nesu / nėra

Negative Forms of Būti

Level 1

nesu · nesi · nėra · nesame · nesate · nėra, all written as one word

How It Works

One word. The negative of būti is written together with ne-:

  • aš nesu · tu nesi · jis, ji nėra
  • mes nesame · jūs nesate · jie, jos nėra

Nėra is a contraction of ne + yra; neyra does not exist. In speech, nesame and nesate are often shortened to nesam and nesat.

Two uses of nėra.

  • "Is not" something. The identifying noun stays in the nominative: Tai nėra problema. (That is not a problem.) Ji nėra mokytoja. (She is not a teacher.)
  • "There is no" or "is not here". When you say something does not exist or is absent, the missing thing goes into the genitive: Čia nėra banko. (There is no bank here.) Tėčio nėra namie. (Dad isn't home.) See absence with nėra.

A set phrase. Nėra už ką. means "Don't mention it" as a reply to Ačiū. See thanking.

Other verbs are negated the same way, with ne- written together: nedirbu, neturiu. See negation with ne-.

Examples (6)

  1. Aš nesu vilnietis.

    I am not from Vilnius.

    Said by a man; ne + esu is written as one word.

  2. Tai nėra problema.

    That is not a problem.

    "Is not something": problema stays in the nominative.

  3. Ji nėra mokytoja, ji gydytoja.

    She is not a teacher; she is a doctor.

  4. Mes nesame broliai, mes draugai.

    We are not brothers; we are friends.

  5. Ar tu nesi alkanas?

    Aren't you hungry?

  6. Tėčio nėra namie.

    Dad isn't home.

    Word by Word: Of-dad is-not at-home.

    Absence: the person who is missing goes into the genitive (tėtis → tėčio).

Common Mistakes

  • Writing ne apart from the verb.

    Aš ne esu vilnietis.
    Aš nesu vilnietis.

    The negative of būti is one word: nesu, nesi, nesame, nesate.

  • Building the negative of yra as neyra.

    Čia neyra banko.
    Čia nėra banko.

    Ne + yra contracts to nėra.

  • Keeping the nominative when saying something is absent.

    Čia nėra bankas.
    Čia nėra banko.

    The intended meaning is "There is no bank here". For absence, the missing thing goes into the genitive: bankas → banko.

How It Connects

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nesu / nėraLevel 1Negative Forms of Būti

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The negative of būti uses special forms, including nėra.

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Words in This Pattern

būti