Language/Macedonian/Grammar/Forming-Negatives

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Macedonian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Negation and Questions → Forming Negatives

Introduction

In Macedonian, negation is used to express negation, denial or contradiction in a sentence. This lesson will teach you how to form negatives in Macedonian and the different negation words that are used.

Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: How to Use Be & Future Tense.

Negation Words

There are several different negation words that can be used in Macedonian to form negative sentences.

Macedonian	Pronunciation	English Translation
не (ne)	[nɛ]	not
никогаш (nikogaš)	[nikogaʃ]	never
ништо (ništo)	[niʃtɔ]	nothing
некогаш (nekogaš)	[nɛkogaʃ]	sometimes
никој (nikoj)	[nikɔj]	nobody
некој (nekoj)	[nɛkɔj]	somebody
ниеден (nieden)	[niɛdɛn]	none
сè (se)	[sɛ]	everything

Forming Negatives

To form a negative sentence in Macedonian, we use the negation word “не” (ne) before the verb.

Examples:

• Јас не пијам кафе. (Jas ne pijam kafe) - I do not drink coffee.
• Тој не работи вчера. (Toj ne raboti včera) - He did not work yesterday.
• Тие не пееја на караоке. (Tie ne peeja na karaoke) - They did not sing at karaoke.

In Macedonian, it is also possible to place the negation word after certain particles like ли and да.

Examples:

• Дали не очекуваш посета? (Dali ne očekuvaš poseta?) - Are you not expecting visitors?
• Јас да не заборавам, имам работа денеска. (Jas da ne zaboravam, imam rabota deneska) - I have work today, not to forget.

Double Negatives

In Macedonian, double negatives are commonly used to express emphasis or strong negation. This is done by using the negation word “не” (ne) twice in the same sentence.

Examples:

• Не можам да не те љубам. (Ne možam da ne te ljubam) - I can’t not love you.
• Никогаш не гледав нешто погрешно со тоа. (Nikogaš ne gledav ništo pogrešno so toa) - I never saw anything wrong with that.

Questions

When forming a negative question in Macedonian, we use the negation word “не” (ne) after the interrogative word.

Examples:

• Зошто не одиш со мене? (Zošto ne odiš so mene?) - Why aren’t you coming with me?
• Кога не почнуваш со учење на македонски? (Koga ne počnuvaš so učenje na makedonski?) - When are you not starting to learn Macedonian?

Conclusion

In this lesson, you have learned how to form negative sentences in Macedonian using different negation words, where to place them, and how to form negative questions. With practice, you will become more comfortable with negation in Macedonian and be able to use it effectively in conversation.

Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Past Tense & Articles.

Table of Contents - Macedonian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introductions and Greetings

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Pronouns and Articles

• Personal Pronouns
• Definite and Indefinite Articles

  ---

Numbers and Colors

• Numbers 1-20
• Colors

  ---

Nouns and Adjectives

• Nouns: Gender and Plurals
• Adjectives: Agreement and Comparatives

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Food Items
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Negation and Questions

• Forming Negatives
• Asking Questions

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Locations and Directions

• Common Locations
• Asking for and Giving Directions

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Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Common Conjunctions

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Daily Activities and Hobbies

• Daily Routines
• Hobbies and Interests

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Macedonian Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Festivals
• Traditional Food and Drink

Other Lessons

• Pronouns
• Future Tense
• Feminine
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Common Prepositions
• How to Use Be
• Negation
• Present Tense
• Adjectives: Agreement and Comparatives
• Adverbs

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