nisam radio: Negative Past

Negative Past

Level 3

nisam, nisi, nije, nismo, niste, nisu + participle.

How It Works

PersonNegative helperExample
janisamNisam radio.
tinisiNisi došla.
on, onanijeNije bila kod kuće.
minismoNismo jeli.
vinisteNiste čitali.
oninisuNisu stigli.

The negative helper can open a sentence, unlike the positive helper: Nisam bio tamo. The participle keeps its gender and number.

Double negation is normal. With words like ništa and nikad, the verb stays negative: Nikad nisam bio u Bihaću.

Remember that the negative helpers are single words. Write nisam, never ne sam. The same applies to nisi, nije, nismo, niste and nisu.

Examples (5)

  1. Nisam gledao utakmicu.

    I did not watch the match. (a man speaking)

    Nisam is followed by the participle gledao.

  2. Lejla nije došla na posao.

    Lejla did not come to work.

    Nije with a feminine participle.

  3. Jučer nismo bili kod kuće.

    We were not at home yesterday.

    Nismo bili is plural.

  4. Nisu ništa kupili.

    They did not buy anything.

    Nisu and ništa work together.

  5. Niste čitali poruku.

    You did not read the message.

    Niste is the vi form.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing ne sam instead of nisam.

    Ne sam radio.
    Nisam radio.

    The negative of sam is the single word nisam.

  • Putting the present after nisam.

    Nisam radim.
    Nisam radio.

    After nisam, use the participle.

How It Connects

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

nisam radio: Negative PastLevel 3Negative Past

Learn This First

The negative perfect negates sam.

Words in This Pattern

bitije