Double Negation

Level 2

Negative word + ne + verb. Both are required.

How It Works

In English, two negatives can cancel out. In Bosnian they add up. The rule is simple: ni- word + ne + verb.

WordMeaningSentence
nikonobodyNiko ne zna.
ništanothingNišta ne vidim.
nikadneverNikad ne kasnim.
nigdjenowhereNigdje ne idem.

With a verb like biti, the negative form is fused: Niko nije došao. (Nobody came.) With imati it is nemam: Ništa nemam.

Case endings still apply. In the accusative, niko becomes nikoga: Ne vidim nikoga. The word ništa keeps its form in the accusative: Ne jedem ništa.

The ni- word can also come after the verb. Then ne still comes before the verb: Ne znam ništa.

Examples (5)

  1. Niko ne zna.

    Nobody knows.

    Niko and ne work together.

  2. Ništa ne vidim.

    I see nothing.

    The verb stays negative.

  3. Nikad ne kasnim.

    I am never late.

    Nikad + ne + verb.

  4. Ne vidim nikoga u parku.

    I do not see anyone in the park.

    Nikoga is the accusative of niko.

  5. Haris nigdje ne ide.

    Haris is not going anywhere.

    Nigdje + ne + verb.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping ne.

    Niko zna.
    Niko ne zna.

    Bosnian needs both the ni- word and ne.

  • Using an ordinary word where English has anyone.

    Ne vidim neko.
    Ne vidim nikoga.

    After ne, English anyone is nikoga, not neko.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Double NegationLevel 2

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Bosnian repeats negative words.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

nikoništanikadnigdjene