How to Use Negation in Romanian: A Guide for English Speakers

Understanding Negation in Romanian

Negation in Romanian is an essential part of forming negative sentences. Unlike English, Romanian uses specific words and structures to express negation, which can be straightforward once you understand the rules.

The Basic Negation Word: "nu"

The primary word used to negate verbs in Romanian is "nu". It is placed directly before the verb to make the sentence negative. For example, the affirmative sentence "Eu merg" (I go) becomes negative as "Eu nu merg" (I do not go).

Position of "nu" in a Sentence

In Romanian, "nu" always precedes the verb it negates. This is different from English, where "not" often follows an auxiliary verb. For example:

• Eu nu vorbesc românește. (I do not speak Romanian.)
• El nu mănâncă pâine. (He does not eat bread.)
• Noi nu înțelegem. (We do not understand.)

Negating Compound Tenses

When negating compound tenses, such as the perfect tense, "nu" still precedes the auxiliary verb. For example:

• Eu nu am văzut filmul. (I have not seen the movie.)
• Ea nu a venit ieri. (She did not come yesterday.)

Double Negation in Romanian

Romanian often uses double negation for emphasis, which is grammatically correct and common. This means that after "nu", negative pronouns or adverbs are also used. For example:

• Nu văd nimic. (I do not see anything.)
• Nu am niciun prieten aici. (I do not have any friends here.)
• Nu spun niciodată minciuni. (I never tell lies.)

Common Negative Words Used with "nu"

Here are some common negative words that are used with "nu" to form double negation:

• nimic – nothing
• niciun/ nicio – no/ none
• niciodată – never
• nici – neither/ nor
• nimeni – nobody

Examples of Negation in Sentences

Let's look at some examples to see negation in action:

• Nu am nimic de spus. (I have nothing to say.)
• Nu văd pe nimeni aici. (I do not see anyone here.)
• Nu merg niciodată la cinema. (I never go to the cinema.)
• Nu am niciun ban. (I have no money.)

Negation with Imperative Mood

To negate commands or requests in Romanian, "nu" is placed before the verb in the imperative form. For example:

• Nu vorbi! (Don't speak!)
• Nu pleca! (Don't leave!)
• Nu face asta! (Don't do that!)

Summary of Negation Rules in Romanian

1. Use "nu" before the verb to negate it.
2. In compound tenses, place "nu" before the auxiliary verb.
3. Double negation is common and correct; use negative pronouns or adverbs after "nu".
4. Negative words include nimic, niciun, niciodată, nici, and nimeni.
5. For negative commands, place "nu" before the imperative verb.