ne- + verb
Negation with Ne-
Add ne- to the start of the verb: žinau (I know) → nežinau (I do not know).
How It Works
How it works. Put ne directly in front of the verb and write the two as one word:
- žinau → nežinau (I know → I do not know)
- kalbu → nekalbu (I speak → I do not speak)
- noriu → nenoriu (I want → I do not want)
- suprantu → nesuprantu (I understand → I do not understand)
In these examples the verb keeps its ending, so nekalbu is still the aš form. A short answer is just the negated verb: Ar dirbi šiandien? — Nedirbu. (Are you working today? — No.)
Būti is special. The forms of būti join ne too, but yra becomes nėra: nesu, nesi, nėra. See negative forms of būti.
Watch the object. An object that would be accusative in an affirmative sentence normally becomes genitive under negation: Turiu brolį → Neturiu brolio. Objects already governed in another case do not all become genitive. With an unprefixed reflexive verb, the reflexive marker moves inside the negative form: mokausi → nesimokau. This is taught in the genitive after negation.
When ne stands apart. Ne is written as a separate word when it negates something other than the verb, such as a pronoun (ne aš, not me), or when a sentence contrasts two things: ne šiandien, o rytoj (not today but tomorrow). See not this but that. With a verb in an ordinary negative sentence, it is always joined.
Later you will meet related prefixes: nebe- (no longer) and negative words such as niekas, which still need ne- on the verb (negative words with ne-).
Examples (5)
- Nežinau.
I do not know.
Word by Word: Not-know-I.
- Nekalbu angliškai.
I do not speak English.
Word by Word: Not-speak-I English.
- Aš nesuprantu.
I do not understand.
Word by Word: I not-understand.
- Šiandien jis nedirba.
He is not working today.
Word by Word: Today he not-works.
- Ne, aš negeriu kavos.
No, I do not drink coffee.
Word by Word: No, I not-drink coffee.
The first ne is the answer word no. In negeriu it is joined to the verb, and the object kava changes to the genitive kavos.
Common Mistakes
Writing ne as a separate word before the verb.
Aš ne žinau.Aš nežinau.In an ordinary negative sentence, ne and the verb are one word. Ne stands apart only when it negates another word or contrasts two things.
Negating būti with a separate ne.
Aš ne esu studentas.Aš nesu studentas.Būti joins ne as well, and the forms change slightly: esu → nesu, yra → nėra.
Keeping the accusative object after a negated verb.
Neturiu laiką.Neturiu laiko.Once the verb is negated, its direct object goes into the genitive: laikas → laiko.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Ne- attaches to a verb to negate its statement.
Related Patterns
- nesu / nėraNegative Forms of Būti
The negative forms of būti, including yra → nėra.
Level 1 - Genitive After Negation
Negation normally changes an accusative object to the genitive.
Level 2 - ne ..., o ...Not This but That
When ne contrasts two things, it is written apart.
Level 3 - ne- + adjective or adverbNegating Adjectives and Adverbs
The same ne- joins adjectives and adverbs.
Level 2 - niekas / niekada + ne-Negative Words with Ne-
Negative words still need ne- on the verb.
Level 2 - nebe-No Longer with Nebe-
Nebe- means no longer and joins the verb the same way.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice ne- + verb in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Lithuanian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
