net
Even with Net
Net means even. Put it right before the word that is surprising: Net vaikai tai žino.
How It Works
1. Before the surprising word.
- Net vaikai tai žino. (Even children know that.)
- Ji kalba net japoniškai. (She even speaks Japanese.)
- Dirbu net savaitgaliais. (I even work at weekends.)
2. Not even. Net adds surprise, and the ne- on the verb does the negating: Jis net neatsisveikino (He didn't even say goodbye). A negated verb changes an accusative direct object to the genitive: Neturėjau net laiko pavalgyti (I didn't even have time to eat).
3. Netgi. Netgi means the same as net with added emphasis: Netgi mama nustebo (Even Mum was surprised).
4. Even with comparisons and conditions. English even before a comparative is usually dar in Lithuanian: dar geriau (even better). Even if is net jei. For not a single one, Lithuanian often uses nė: Neturiu nė cento.
5. Its opposite. Tik (only) works the same way, before the word it limits. Net widens the circle, while tik narrows it.
Examples (6)
- Net vaikai tai žino.
Even children know that.
Net comes before vaikai, the surprising word.
- Jis net neatsisveikino.
He didn't even say goodbye.
Net adds surprise, and ne- on the verb does the negating.
- Ji kalba net japoniškai.
She even speaks Japanese.
- Dirbu net savaitgaliais.
I even work at weekends.
Savaitgaliais is the instrumental of time.
- Neturėjau net laiko pavalgyti.
I didn't even have time to eat.
After a negated verb, laiko is in the genitive.
- Buvo taip šalta, kad užšalo net upė.
It was so cold that even the river froze.
Common Mistakes
Expecting net to mean not even on its own.
Jis net atsisveikino.Jis net neatsisveikino.Jis net atsisveikino means he even said goodbye. To say he did not even say goodbye, the verb needs ne-.
Putting net before the wrong word.
Vaikai net tai žino.Net vaikai tai žino.Vaikai net tai žino means children know even that. To say even children know it, put net before vaikai.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Net focuses a surprising item; negation remains on the verb when the meaning is not even.
Related Patterns
- tikOnly with Tik
Tik (only) also stands before the word it limits.
Level 3 - net jeiEven if
Net jei means even if.
Level 4 - nėNot a Single One with Nė
Nė means not even one with a negated verb.
Level 4 - bentAt Least with Bent
Bent (at least) is another focusing word placed before its word.
Level 4 - irgi / taip patToo and Also
Irgi and taip pat add something without the surprise net carries.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice net in Bubblegum
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