ne + Present Verb

Negating a Present Verb

Level 1

Most present verbs are negated with ne written as a separate word. The verb keeps its person and number ending.

How It Works

Ne radim. means I do not work or I am not working. The negative particle comes before the finite verb, and radim still identifies a first-person singular subject.

The same rule applies in a question: Ne znaš? can ask for confirmation of a negative expectation. A longer sentence still needs an appropriately inflected verb; ne does not turn it into an infinitive.

Do not write ordinary combinations such as ne znam as one word. The familiar joined forms nisam, nemam and neću are specific patterns, not permission to join ne to every verb. Negative pronouns such as nitko later combine with a negative verb in standard negative concord.

Examples (4)

  1. Ne radim danas.

    I am not working today.

    Ne is separate; radim remains first-person singular.

  2. Ana ne govori talijanski.

    Ana does not speak Italian.

    Ne precedes the finite third-person form.

  3. Ne znamo odgovor.

    We do not know the answer.

    Znamo retains first-person plural agreement.

  4. Oni ne čitaju novine.

    They do not read the newspaper.

    The third-person plural ending remains -aju.

How It Connects

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

ne + Present VerbLevel 1Negating a Present Verb

Learn This First

Negation keeps an already inflected present verb; it does not replace the finite ending.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern