One Negative Is Enough

Level 3

One negative is enough, and two usually cancel.

How It Works

SayMeaning
Mi vidis neniun.I saw nobody.
Mi ne vidis iun.I did not see anyone.
Mi ne vidis neniun.I did see someone. (The two negatives cancel.)

This is the rule of the Fundamento: when another negative word is in the sentence, ne is left out. A sentence with ne and a neni- word is possible, but its meaning is positive, so it is used only for special effects.

Several neni- words together do not always cancel. In Neniam, neniam li revenos (he will never, ever come back) they only strengthen each other. If you are unsure, use one negative word.

Examples (5)

  1. Mi vidis neniun en la parko.

    I saw nobody in the park.

    Neniun alone makes the sentence negative.

  2. Mi ne vidis iun en la parko.

    I did not see anyone in the park.

    With ne, use an i- word: iun.

  3. Neniu iam diris tion al mi.

    Nobody ever said that to me.

    Neniu and iam work together; no ne is needed.

  4. Mi neniam manĝas en tiu trinkejo.

    I never eat in that bar.

    Neniam already denies the verb.

  5. Mi nenion aĉetis en la vendejo.

    I bought nothing in the shop.

    Nenion is the object and makes the sentence negative.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding ne when you want to say nobody.

    Mi ne vidis neniun.
    Mi vidis neniun.

    Mi ne vidis neniun is possible, but it means that I saw somebody, because the two negatives cancel. To say that you saw nobody, leave out ne.

How It Connects

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

One Negative Is EnoughLevel 3

Learn This First

A negative word already denies the clause, so a second ne is not needed.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.