ez

Negation with Ez

Level 1

To say "not", put ez directly before the conjugated verb: Ez naiz irakaslea. (I am not a teacher.)

How It Works

ez means both "no" and "not". As "not", it always stands directly in front of the conjugated (finite) verb.

One-word verbs. With forms like naiz, dago or dakit, just put ez in front: Ez naiz irakaslea. (I am not a teacher.) Ez dago etxean. (He is not at home.) Ez dakit. (I don't know.)

Two-part verbs. Most verbs are built from a main verb plus an auxiliary (see main verb and auxiliary). In a positive sentence the main verb comes first: ulertzen dut. In a negative sentence the order flips. ez takes the auxiliary with it to the front, and the main verb moves to the end:

  • Ulertzen dut. → Ez dut ulertzen. (I don't understand.)
  • Etorriko naiz. → Ez naiz etorriko. (I won't come.)
  • Bilbon bizi naiz. → Ez naiz Bilbon bizi. (I don't live in Bilbao.)

Other words can sit between the auxiliary and the main verb, as Bilbon does above. A topic can still come first: Mikel ez dago etxean. (Mikel is not at home.)

Answering no. A short answer is just Ez. A full answer often says ez twice: Ez, ez nago etxean. (No, I'm not at home.)

Pronunciation. In speech, ez blends with the next sound, so ez dut sounds like "eztut" and ez da like "ezta". The spelling always keeps ez as a separate word.

What comes next. In negative sentences, "any" is expressed with the ending -(r)ik: Ez dut dirurik. (I don't have any money.) Words like inor (anyone) and ezer (anything) also pair with ez.

Examples (6)

  1. Ez naiz irakaslea.

    I am not a teacher.

  2. Ez dago etxean.

    He is not at home.

    The subject can be left out; dago already tells you it is he or she.

  3. Ez dut ulertzen.

    I don't understand.

    Word by Word: Not I-have understanding.

    The auxiliary dut moves up next to ez, and ulertzen follows it.

  4. Ez naiz etorriko.

    I won't come.

    Compare the positive Etorriko naiz.

  5. Ez naiz Bilbon bizi.

    I don't live in Bilbao.

    Bilbon sits between the auxiliary naiz and bizi.

  6. Ez dakit.

    I don't know.

    dakit is a one-word verb, so ez simply goes in front.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the positive order after ez.

    Ez ulertzen dut.
    Ez dut ulertzen.

    ez must stand directly before the auxiliary, so the auxiliary moves forward and the main verb goes after it.

  • Leaving the future form in front of the auxiliary.

    Ez etorriko naiz.
    Ez naiz etorriko.

    The same rule applies in every tense: ez, then the auxiliary, then the main verb.

How It Connects

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ezLevel 1Negation with Ez

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Negation needs basic word order and izan.

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