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

Understanding Negation in Slovak

Negation is an essential part of any language, allowing you to express the opposite of an affirmative statement. In Slovak, negation is formed differently than in English, and understanding these differences is key for learners.

Basic Negation with 'nie' (not)

The primary word used for negation in Slovak is "nie", which means "not." It is placed before the verb to negate it. For example, the verb robiť means "to do." To say "I do not do," you say "Ja nerobím". Notice that the verb itself changes form when negated.

Negating Verbs: The Prefix 'ne-'

In Slovak, negation of verbs is often formed by adding the prefix "ne-" to the verb stem. This is different from English, where we usually add "do not" before the verb. For example:

• robiť (to do) → nerobiť (not to do)
• vidieť (to see) → nevidieť (not to see)
• chápať (to understand) → nechápať (not to understand)

When conjugated, the prefix ne- remains attached to the verb. For example, "I do not see" is "Ja nevidím".

Double Negation in Slovak

Unlike English, Slovak often uses double negation, which means that multiple negative words can appear in the same sentence without canceling each other out. This is grammatically correct and common in Slovak.

For example, to say "I do not see anyone," you say "Ja nikto nevidím", where both nikto (nobody) and nevidím (I do not see) are negative.

Negative Pronouns and Adverbs

Slovak has several negative pronouns and adverbs that are used with negated verbs. Some common ones include:

• nikto – nobody
• nič – nothing
• nikdy – never
• nikde – nowhere
• ani – neither/nor

These words reinforce the negation and are used together with the negated verb.

Examples of Negation in Sentences

Here are some examples to illustrate negation in Slovak:

• Nechápem to. – I do not understand it.
• Nikdy som tam nebol. – I have never been there.
• Nemám nič. – I have nothing.
• On nevidí nikoho. – He does not see anyone.
• Nie som unavený. – I am not tired.

Important Notes on Negation