Aspect in Negative Commands

Level 4

A positive command is often perfective (Otvor okno!), but the negative command switches to the imperfective (Neotváraj okno!). A negative perfective is a warning, not a ban: Nespadni! (Don't fall!)

How It Works

Forbidding: the imperfective. Many positive commands use a perfective verb for one action. When you forbid that action, switch to the imperfective partner:

  • Otvor okno! → Neotváraj okno! (Don't open the window!)
  • Zavolaj mu! → Nevolaj mu! (Don't call him!)
  • Kúp chlieb! → Nekupuj chlieb! (Don't buy bread!)
  • Povedz to! → Nehovor to! (Don't say it!)

To find the imperfective partner, see aspect pairs with a suffix and aspect pairs with a prefix. The form itself is explained in negative commands.

Warning: the perfective. A negative perfective command warns against something that could happen by accident or against the listener's wishes:

  • Nespadni! (Don't fall!)
  • Nezabudni! (Don't forget!)
  • Nestrať to! (Don't lose it!)
  • Neprechladni! (Don't catch a cold!)
  • Nepokaz to! (Don't mess it up!)

Nobody falls or forgets on purpose, so these verbs are warnings, and they often come with Pozor! or Dávaj pozor, … (Be careful, …).

Same verb, different message. Nesadaj si! tells someone not to sit down. Nesadni si tam! is a warning, as if to say "mind you don't sit there" (for example, the paint is wet).

Modal verbs are different. After nesmieť a perfective is normal for one specific act: Nesmieš to nikomu povedať. See aspect after modal verbs.

Examples (6)

  1. Neotváraj okno, je zima.

    Don't open the window, it's cold.

    Word by Word: Not-open window, is cold.

  2. Nevolaj mu teraz, spí.

    Don't call him now; he's asleep.

    Word by Word: Not-call to-him now, he-sleeps.

  3. Nekupuj chlieb, ešte máme.

    Don't buy bread; we still have some.

    Word by Word: Not-buy bread, still we-have.

    The positive command would be perfective: Kúp chlieb!

  4. Nezabudni si dáždnik!

    Don't forget your umbrella!

    Word by Word: Not-forget yourself umbrella!

    A warning against forgetting by accident, so the perfective zabudnúť.

  5. Dávaj pozor, nespadni!

    Be careful, don't fall!

    Word by Word: Give attention, not-fall!

  6. Nestrať ten kľúč, je jediný.

    Don't lose that key; it's the only one.

    Word by Word: Not-lose that key, it-is only-one.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the perfective to forbid a deliberate action.

    Neotvor okno, je zima!
    Neotváraj okno, je zima!

    The intended meaning is a plain ban: "Don't open the window, it's cold!" To forbid something the listener could choose to do, use the imperfective otvárať.

  • Keeping the perfective partner after ne-.

    Nezavolaj mu, spí.
    Nevolaj mu, spí.

    The intended meaning is "Don't call him, he's asleep." Zavolaj is right for a positive command, but a ban needs the imperfective volať: nevolaj.

  • Writing ne- apart from the command or using nie.

    Nie otváraj okno!
    Neotváraj okno!

    Ne- is joined to the verb in one word, just like other negative verbs: neotváraj, nevolaj, nespadni.

How It Connects

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

Aspect in Negative CommandsLevel 4

Learn This First

Before Aspect in Negative Commands, learn Negative Commands and Imperfective and Perfective Aspect. Negative commands are formed as shown earlier. Their aspect choice depends on intent.

Words in This Pattern

ne-