Language/Tigrinya/Grammar/Negation
Hi Tigrinya learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about negation in Tigrinya. Negation is an important part of any language, and it is essential to understand how to use it correctly in order to communicate effectively.
Negation is the process of making a statement or phrase negative. In Tigrinya, there are two main ways to make a statement negative: by using the negative particle ma or by using the negative verb mä. Let's take a look at each of these in more detail.
Negative Particle ma
The negative particle ma is used to make a statement negative. It is placed before the verb in a sentence. For example:
| Tigrinya | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ኣይተሓረም | ayteharem | He doesn't go |
| ኣይተሓረም ኣብዚ | ayteharem abz | He doesn't go here |
| ኣይተሓረም ኣብዚ ንኽእል | ayteharem abz nk'el | He doesn't go here today |
It is important to note that the negative particle ma cannot be used with the verb to be. To make a statement negative when using the verb to be, you must use the negative verb mä.
Negative Verb mä
The negative verb mä is used to make a statement negative when using the verb to be. It is placed before the verb in a sentence. For example:
| Tigrinya | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ኣይነበሩ | ayneberew | He is not here |
| ኣይነበሩ ኣብዚ | ayneberew abz | He is not here now |
| ኣይነበሩ ኣብዚ ንኽእል | ayneberew abz nk'el | He is not here today |
It is important to note that the negative verb mä cannot be used with other verbs. To make a statement negative when using other verbs, you must use the negative particle ma.
Practice
To improve your Tigrinya Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
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