gribot negribot
Like It or Not
Gribot negribot means like it or not. It says something happens whether anyone wants it or not: Gribot negribot bija jāpiekrīt. (Like it or not, we had to agree.)
How It Works
1. The meaning. Gribot negribot says that a person had no real choice:
- Gribot negribot man bija jāmācās vācu valoda. (Like it or not, I had to learn German.)
- Mums gribot negribot nāksies pārcelties. (Like it or not, we will have to move.)
It often goes with the debitive or with nākties, which also express necessity.
2. The form. Both words are -ot forms of gribēt (want): gribot and negribot. The pair is fixed, so the order stays the same and neither word changes for the person. It is usually written without commas.
3. A variant. You may also hear gribis negribis with the same meaning.
4. Other fixed -ot phrases. Several -ot phrases work as comment words: godīgi sakot (honestly speaking), īsi sakot (in short), atklāti sakot (frankly speaking). Unlike gribot negribot, these are set off with commas, like protams. Ņemot vērā (taking into account) is another fixed -ot phrase.
Examples (5)
- Gribot negribot bija jāpiekrīt.
Like it or not, we had to agree.
Word by Word: Wanting not-wanting was to-agree.
- Gribot negribot man bija jāmācās vācu valoda.
Like it or not, I had to learn German.
- Mums gribot negribot nāksies pārcelties.
Like it or not, we will have to move.
- Gribot negribot viņš kļuva par šī strīda liecinieku.
Like it or not, he became a witness to this quarrel.
- Godīgi sakot, man tā filma nepatika.
Honestly speaking, I did not like that film.
Godīgi sakot is another fixed -ot phrase. As a comment word it is set off with a comma.
Common Mistakes
Keeping only gribot.
Gribot bija jāpiekrīt.Gribot negribot bija jāpiekrīt.Gribot alone means wanting to. The meaning like it or not needs both halves of the pair.
Reversing the pair.
Negribot gribot bija jāpiekrīt.Gribot negribot bija jāpiekrīt.The fixed phrase always puts the positive form first: gribot negribot.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Gribot negribot means like it or not.
Related Patterns
- ņemot vērāTaking into Account
Ņemot vērā is another fixed phrase built on an -ot form.
Level 5 - Debitive jā-Having to: The Debitive
Gribot negribot often comes with a debitive such as bija jāpiekrīt.
Level 4 - Commas With protams and manuprātCommas with Comment Words
Comment phrases like godīgi sakot take commas, like protams.
Level 5 - ne- + VerbNegating a Verb with Ne-
Negribot is gribot with the negative prefix ne-.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice gribot negribot in Bubblegum
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