nebyť + Genitive

If Not for: Nebyť

Level 6

Nebyť is the negative infinitive of byť. With a genitive it names the one thing that prevented a different outcome: Nebyť dažďa, išli by sme von (If it weren't for the rain, we would go out).

How It Works

The pattern. Nebyť + genitive, a comma, then a clause in the conditional:

  • Nebyť dažďa, išli by sme von. (If it weren't for the rain, we would go out.)
  • Nebyť teba, zle by som skončil. (If it hadn't been for you, I would have ended badly.)

The nebyť phrase can also come second: Išli by sme von, nebyť dažďa.

Genitive forms. Nouns take their genitive endings: dážď → dažďa, pomoc → pomoci, mama → mamy. Pronouns use their full genitive forms: nebyť mňa, teba, jeho, jej, nás, vás, ich. To refer to a whole situation, use nebyť toho, že ...: Nebyť toho, že som si vzal dáždnik, bol by som celý mokrý.

Meaning. Nebyť names the one thing that prevented a different result, often with gratitude or regret. It means the same as keby nebolo + genitive: Keby nebolo teba, zle by som skončil. The time usually comes from context. The past conditional makes the past explicit: Nebyť dažďa, boli by sme išli von.

Compare niet + genitive, another negative form of byť that takes the genitive.

Examples (5)

  1. Nebyť teba, zle by som skončil.

    If it weren't for you, I would have ended badly.

    Word by Word: Not-to-be of-you, badly would I-have ended.

  2. Nebyť dažďa, išli by sme von.

    If it weren't for the rain, we would go out.

    Word by Word: Not-to-be of-rain, went would we out.

    Dážď becomes dažďa in the genitive.

  3. Nebyť jeho pomoci, projekt by sme nedokončili.

    If it hadn't been for his help, we wouldn't have finished the project.

    Word by Word: Not-to-be his help, project would we not-finished.

  4. Nebyť mamy, nikdy by som sa nenaučil variť.

    If it weren't for Mom, I would never have learned to cook.

    Word by Word: Not-to-be of-mom, never would I self not-learned to-cook.

  5. Nebyť toho, že som si vzal dáždnik, bol by som celý mokrý.

    If I hadn't taken an umbrella, I would be soaking wet.

    Word by Word: Not-to-be of-that, that I-am self taken umbrella, was would I whole wet.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative after nebyť.

    Nebyť ty, zle by som skončil.
    Nebyť teba, zle by som skončil.

    Nebyť takes the genitive, so ty becomes teba.

  • Putting the other clause in the indicative.

    Nebyť dažďa, išli sme von.
    Nebyť dažďa, išli by sme von.

    Nebyť says the rain kept you inside, so going out is only imagined. Išli sme says you really went out, which contradicts it. Use the conditional.

How It Connects

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

nebyť + GenitiveLevel 6If Not for: Nebyť

Learn This First

Before If Not For: nebyť, learn If It Were So: keby and Genitive Singular Endings. nebyť sentences describe an unreal condition, like keby. nebyť takes the genitive.

Words in This Pattern