Language/Plateau-malagasy/Grammar/Negation
Hi Plateau Malagasy learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about negation in Plateau Malagasy. It is very important to know how to say "no" and negate a sentence when learning a language, so let's get started!
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Pronouns, Plateau Malagasy Grammar → Prepositions and Conjunctions ..., Regular Verbs & 0 to A1 Course.
Negation with "tsy"[edit | edit source]
To negate a sentence in Plateau Malagasy, we use the word "tsy." "Tsy" means "no" or "not" in English. We add it before the verb to make a negative sentence.
Let's see some examples:
| Plateau Malagasy | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tsy mahay miteny aho. | [ts̪ mæˈhaj mɪˈtɛn(ɪ) ˈaw] | I don't speak (lit. No speech can be done by me). |
| Tsy manome vonjy ianao. | [ts̪ məˈnom vudzʲ ˌjanə̥w] | You don't give perfume (lit. No giving of perfume by you) |
| Tsy miteny malagasy ny sasany. | [ts̪ mɪˈtɛn(ɪ) məˈlagəsʲ nɪ səˈsany] | Some people don't speak Malagasy |
As you can see from the examples, we add "tsy" before the verb. "Tsy" is mandatory when we want to negate a sentence.
Negation with "vela"/"mbola"[edit | edit source]
There are other ways to express negation in Plateau Malagasy. One of them is using "vela" or "mbola."
"Vela" means "not yet" in English. It is used in a sentence to indicate something that has not happened yet. "Vela" is followed by the verb in the present tense. "Vela" negates the verb and means "has not happened yet."
"Mbola" means "still not" in English. It is used in a sentence to indicate something that has not happened and is not likely to happen soon. "Mbola" is followed by the verb in the present tense. "Mbola" negates the verb and means "still hasn't happened."
Let's see some examples:
| Plateau Malagasy | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tsy mbola tsy vita ny asany. | [ts̪ ˌmɔlə ts̪ t͡sj ˈvɪt əɳʲ əˈsanʲ] | He/She still hasn't finished his/her work (lit. Still not finished the work by him/her) |
| Vela tsy tonga ny mpampianatra. | [ˈvɛlə ts̪ tj ˈt̪ɔŋə nɪ ˌmpaːmpʲanətʃə] | The teacher hasn't arrived yet. (lit. Not yet arrived the teacher) |
| Vela tsy matahotra ny mpiasan'ny fanatanterahana. | [ˈvɛlə ts̪ mət̪əhut̪rə nɪ mpʲasəsˌan fənatantʲəraˈhana] | The employees are not afraid yet of innovation. (lit. Not yet afraid the employees of innovation) |
Double negation[edit | edit source]
In Plateau Malagasy, it is possible to use two negative markers in the same sentence. However, the meaning will change. Double negation in Plateau Malagasy is like using a double negative in English. It is a way to emphasize the negation. For example, "tsy mety" means "not impossible."
Let's see some examples:
| Plateau Malagasy | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tsy misy zaza tsotra intsony. | [ts̪ miˈsy ˈzatsə tsuˈtʃrə ˌintsuˈnʲ] | There are no more easy children (lit. Not existing simple children anymore). |
| Tsy maninona aho fa tsy mety hanova. | ˈːnunə̥ aw fə ts̪ ˌmetʃ həˈnʊvə] | It's not my fault that it's impossible to change (lit. Not why me but not impossible to change) |
| Tsy mandeha raha tsy mitohy. | [ts̪ manˈdehə ˈraha ts̪ mɪˈtʊʔ] | We won't go if it doesn't rain (lit. Not going if not raining) |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
To see negation in context, let's see a short dialogue between two people:
- Person 1: Mbola tsy voahaka ny rainy. ("It still hasn't rained.")
- Person 2: Tsy mitranga ny tananao, izay no antony. ("Your body doesn't sweat, that's why.")
Tips[edit | edit source]
- To improve your [Language/Plateau-malagasy|Plateau Malagasy] [Language/Plateau-malagasy/Grammar|Grammar], you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! - To practice your reading skills, find articles in Plateau Malagasy on Wikipedia in Plateau Malagasy - To listen to Plateau Malagasy music and start to recognize the language, you can refer to sy Tanindrana traditional songs on Wikipedia.
Sources[edit | edit source]
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