Language/Cebuano/Grammar/Negating-Sentences

Cebuano → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Basic Sentence Structure → Negating Sentences

Negating Sentences is an essential aspect of language learning. It allows you to converse using negation, or the opposite of what is being said. In Cebuano, negation is expressed using the word 'dili'. In this lesson, you will learn how to negate sentences in Cebuano and practice negating simple sentences.

Negating Sentences using 'Dili'

In Cebuano, the word 'dili' is used to express negation. It is used before a verb to indicate that the action did not happen, and after the verb to indicate that the action happened, but the result was not as expected.

Here are some examples:

Cebuano	Pronunciation	English
Wala siya niadto.	Wa-la si-ya ni-ad-to	He did not go there.
Dili siya muadto.	Di-li si-ya mu-ad-to	He is not going there.
Muadto siya, apan dili sulod.	Mu-ad-to si-ya, a-pan di-li su-lod	He will go, but not inside.
Abtik kaayo siya, apan dili siya makadaug.	Ab-tik ka-a-yo si-ya, a-pan di-li si-ya ma-ka-daug	He is very fast, but he cannot win.

Note that 'dili' can also be contracted to 'di' in casual conversations.

Practice

To practice negating sentences in Cebuano, try negating the following simple sentences:

• Si Maria mu-uli karon adlawa. (Maria will go home today.)
• Ang ako amahan nagpuyo sa Probinsya sa Sugbo. (My father lives in Cebu Province.)
• Mosaka ko sa bukid karong buntag. (I will climb the mountain this morning.)

Here are the negated sentences:

• Dili si Maria mu-uli karon adlawa. (Maria will not go home today.)
• Dili nagpuyo ang ako amahan sa Probinsya sa Sugbo. (My father does not live in Cebu Province.)
• Dili ko mosaka sa bukid karong buntag. (I will not climb the mountain this morning.)

Conclusion

Negating sentences is a fundamental aspect of language learning. In Cebuano, negation is expressed using the word 'dili' which is used before a verb to indicate that the action did not happen, and after the verb to indicate that the action happened but the result was not as expected. In this lesson, you learned how to use 'dili' to negate sentences in Cebuano and practice negating simple sentences. Keep practicing, and soon you will become proficient in negating sentences in Cebuano.

Table of Contents - Cebuano Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Expressions

• Greetings and Goodbyes
• Polite Expressions

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Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Negating Sentences

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Numbers and Time

• Cardinal Numbers
• Telling Time

  ---

Questions and Responses

• Yes/No Questions
• Wh-Questions

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Common Nouns

• People and Family
• Food and Drinks

  ---

Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Colors and Adjectives

• Colors
• Common Adjectives

  ---

Adjective Agreement

• Adjective Placement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Places and Directions

• Common Places
• Directions

  ---

Everyday Life in Cebu

• Family and Relationships
• Food and Dining

  ---

Days and Months

• Days of the Week
• Months and Seasons

  ---

Festivals and Celebrations

• Sinulog Festival
• Christmas and New Year

Other Lessons

• Future Tense
• How to Use Have
• Personal Pronouns
• How to Use Be
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• 0 to A1 Course
• Adjectives
• Subject Verb Object
• Negation
• Plurals

Sources

• Cebuano grammar - Wikipedia
• Cebuano Grammar Notes - Project MUSE
• Cebuano Grammar: How to Give a Negative Command or When to ...