няма да + Verb

The Negative Future with Няма Да

Level 2Sounds Like nâma da

The future uses ще: Ще дойда. (I will come.) To make it negative, replace ще with няма да: Няма да дойда. (I won't come.)

How It Works

1. From ще to няма да.

  • Ще чета. (I will read.) → Няма да чета. (I won't read.)
  • Той ще работи утре. → Той няма да работи утре. (He won't work tomorrow.)

2. Няма never changes. Няма да чета, няма да четеш, няма да чете, няма да четем, няма да четете, няма да четат. Only the verb after да changes.

3. Which verb. As with the future with ще, use a perfective verb for one complete action (Няма да забравя. I won't forget.) and an imperfective verb for an ongoing or repeated action (Няма да работя в неделя. I won't be working on Sunday.).

4. Short words go after да. Short pronouns and се stand between да and the verb: Няма да го купя. (I won't buy it.) Няма да ти кажа. (I won't tell you.)

5. Questions. Put ли after няма: Няма ли да дойдеш? (Aren't you coming?)

6. "There won't be". The future of няма (there is no) is няма да има: Утре няма да има ток. (There will be no electricity tomorrow.)

Good to know: in poetry and very bookish style you may meet не ще (Не ще забравя. I shall not forget). In ordinary speech and writing, use няма да.

Examples (6)

  1. Няма да дойда на партито.

    I won't come to the party.

    Дойда is perfective: one whole event that will not happen.

  2. Той няма да работи утре.

    He won't work tomorrow.

    Няма stays the same; работи shows the person.

  3. Няма да ти кажа.

    I won't tell you.

    The short pronoun ти goes between да and the verb.

  4. Няма ли да ядеш?

    Aren't you going to eat?

    The question particle ли follows няма.

  5. Утре няма да има ток до обяд.

    Tomorrow there will be no electricity until noon.

    Няма да има is the future of няма (there is no).

  6. Обещавам, че няма да закъснея.

    I promise I won't be late.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting не after ще.

    Ще не дойда.
    Няма да дойда.

    The future with ще cannot be negated with не. Replace ще with няма да.

  • Changing няма to match the person.

    Нямам да дойда.
    Няма да дойда.

    In the negative future, няма is always the same. Нямам means "I don't have".

  • Putting the short pronoun before да.

    Няма го да купя.
    Няма да го купя.

    Short pronouns go after да, right before the verb.

How It Connects

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няма да + VerbLevel 2The Negative Future with Няма Да

Learn This First

The negative future follows the ще future.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

няма