Don't

The order. A positive command has the verb first: Egin ezazu. Just as in ordinary negative sentences, ez pulls the auxiliary to the front and the verb goes after it:

• Joan zaitez → Ez zaitez joan (Don't go)
• Egin ezazu → Ez ezazu egin (Don't do it)
• Har itzazu → Ez itzazu har or Ez itzazu hartu (Don't take them)
• Etor zaitezte → Ez zaitezte etorri (Don't come, all of you)

As in positive commands, the verb can be the radical or the full participle. Other words can come between the auxiliary and the verb: Ez zaitez hona etorri! (Don't come here!).

The short everyday form. In speech people often say ez plus the participle, with no auxiliary: Ez etorri berandu! (Don't come late!), Ez kezkatu! (Don't worry!). This is correct, and it is the easiest form to use.

Short commands cannot be negated. One-word commands like zatoz and zoaz from Simple Commands have no negative. Ez zatoz is not a command. Say Ez zaitez etorri or Ez etorri instead.

Spelling. Ez ezazu often sounds like etzazu in fast speech, but it is always written as two words: ez ezazu.