Negatives
A statement is made negative by using ne or one of the negative (neni-) correlatives. Ordinarily, only one negative word is allowed per clause:
- Mi ne faris ion ajn. I didn't do anything.
Two negatives within a clause cancel each other out, with the result being a positive sentence.
- Mi ne faris nenion. Mi ja faris ion. It is not the case that I did nothing. I did do something.
The word ne comes before the word it negates, with the default position being before the verb:
- Mi ne skribis tion (I didn't write that)
- Ne mi skribis tion (It wasn't me who wrote that)
- Mi skribis ne tion (It wasn't that that I wrote)
The latter will frequently be reordered as ne tion mi skribis depending on the flow of information.
Read more about this topic: Esperanto Grammar
Famous quotes containing the word negatives:
“‘Tis not such lines as almost crack the stage
When Bajazet begins to rage;
Nor a tall met’phor in the bombast way,
Nor the dry chips of short-lunged Seneca.
Nor upon all things to obtrude
And force some odd similitude.
What is it then, which like the power divine
We only can by negatives define?”
—Abraham Cowley (1618–1667)