каб не
Lest with Каб Не
Каб не = so as not to, so that ... not: Я запісаў адрас, каб не забыць. (I wrote the address down so as not to forget.)
How It Works
Каб introduces a purpose. With не, it names something you want to avoid.
Same person: infinitive. Я запісаў адрас, каб не забыць. (I wrote the address down so as not to forget.) The one who might forget is the speaker, so the verb is the infinitive забыць.
Different person: past tense. Гавары цішэй, каб дзеці не прачнуліся. (Speak more quietly so the children do not wake up.) The children are a new subject, so the verb is past tense and agrees with them. This is the pattern of каб with the past tense.
In both cases the verb is usually perfective, because you want to avoid one event: захварэць, забыць, спазніцца.
After verbs of fearing. After баяцца, каб не names what you are afraid might happen: Я баюся, каб ён не заблудзіўся. (I am afraid he might get lost.) Here не does not make the meaning negative.
If it were not for. Каб не + a noun or pronoun means if it were not for, with the conditional in the main clause: Каб не ты, я б заблудзіўся. See unreal conditions with каб.
Other ways. A warning can also use а то: Апраніся цёпла, а то захварэеш. In formal writing, для таго, каб не is a fuller version.
Comma. A каб clause is always set off with a comma, as with other clauses. After the main clause, the comma goes before каб. When the каб clause comes first, the comma goes after it: Каб не спазніцца, мы выйшлі раней.
Examples (6)
- Апраніся цёпла, каб не захварэць.
Dress warmly so you do not get sick.
Word by Word: Dress warmly, so-that not to-get-sick.
- Я запісаў адрас, каб не забыць.
I wrote the address down so as not to forget.
Word by Word: I wrote-down address, so-that not to-forget.
- Гавары цішэй, каб дзеці не прачнуліся.
Speak more quietly so the children do not wake up.
Word by Word: Speak more-quietly, so-that children not woke-up.
A new subject (дзеці), so a past-tense verb.
- Мы выйшлі раней, каб не спазніцца на цягнік.
We left earlier so as not to miss the train.
Word by Word: We went-out earlier, so-that not to-be-late for train.
- Я баюся, каб ён не заблудзіўся.
I am afraid he might get lost.
Word by Word: I fear, so-that he not got-lost.
- Каб не ты, я б заблудзіўся.
If it were not for you, I would have got lost.
Word by Word: If not you, I would got-lost.
Said by a man; a woman says заблудзілася.
Common Mistakes
Using the future tense after каб не.
Апраніся цёпла, каб не захварэеш.Апраніся цёпла, каб не захварэць.After каб use an infinitive for the same person or a past-tense verb for a new subject, never the present or future.
Using an infinitive when the subject changes.
Гавары цішэй, каб дзеці не прачнуцца.Гавары цішэй, каб дзеці не прачнуліся.When каб names a new subject (дзеці), the verb must be past tense and agree with it.
Leaving out the comma before каб.
Апраніся цёпла каб не захварэць.Апраніся цёпла, каб не захварэць.A purpose clause with каб is always separated by a comma.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Lest needs both каб patterns.
Related Patterns
- каб + InfinitivePurpose with Каб
The positive purpose clause: каб + infinitive means in order to.
Level 3 - а тоOr Else with А То
Another way to warn: do this, or else something bad happens.
Level 4 - для таго кабIn Order to with Для Таго Каб
A fuller, more formal version: для таго, каб не ...
Level 4 - калі б / каб + Unreal ConditionUnreal Conditions with Калі Б and Каб
Каб не + noun also means if it were not for.
Level 4 - Commas in Complex Sentences
Sets out the comma before каб.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice каб не in Bubblegum
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