Polite Negative Requests
Ne- + l-form + by + si/ste: Nepodal by si mi soľ? (Could you pass me the salt?), Nemohli by ste chvíľu počkať? (Could you wait a moment?).
How It Works
How it is built. Take a polite conditional request and add ne- to the l-form:
- Podal by si mi soľ? → Nepodal by si mi soľ?
- Mohli by ste chvíľu počkať? → Nemohli by ste chvíľu počkať?
Word order follows the rule of unstressed words in second position: the verb comes first, then by, then si or ste, then pronouns such as mi.
What it means. The ne- is not a real negative. It makes the request less direct, as in English You couldn't pass me the salt, could you? The listener answers as to a normal request: Jasné, nech sa páči.
Offers and suggestions.
- Nedal by si si kávu? (Would you like a coffee?)
- Nešli by sme radšej do kina? (How about going to the cinema instead?)
Polite vy. With vy the l-form is plural even for one person: Nemohli by ste …?, as explained in polite vy agreement.
Examples (6)
- Nepodal by si mi soľ?
Could you pass me the salt?
Word by Word: Not-passed would you to-me salt?
- Nemohli by ste chvíľu počkať?
Could you wait a moment?
Word by Word: Not-could would you moment to-wait?
- Nepožičala by si mi pero?
Could you lend me a pen?
Word by Word: Not-lent would you to-me pen?
Požičala: the listener is a woman.
- Nezatvorili by ste okno, prosím?
Would you mind closing the window, please?
Word by Word: Not-closed would you window, please?
- Nedal by si si kávu?
Would you like a coffee?
Word by Word: Not-gave would you self coffee?
Dať si means to have (food or drink); by si si is the correct order.
- Nešli by sme radšej do kina?
How about going to the cinema instead?
Word by Word: Not-went would we rather to cinema?
Common Mistakes
Using a singular l-form with polite ste.
Nemohol by ste chvíľu počkať?Nemohli by ste chvíľu počkať?With vykanie the l-form is plural, even when you speak to one person: mohli.
Putting si before by.
Nepodal si by mi soľ?Nepodal by si mi soľ?In the conditional, by comes directly after the l-form, then si or ste.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Polite Negative Requests, learn Polite Requests: chcel by som. Polite requests build on chcel by som.
Related Patterns
- The Conditional Mood
The request is built from the conditional mood.
Level 3 - Polite vy in the Past
Polite vy needs a plural l-form: Nemohli by ste …?
Level 3 - Unstressed Words in Second Position
Explains the order by si mi in these questions.
Level 3 - Yes-No Questions
These are yes-no questions formed by intonation alone.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Polite Negative Requests in Bubblegum
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