Several Negative Words in One Clause

Level 5

Greek can combine δεν or μη(ν) with words such as κανείς, τίποτα and ποτέ to express one overall negation.

How It Works

Greek can combine δεν or μη(ν) with words such as κανείς, τίποτα and ποτέ to express one overall negation.

This is ordinary negative concord rather than a rule that two negatives cancel. The distribution changes in questions, conditionals and fragments, where these words can have an indefinite interpretation.

Greek	Meaning
Δεν είπε κανείς τίποτα.	No one said anything.
Δεν πάω ποτέ εκεί.	I never go there.
Μην πεις τίποτα σε κανέναν.	Do not say anything to anyone.

Examples (3)

Δεν είπε κανείς τίποτα.
No one said anything.
Δεν πάω ποτέ εκεί.
I never go there.
Μην πεις τίποτα σε κανέναν.
Do not say anything to anyone.

How It Connects

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

Several Negative Words in One ClauseLevel 5

Learn This First

Recognize an indefinite pronoun in a negative environment before combining several negative-polarity expressions.

κανείς κανένας καμία κανέναAnyone and No One
Recognize an indefinite pronoun in a negative environment before combining several negative-polarity expressions.
Level 2

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

ουδείς ουδεμία ουδένFormal Negative PronounsLevel 6

Words in This Pattern

δενμημηνκανέναςτίποτα

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