːt͡ʃa ˈriːxlo] | He does not walk fast. |
Examples in Dialogue
- Person 1: Máš peniaze? (Do you have money?)
- Person 2: Nie, nemám. (No, I don't have any.)
- Person 1: Včera som bol na futbale. (Yesterday, I was at a football match.)
- Person 2: Fuj, vôbec sa mi to nepáči. (Yuck, I do not like it at all.)
- Person 1: Poznáš Joža Procházku? (Do you know Jožo Procházka?)
- Person 2: Nie, nikdy som ho nepočul. (No, I've never heard of him.)
Conclusion
In conclusion, negation is a critical part of Slovak grammar. Intermediate learners of Slovak should be familiar with negation and understand how it is formed in both present and past tense, as well as with other parts of speech such as adjectives and adverbs. To improve your Slovak Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ 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