Negation - Italian

Negating a Verb

In Italian, negating a verb is straightforward and commonly involves the word non. This negation word is typically placed directly before the verb. Additional negative expressions can be added for emphasis or specificity.

1. Non: Used alone, it simply negates the verb.

   • Non mangio. (I do not eat.)
   • Non capisco. (I do not understand.)

2. Neanche: Used to express "not even."

   • Non ho visto neanche un film nuovo. (I haven't seen even one new movie.)
   • Neanche lui è venuto alla festa. (Not even he came to the party.)

3. Nessuno: Used to express "nobody" or "no one."

   • Non c'è nessuno a casa. (There is nobody home.)
   • Nessuno ha risposto al telefono. (No one answered the phone.)

4. Niente: Used to express "nothing."

   • Non ho niente da dire. (I have nothing to say.)
   • Niente è cambiato. (Nothing has changed.)

Negating an Indefinite Noun

Negating indefinite nouns in Italian involves using specific indefinite negative words like nessuno, neanche, and niente.

1. Non + nessuno: To negate someone/something specific.

   • Non ho visto nessuno. (I didn't see anyone.)
   • Non c'è nessuno qui. (There isn't anyone here.)

2. Non + niente: To negate something unspecified, equivalent to "nothing."

   • Non ho fatto niente. (I didn't do anything.)
   • Non voglio niente. (I want nothing.)

3. Non + neanche: Equivalent to "not even," emphasizing total exclusion.

   • Non ho neanche un euro. (I don't even have a euro.)
   • Non neanche ti ho visto. (I didn't even see you.)

Combining these elements, Italian allows for multiple negations within the same sentence, provided the syntax is followed. Although this might differ from English, where double negatives create affirmatives, in Italian, they intensify the negation.

Examples:

• Non c'è niente di nuovo. (There is nothing new.)
• Non ho visto nessuno alla festa. (I saw no one at the party.)
• Non neanche voglio provarci. (I don't even want to try it.)