Czech Negation
Learning the Czech Negation is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation. The more you practice the subject, the closer you get to mastering the Czech language. But first we need to know what the role of Negation is in the structure of the grammar in Czech.
Czech negation is the process that turns an affirmative statement (I am happy) into its opposite denial (I am not happy). On the contrary from English language Czech language permits and frequently uses double even a triple negative in one sentence. Don’t be afraid to use it.
Grammar Tips:
In
Czech, negation can be made simply by adding "ne" prefix
to the main verb. But sometimes a double negative is required.
Nemůžu to
udělat (I can't do this).
Nemají nic na práci (they don't
have anything to do – Double Negative).
To
se mi nelíbí. (I don't like it)
Here are some examples:
| English Negation | Czech Negation |
| Negation | Negace |
| he is not here | Není zde |
| that is not my book | to není moje kniha |
| do not enter | nezadávejte |
As you can see from the example above, the structure of the Negation in Czech has a logical pattern. Locate the Negation above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in Czech.
List of Negation in Czech
Below is a list of the Negation and negative expressions in Czech placed in a table. Memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important words to your Czech vocabulary.
| English Negation | Czech Negation |
| I don't speak | Nemluvím |
| I don't write | nepíšu |
| I don't drive | nejedu |
| I don't love | Nemám rád |
| I don't give | nedávám |
| I don't smile | nesměju se |
| I don't take | Neberu |
| |
| he doesn't speak | nemluví |
| he doesn't write | nepíše |
| he doesn't drive | neřídí |
| he doesn't love | nemiluje |
| he doesn't give | nedává |
| he doesn't smile | nesměje se |
| he doesn't take | neber |
| |
| we don't speak | nemluvíme |
| we don't write | Nepíšeme |
| we don't drive | nejedeme |
| we don't love | nemáme rádi |
| we don't give | nedáváme |
| we don't smile | nesmějeme se |
| we don't take | nebereme |
Negation and negative expressions have a very important role in Czech, therefore they need very special attention. Once you're done with Czech Negation, you might want to check the rest of our Czech lessons here: Learn Czech. Don't forget to bookmark this page.