Language/Nepali-individual-language/Grammar/Negation-in-Nepali
Negation is an important aspect of any language, and Nepali is no exception. In this lesson, we will learn about the different ways to negate sentences in Nepali and their usage.
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Adverbs in Nepali & Introduction to Nepali Nouns.
Negative Sentences with न (na)
One way to create negative sentences in Nepali is by using the word न (na). This word is placed before the verb in the sentence to indicate negation.
Example:
| Nepali (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| मैले खान नखाए । | Maile khan nakhae. | I did not eat food. |
| तपाईं अाउँद हैनुहुन्छ । | Tapai aund hainauhunchha. | You are not coming. |
| उनी नपढ्नुहुन्छ । | Uni napadhnuhunchha. | He/she does not read. |
| हामी खानछौंन, तर उनीहरुँ नखान्छन् । | Hami khan-chhau, tar uniharun nakhaanchhan. | We are eating, but they are not eating. |
Notice how न (na) is used before the verb in each of these sentences to indicate negation.
Negative Sentences with नभएको (nabhayeko)
Another way to create negative sentences in Nepali is by using the word नभएको (nabhayeko). This is a more formal way of expressing negation.
Example:
| Nepali (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| त्यसलाई ट्रमा नभएको थियो । | Tysalai tram ma nabhayeko thyo. | He/she was not on the tram. |
| तिनीहरुँलाई नलिनुभएको थियो । | Tiniharulai nalinubhayeko thyo. | They were not given anything. |
Notice how नभएको (nabhayeko) is used after the verb in each of these sentences to indicate negation.
Negation with छैन (chain)
The word छैन (chain) can also be used to create negative sentences in Nepali. This word is placed after the verb to indicate negation.
Example:
| Nepali (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| उनी आयोन्, तर उनीहरुँ नआयोइन् । | Uni aayo, tar uniharun naa yoin. | He came, but they did not come. |
| म दुखी छैन । | Ma dukhi chain. | I am not sad. |
Notice how छैन (chain) is used after the verb in each of these sentences to indicate negation.
Negation with छिन् (chin)
The word छिन् (chin) is another way to create negative sentences in Nepali. This is used when negating a verb in the past tense.
Example:
| Nepali (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| म नसकेन, तर मैले छिन । | Ma nasaken, tar maile chin. | I couldn't, but I did. |
Notice how छिन् (chin) is used after the verb in the past tense to indicate negation.
Negation with आउँदैन (aundain)
The word आउँदैन (aundain) can be used to indicate negation when referring to an action in the future tense.
Example:
| Nepali (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| म आज अाउँदैन । | Ma aaj aundain. | I am not coming today. |
| तपाईंले उनीसंग बोल्न हुँदैन । | Tapai le unisang bolna hundaina. | You cannot speak with him/her. |
Notice how आउँदैन (aundain) is used after the verb to indicate negation when referring to an action in the future tense.
Negation with कहिले (kahile)
The word कहिले (kahile) can also be used to create negative sentences in Nepali. This word is used to indicate negation when referring to actions that have not yet happened.
Example:
| Nepali (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| उनी कतै इज्जत बढ्नेछैन । | Uni katai izzat badhnechain. | He/She will never gain respect. |
| त्यसलाई कहिले पठाउनेछौंचैन । | Tysalai kahile pathaunechhauchhain. | He/She will never be sent. |
Notice how कहिले (kahile) is used in these sentences to indicate negation when referring to actions that have not yet happened.
Conclusion
In this lesson, we have learned about the different ways to negate sentences in Nepali. Negation is a very important aspect of any language, and it is important to know how to use it correctly. Remember to practice these rules and use them in everyday conversations.
Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Future Tense in Nepali & Pronouns in Nepali.
Other Lessons
- Interrogatives in Nepali
- Negation
- Introduction to Nepali Verbs
- Noun Cases in Nepali
- Verbs kriyaharu क्रियाहरू
- Adjectives
- Future Tense
- Nouns
- Introduction to Nepali Nouns
- Questions