Language/Modern-greek-1453/Grammar/Negative-Sentence

Turning an Affirmative Sentence into a Negative Sentence

How to use negation in Greek modern to create negative sentences?

In this lesson, we’ll focus on negation and how to turn an affirmative sentence into a negative one. In addition, we’ll present you with the most common negation words and phrases, as well as the most popular ways to give a negative response to a question.

Modifying an affirmative sentence to have a negative meaning can be achieved by simply adding the particle δεν (den) – “not“ before the verb in the indicative mood.

Affirmative Sentence	Negative Sentence
Greek: Η Μαρία διαβάζει κάθε μέρα. I María diavázi káthe méra. Maria studies every day.	Greek: Η Μαρία δεν διαβάζει κάθε μέρα. I María den diavázi káthe méra. Maria doesn’t study every day.

Affirmative Sentence	Negative Sentence
Greek: Θέλω να επισκεφτώ την Ελλάδα. Thélo na episkeftó tin Elláda.. I want to visit Greece.”	Greek: Δεν θέλω να επισκεφτώ την Ελλάδα. Den thélo na episkeftó tin Eláda. I don’t want to visit Greece.

When it comes to complex sentences, consisting of two or more clauses connected by the conjunction και (ke) – “and,” the particle “δεν” should be placed before each verb.

In that way, you can negate the meaning of both sentences.

Affirmative Sentence	Negative Sentence
Greek: Χθες πήγαμε σινεμά και φάγαμε ποπ κόρν. Htes pígame sinemá ke fágame popkórn. Yesterday, we went to the cinema and we ate popcorn.	Greek: Χθες δεν πήγαμε σινεμά και δεν φάγαμε ποπ κόρν. Htes den pígame sinemá ke den fágame popkórn. Yesterday, we didn’t go to the cinema and we didn’t eat popcorn.”

However the solution is simple: just place a “δεν” before the verb you want to negate.

Negating the 1st Statement	Negating the 2nd Statement
Greek: Χθες δεν πήγαμε σινεμά και φάγαμε ποπ κορν. Htes den pígame sinemá ke fágame pop korn Yesterday, we didn’t go to the cinema and we ate popcorn.”	Greek: Χθες πήγαμε σινεμά και δεν φάγαμε ποπ κορν. Htes den pígame sinemá ke den fágame pop korn. Yesterday, we went to the cinema and we didn’t eat popcorn.

The imperative mood in Greek (which is the mood that expresses commands) doesn’t have its own negation form, it uses the negation form of the subjunctive mood:

the following particle + the verb in the subjunctive mood.

Greek : Η μαμά κοιμάται. Μη φωνάζεις!

I mamá kimáte. Mi fonázis!.

Mommy is sleeping. Don’t yell

Greek : Ο ήρωας έπεσε κάτω, μην έχοντας τη δύναμη να συνεχίσει.

O íroas épese káto, min éhondas ti dínami na sinehísi.

The hero fell down, not having the strength to continue

In Greek, double negatives only create a positive statement some of the time. It really depends on the choice of words.

Here’s an example of two negations making a positive statement:

Greek : Δεν θέλω να μην κοιμάσαι.

Den thélo na min kimáse.

I don’t want (you) not to sleep

Meaning : I want you to sleep.

Greek : Κανείς, μα κανείς δεν θα το μάθει.

Kanís, ma kanís den tha to máthi.

Νobody, but nobody won’t learn this

Meaning : Nobody will find out about this.

Saying όχι “no” to question, you can simply say:

Greek: Όχι / Óhi / No

Greek : – Θέλεις να πάμε για καφέ; – Όχι.

– Τhélis na páme yia kafé?             – Óhi.

– Do you want to go for a coffee?             – No

Negation Words and Phrases

Greek : Δεν έχω πάει ποτέ στην Ελλάδα

Den ého pái poté stin Elláda.

I have never been to Greece

Greek : Χθες έβρεχε και δεν πήγαμε πουθενά.

Hthes évrehe ke den pígame puthená.

Yesterday, it was raining and we didn’t go anywhere

Greek : Κανείς δεν ήρθε στα γενέθλιά μου.

Kanís den írthe sta yenéthliá mu.

Nobody came on my birthday

Greek : Τίποτα δεν θα μας χωρίσει.

Típota den tha mas horísi.

Nothing will tear us apart

Greek : Δεν μου αρέσει ούτε το κρασί, ούτε η μπύρα.

Den mu arési úte to krasí, úte i bíra.

I like neither wine, nor beer