nni (Not Have)

Not Have: Nni

Level 1

To say you do not have something, use nni: Menni sika (I do not have money).

How It Works

Just as nni is the negative of wɔ for place, it is also the negative of wɔ meaning have. Swap the verb and keep everything else: Mewɔ sika (I have money) becomes Menni sika (I do not have money).

All the persons. Menni (I do not have), Wonni (you do not have), Ɔnni (he or she does not have), Ɛnni (it does not have), Yɛnni (we do not have), Monni (you all do not have), Wɔnni (they do not have). With a noun: Fie no nni kanea (The house has no light).

Not any, nothing. With a negative verb, biara after a noun means "any": Ɔnni adamfo biara (He does not have any friends). Hwee means "nothing": Menni hwee (I have nothing).

In the past. Put na first: Na menni sika (I did not have money).

No owner. For "there is no", nni goes with hɔ: Sika nni hɔ (There is no money). See wɔ hɔ.

Examples (6)

  1. Menni sika.

    I do not have money.

  2. Yɛnni berɛ.

    We do not have time.

  3. Menni hwee.

    I have nothing.

  4. Ɔnni adamfo biara.

    He does not have any friends.

  5. Fie no nni kanea.

    The house has no light.

  6. Na menni sika.

    I did not have money.

    Na in front puts the sentence in the past.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding the negative nasal to wɔ.

    Menwɔ sika.
    Menni sika.

    Wɔ has no nasal negative. Use the separate word nni.

  • Using nyɛ for not having.

    Menyɛ sika.
    Menni sika.

    Menyɛ sika means "I do not make money", because yɛ also means do or make. To say that you lack money, use nni, the negative of wɔ.

How It Connects

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

nni (Not Have)Level 1Not Have: Nni

Learn This First

Nni for have reuses the negative of wɔ.

Words in This Pattern

nni