Not in Italian (negation, negative sentences)

Lesson outline

1.Negative sentences
1.1.Position of other elements in the sentence
1.1.1.Direct and indirect pronouns
1.1.2.Not even, nothing
1.1.3.Adverbs of frequency and time
2.Negative interrogative questions
2.1.Wh- questions
3.Exercises
3.1.Exercise on Italian negative sentences - Single choice set
3.2.Exercise on Italian negative sentences - Drag text
3.3.Exercise on Italian negative sentences - Fill in the blanks

Negative sentences

To negate a sentence it's necessary to add Non (Not) before the main verb.

Negative sentence: Subject/(Personal pronoun) + Non + Verb + Rest of the sentence

Italian	English
Lui non sa cucinare.	He can't cook.
Non dormire!	Don't sleep!
L'esame non è stato superato.	The exam was not passed.

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Benedetta V.

Francesca R.

Alessio A.

Jlenia P.

Rossella N.

Maria E.

Nicola D.

Valentina M.

Marcello M.

Elisa F.

Position of other elements in the sentence

Direct and indirect pronouns

Here's the correct structure to add these kinds of pronouns to your negative sentences.

Direct and indirect pronouns: Non + Pronoun + Verb + Rest of the sentence

If the pronoun is merged with the verb, Non simply precede this contruction.

Italian	English
Non mi piace il cavolo.	I don't like cabbage.
Non glielo do.	I won't give it to her.
Non parlarle.	Don't talk to her.

Not even, nothing

Negation adverbs could also be used to negate sentences. If this is the case, it's necessary to remember a couple of rules.

If Nessuno (Nobody), Neanche, Nemmeno, Neppure (Not even), Niente (Nothing) Nulla (Nothing) are placed before the verb, Non (Not) mustn't be added.

Italian	English
Nessuno andrà al cinema.	Nobody will go to the cinema.
Neache Mario sa la risposta.	Not even Mario knows the answer.
Niente è deciso.	Nothing is decided.

Adverbs of frequency and time

In compound verbs, words like Già (Already/Yet) Ancora (Yet/Still/Again) Mai (Ever/Never) and Più (Any more/Any longer) are placed between the auxiliary and the past participle.

Italian	English
Il Presidente non ha ancora risposto.	The President hasn't answered yet.
Non avevo mai visto una giraffa dal vivo.	I have never seen a giraffe in the flesh.

Negative interrogative questions

These sentences are interrogative questions that are turned into negatives.

Negative interrogative questions: Subject/(Personal pronoun) + Non + Verb + Rest of the sentence

Italian	English
Maria non ha portato i soldi?	Didn't Maria bring the money?
Non sei uscito ieri sera?	Didn't you go out last night?

Wh- questions

The most common Wh-Question used in Italian for negative interrogatives is Perchè (Why).

Wh-Questions: Perché + Subject/(Personal pronoun) + Non + (Personal pronoun) + Rest of the sentence

Italian	English
Perché non sei a scuola?	Why aren't you at school?
Perché il gatto non è in garage?	Why isn't the cat in the garage?
Perché non finisci di mangiare?	Why don't you finish eating?