nikoli, nihče, nič

Negative Concord

Level 4

Negative words such as nikoli, nihče and nič normally occur with a negated finite verb.

How It Works

Negative words such as nikoli, nihče and nič normally occur with a negated finite verb. Several negative words can reinforce one negation rather than cancel each other.

Nihče ni prišel means zero people arrived; the two negative elements express one negative proposition. Case still matters: Nihče names a subject, while Nikogar nisem videl uses a genitive object under negation.

Examples (3)

  1. Nikoli ne zamudim.

    I am never late.

  2. Nihče ni prišel.

    Nobody came.

  3. Ničesar ne vem.

    I do not know anything.

How It Connects

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

nikoli, nihče, ničLevel 4Negative Concord

Learn This First

Use ordinary verb negation before combining it with a negative pronoun or adverb.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

nikolinihčenične