Difference between revisions of "Language/Maltese/Grammar/Negation"
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<div class="pg_page_title">Maltese Grammar - Negation</div> | <div class="pg_page_title">Maltese Grammar - Negation</div> | ||
Hi [https://polyglotclub.com/language/maltese Maltese] learners! 😊<br>In this lesson, we will | Hi [https://polyglotclub.com/language/maltese Maltese] learners! 😊<br>In this lesson, we will focus on the negation in Maltese. Concepts of negation are used to express the opposite of affirmative. In a negative statement, a sentence expresses that something doesn't exist or that something didn't happen. Negation can be expressed with a negating word, a negating phrase, or a grammatical form. | ||
== | __TOC__ | ||
== Negating words and phrases == | |||
In Maltese, negating words and phrases are used to construct negative sentences. Here are some of the most commonly used negating words and phrases: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Maltese !! Pronunciation !! English | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Le || lɛ || No | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | M' || mɑ || Not (shortened form of "Ma") | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Xejn || ʃɛjn || Nothing | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | L-ebda || lɛbda || Nothing/none | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Lanqas || lɐŋkas || Not even | ||
|} | |} | ||
Here is an example dialogue to see how to use negating words and phrases: | |||
* Person 1: Qed thobbni? (Do you love me?) | |||
* Person 2: Le, mhuwiex qed thobbni. (No, I am not loving you.) | |||
== Negating Verbs == | |||
In addition to using negating words and phrases, verbs can be negated. In Maltese, the present perfect tense is used to express negative words. Here’s how you can negate the verb “to speak” in the present tense: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Positive form !! Negative form | |||
|- | |- | ||
! | | Jien nitkellmu || M’ jienux nitkellmu | ||
|} | |||
This changes the meaning from "I am speaking," to "I am not speaking." | |||
== Negating "Kien" == | |||
The helping verb “kien” (to be) is negated by using "ma" before the verb. Here is an example: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! Positive form !! Negative form | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Kien għandi madwar nofs zmien || Ma kienx għandi madwar nofs zmien | ||
|} | |} | ||
This changes the meaning from "I had about half an hour" to "I had not about half an hour." | |||
== Double Negation == | |||
Maltese grammar rules permit the use of double negations for emphasis, similarly to English. Double negation is constructed by using two negating words in the sentence. Here is an example: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Positive form !! Negative form !! Double negation | |||
|- | |- | ||
| M'hemmx kliem || Hemm kliem || Ma hemmx xejn | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|} | |} | ||
This translates to "There is no word" (positive) to "There is a word" (negative) or "There is no word" (double negation) | |||
== Conclusion == | |||
In conclusion, Maltese uses negating words, negating phrases, negating verbs and negating constructions to convey the concept of negation. We have learned that Maltese is similar to English in allowing for double negation for emphasis. If you want to improve your skills, visit the [https://polyglotclub.com Polyglot Club] website. [https://polyglotclub.com/find-friends.php?search=send&d=0&f=36&offre1=81 Find native speakers] and ask them any [https://polyglotclub.com/language/maltese/question questions]! | |||
== Sources == | |||
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_language Maltese language] | |||
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_grammar Maltese grammar] | |||
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negation Negation] | |||
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_negative Double negative] | |||
{{#seo: | |||
|title=Maltese Grammar - Negation | |||
|keywords=Maltese, Grammar, Negation, Maltese negation | |||
|description=In this lesson, we will focus on the negation in Maltese. Concepts of negation are used to express the opposite of affirmative. In a negative statement, a sentence expresses that something doesn't exist or that something didn't happen. | |||
}} | |||
{{Maltese-Page-Bottom}} | {{Maltese-Page-Bottom}} | ||
Revision as of 17:40, 5 March 2023
Maltese Grammar - Negation
Hi Maltese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on the negation in Maltese. Concepts of negation are used to express the opposite of affirmative. In a negative statement, a sentence expresses that something doesn't exist or that something didn't happen. Negation can be expressed with a negating word, a negating phrase, or a grammatical form.
Negating words and phrases
In Maltese, negating words and phrases are used to construct negative sentences. Here are some of the most commonly used negating words and phrases:
| Maltese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Le | lɛ | No |
| M' | mɑ | Not (shortened form of "Ma") |
| Xejn | ʃɛjn | Nothing |
| L-ebda | lɛbda | Nothing/none |
| Lanqas | lɐŋkas | Not even |
Here is an example dialogue to see how to use negating words and phrases:
- Person 1: Qed thobbni? (Do you love me?)
- Person 2: Le, mhuwiex qed thobbni. (No, I am not loving you.)
Negating Verbs
In addition to using negating words and phrases, verbs can be negated. In Maltese, the present perfect tense is used to express negative words. Here’s how you can negate the verb “to speak” in the present tense:
| Positive form | Negative form |
|---|---|
| Jien nitkellmu | M’ jienux nitkellmu |
This changes the meaning from "I am speaking," to "I am not speaking."
Negating "Kien"
The helping verb “kien” (to be) is negated by using "ma" before the verb. Here is an example:
| Positive form | Negative form |
|---|---|
| Kien għandi madwar nofs zmien | Ma kienx għandi madwar nofs zmien |
This changes the meaning from "I had about half an hour" to "I had not about half an hour."
Double Negation
Maltese grammar rules permit the use of double negations for emphasis, similarly to English. Double negation is constructed by using two negating words in the sentence. Here is an example:
| Positive form | Negative form | Double negation |
|---|---|---|
| M'hemmx kliem | Hemm kliem | Ma hemmx xejn |
This translates to "There is no word" (positive) to "There is a word" (negative) or "There is no word" (double negation)
Conclusion
In conclusion, Maltese uses negating words, negating phrases, negating verbs and negating constructions to convey the concept of negation. We have learned that Maltese is similar to English in allowing for double negation for emphasis. If you want to improve your skills, visit the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources