Negating Sentences

Category
Basic Grammar
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Keyword #
λΆ€μ •λ¬Έ, μ•ˆ
Lesson
14

Negating Sentences 🚫

TL;DR

  • You can make a sentence negative by adding μ•ˆ before the verb or adjective πŸ’«
  • For verbs with two parts (ν•˜λ‹€ verbs), you can also insert μ•ˆ between them (곡뢀 + μ•ˆ + ν•˜λ‹€) βœ‚οΈ
  • λͺ» is used instead of μ•ˆ when you can't do something due to lack of ability or external circumstances πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ

Making Sentences Negative with μ•ˆ ❌

In Korean, turning a positive sentence into a negative one is super simple! 😊 Just add μ•ˆ right before the verb or adjective.

Basic Pattern πŸ“

Subject + μ•ˆ + Verb/Adjective
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β†’ μ €λŠ” μ•ˆ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.
(I don't eat.)
β†’ μ˜€λŠ˜μ€ μ•ˆ λ°”λΉ μš”.
(I'm not busy today.)
β†’ μΉœκ΅¬κ°€ μ•ˆ μ™€μš”.
(My friend isn't coming.)
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See? Just pop μ•ˆ in front and you're done! πŸŽ‰
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ν•˜λ‹€ Verbs: Two Ways! ✌️

For verbs ending in ν•˜λ‹€ (like κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€, μš”λ¦¬ν•˜λ‹€, μš΄λ™ν•˜λ‹€), you have two options for making them negative! 🀩
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Option 1: μ•ˆ before the whole verb πŸ”΅

β†’ μ €λŠ” μ•ˆ κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”.
(I don't study.)
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Option 2: μ•ˆ inserted in the middle βœ‚οΈ

β†’ μ €λŠ” 곡뢀 μ•ˆ ν•΄μš”.
(I don't study.)
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Both mean exactly the same thing! 🀝 Koreans use both freely, though inserting μ•ˆ in the middle sounds slightly more natural in conversation. πŸ’¬
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More examples:
β†’ μš΄λ™ μ•ˆ ν•΄μš”. / μ•ˆ μš΄λ™ν•΄μš”.
(I don't exercise.)
β†’ μš”λ¦¬ μ•ˆ ν•΄μš”. / μ•ˆ μš”λ¦¬ν•΄μš”.
(I don't cook.)
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When You CAN'T Do Something: λͺ» πŸ™…

Use λͺ» instead of μ•ˆ when you're unable to do something because you lack the ability or something is preventing you! 🚧
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β†’ μ €λŠ” λͺ» λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.
(I can't eat. β€” Maybe I'm too full or have an allergy 🀒)
β†’ ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό λͺ» ν•΄μš”.
(I can't speak Korean. β€” I don't have the ability yet πŸ“š)
β†’ 였늘 λͺ» κ°€μš”.
(I can't go today. β€” Something is preventing me πŸ˜”)
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λͺ» also works with ν•˜λ‹€ verbs in two ways, just like μ•ˆ! 🎭
β†’ μš΄λ™ λͺ» ν•΄μš”. / λͺ» μš΄λ™ν•΄μš”.
(I can't exercise.)
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μ•ˆ vs λͺ»: Quick Comparison πŸ”„

  • μ•ˆ = won't / don't (by choice or in general) πŸ™…β€β™€οΈ
  • λͺ» = can't (lacking ability or blocked by circumstances) 🚫
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β†’ μ €λŠ” 맀운 μŒμ‹μ„ μ•ˆ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.
(I don't eat spicy food. β€” It's my choice! 😌)
β†’ μ €λŠ” 맀운 μŒμ‹μ„ λͺ» λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.
(I can't eat spicy food. β€” My stomach can't handle it! πŸ”₯😡)
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Exceptions ⚠️

Negating μžˆλ‹€ and μ—†λ‹€ 🏠

μžˆλ‹€ (to have/exist) becomes μ—†λ‹€ (to not have/not exist) β€” you don't use μ•ˆ or λͺ» here! πŸ™ˆ
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β†’ μ‹œκ°„μ΄ μ—†μ–΄μš”.
(I don't have time.) βœ…
β†’ μ‹œκ°„μ΄ μ•ˆ μžˆμ–΄μš”. ❌
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μ•Œλ‹€ (to know) 🧠

For μ•Œλ‹€, use λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€ (to not know) instead of μ•ˆ μ•Œλ‹€! πŸ’‘
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β†’ λͺ¨λ₯΄κ² μ–΄μš”.
(I don't know.) βœ…
β†’ μ•ˆ μ•Œμ•„μš”. ❌ (Sounds very awkward!)
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You've got this! 🌟 Negating in Korean is way easier than you thought, right? πŸ˜„ Just remember: μ•ˆ for general negation, λͺ» when you can't, and watch out for those special exceptions! 🎯
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Try the following exercise.
Negate the following sentences using μ•ˆ or λͺ». 🚫
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  • μ €λŠ” 컀피λ₯Ό λ§ˆμ…”μš”.
      • Answer
      μ €λŠ” 컀피λ₯Ό μ•ˆ λ§ˆμ…”μš”.
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  • 였늘 학ꡐ에 κ°€μš”.
      • Answer
      였늘 학ꡐ에 μ•ˆ κ°€μš”.
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  • ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”.
      • Answer
      ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό μ•ˆ κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”.
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  • 친ꡬλ₯Ό λ§Œλ‚˜μš”.
      • Answer
      친ꡬλ₯Ό μ•ˆ λ§Œλ‚˜μš”.
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  • κΉ€μΉ˜λ₯Ό λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.
      • Answer
      κΉ€μΉ˜λ₯Ό μ•ˆ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.
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  • μŒμ•…μ„ λ“€μ–΄μš”.
      • Answer
      μŒμ•…μ„ μ•ˆ λ“€μ–΄μš”.
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  • 맀운 μŒμ‹μ„ μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”.
      • Answer
      맀운 μŒμ‹μ„ μ•ˆ μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”.
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  • 책을 μ½μ–΄μš”.
      • Answer
      책을 μ•ˆ μ½μ–΄μš”.
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  • μš΄λ™μ„ ν•΄μš”.
      • Answer
      μš΄λ™μ„ μ•ˆ ν•΄μš”.
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  • ν•œκ΅­ λ“œλΌλ§ˆλ₯Ό λ΄μš”.
      • Answer
      ν•œκ΅­ λ“œλΌλ§ˆλ₯Ό μ•ˆ λ΄μš”.
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Vocabulary
컀피 - coffee
λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€ - to drink
학ꡐ - school
κ°€λ‹€ - to go
ν•œκ΅­μ–΄ - Korean language
κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€ - to study
친ꡬ - friend
λ§Œλ‚˜λ‹€ - to meet
κΉ€μΉ˜ - kimchi
λ¨Ήλ‹€ - to eat
μŒμ•… - music
λ“£λ‹€ - to listen
맀운 - spicy
μŒμ‹ - food
μ’‹μ•„ν•˜λ‹€ - to like
μ±… - book
읽닀 - to read
μš΄λ™ - exercise
ν•˜λ‹€ - to do
λ“œλΌλ§ˆ - drama
보닀 - to watch/see
Common mistakes
  • πŸ”΄ Placing μ•ˆ after the verb instead of before it (e.g., "κ°€μš” μ•ˆ" instead of "μ•ˆ κ°€μš”")
  • πŸ”΄ Using μ•ˆ with μžˆλ‹€/μ—†λ‹€ when they already express existence/non-existence
  • πŸ”΄ Forgetting that ν•˜λ‹€ verbs split: 곡뢀 μ•ˆ ν•΄μš” (not μ•ˆ κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”)
  • πŸ”΄ Confusing μ•ˆ (won't/don't) with λͺ» (can't) - they express different meanings
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