Lesson 24: Creating negative sentences in Korean

안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo), Korean language learners! Today, we’re diving into an essential aspect of Korean grammar that can dramatically change the meaning of your sentences – forming negative sentences. Whether you’re refusing an offer, expressing an inability, or simply negating a statement, understanding how to construct negative sentences correctly is crucial for clear and effective communication in Korean.

Negation in Korean, much like in other languages, involves more than just adding a word for ‘not’. It requires a grasp of specific negation words and their proper placement in a sentence, along with an understanding of the nuances they bring to your expression. This might seem challenging at first, especially if you’re used to the way negation works in English or other languages. But fear not, as once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it adds a whole new depth to your Korean conversations.

In this post, we will explore the various ways to create negative sentences in Korean. We’ll look at the common negation words ‘안’ (an) and ‘지 않다’ (ji anhta), how they are used with different types of verbs, and the subtle differences in meaning they convey. We’ll also touch on some special cases and exceptions you might encounter.

So, let’s embark on this linguistic journey to mastering negative sentences in Korean. By the end of this post, you’ll be able to confidently express negation in your daily conversations and beyond!

There are two ways of making negative sentences.

• 1) Add 안 before a verb
• 2) Using the negative verb ending, – 지 않다

Method (1) is simpler and more commonly used and method (2) is more formal but not necessarily used only in formal situations. You can choose which one you want to use.

Method 1 – 안

‘안’ (an) is the most commonly used negation word in Korean for simply negating the action of a verb. It’s a straightforward way to transform a positive statement into a negative one. Here’s how you can effectively use ‘안’ in your Korean sentences.

Conjugation

안 + CONJUGATED VERB

1. 가다 – to go
2. Drop the 다 and add relevant ending (we will do present tense)
3. 가 + 아요 –> 가아요 –> 가요
4. Add 안 before the verb –> 안 가요 (I am not going)

Examples

• 봐요 –> 안 봐요 = I cannot see/I am not looking
• 해요 –> 안 해요 = I am not doing (it)
• 좋아해요 –> 안 좋아해요 = I don’t like (it)
• 먹어요 –> 안 먹어요 = I am not eating
• 자요 –> 안 자요 = I am not sleeping
• 와요 –> 안 와요 = I am not coming

With this method, you don’t need to change the verb ending so it is very very simple to use.

Let’s try past tense.

• 봤어요 –> 안 봤어요 = I didn’t see
• 갔어요 –> 안 갔어요 = I didn’t go

Now, let’s look at the future tense.

• 볼 거예요 –> 안 볼 거예요 = I will not see, I will not look
• 갈 거예요 –> 안 갈 거예요 = I will not go

Activity 1

Make the below into negative sentences in present tense.

1. 만들다 – to make
2. 사다 – to buy
3. 오다 – to come
4. 만나다 – to meet
5. 찾다 – to find/to look (for something)
6. 물오보다 – to ask
7. 입다 – to wear

Activity 2

Fill the blanks with the correctly conjugated word (Be careful some are present tense, some are past and some are I don’t want to).

1. 내일______________ (내일 – tomorrow) = I am not coming tomorrow
2. 점심 ______________(점심 – lunch) = I am not eating lunch
3. 엄마 _______________(엄마 – mum) = I didn’t meet mum
4. 그거 ________________ (그거 – that) = I am not wearing that

Method 2 – 지 않다

Creating negative sentences in Korean using the “지 않다” form is an essential aspect of Korean grammar, especially for more complex or formal expressions.

• The “지 않다” form is a common way to negate verbs and adjectives in Korean. It’s often used for formal speech or written language and is considered more polite and formal than using ‘안’.
• This form is versatile and can be used with almost any verb or adjective.

Conjugation

VERB STEM + 지 않다

1. Take a verb i.e. 가다
2. Drop “다” i.e. 가
3. Add “지 않다”
4. Conjugate the “지 않다” depending on how you want to conjugate it.

The conjugation of ‘않다’ follows regular verb conjugation rules.

• 지 않다 –> 지 않 –> 지 않 + 아요 –> 지 않아요
• 지 않다 –> 지 않 –> 지 않 + 았어요 –> 지 않았어요
• 지 않다 –> 지 않 –> 지 않 + 을 거예요 –> 지 않을 거예요

Present tense: -지 않아요 (same rules as when conjugating normal verbs)

Past tense: -지 않았어요 (same rules as when conjugating normal verbs)

Now, you just add it to the verb.

가다 –> 가 –> 가 + 지 않아요 –> 가지 않아요 = I am not going

가다 –> 다 –> 가 + 지 않았어요 –> 가지 않았어요 = I didn’t go

버리다 –> 버리 –> 버리 + 지 않았어요 –> 버리지 않았어요 = I didn’t throw (it) away

먹다 –> 먹 –> 먹 + 지 않아요 –> 먹지 않아요 = I am not eating it

자다 –> 자 –> 자 + 지 않았어요 –> 자지 않았어요 = I didn’t sleep

보다 –> 보 –> 보 + 지 않아요 –> 보지 않아요 = I am not watching (it)

하다 –> 하 –> 하 + 지 않았어요 –> 하지 않았어요 = I didn’t do it

Activity 3

Conjugate these verbs using 지 않다 form in present tense.

1. 사다 – to buy
2. 살다 – to live
3. 만들다 – to make
4. 만나다 – to meet
5. 오다 – to come
6. 물어보다 – to ask
7. 입다 – to wear

Activity 4

Fill the blanks with the correctly conjugated word.

1. 거기 _______________________(거기 – there) = I don’t live there
2. 비 _________________________(비 – rain) = Rain is not coming/ It’s not raining)
3. 드레스 _________________________(드레스 – dress) I am not wearing a dress
4. 남자친구 _________________________(남자친구 – boyfriend) I am not meeting (my) boyfriend

Activity 1 Answers

1. 만들다 –> 만들어요 –> 안 만들어요 = I am not making (it)
2. 사다 –> 사요 –> 안 사요 = I am not buying
3. 오다 –> 와요 –> 안 와요 = I am not coming
4. 만나다 –> 만나요 –> 안 만나요 = I am not meeting (them/him/her)
5. 찾다 –> 찾아요 –> 안 찾아요 = I am not looking (for it)
6. 물어보다 –> 물어봐요 –> 안 물어봐요 = I am not asking
7. 입다 –> 입어요 –> 안 입어요 = I am not wearing (it)

Activity 2 Answers

1. 내일 안 와요. – I am not coming tomorrow.
2. 점심 안 먹어요. – I am not eating lunch.
3. 내일 엄마 안 만났어요. – I am not meeting mum tomorrow.
4. 그거 안 입어요. – I am not wearing that.

Activity 3 Answers

1. 사지 않아요
2. 만들지 않아요
3. 만나지 않아요
4. 오지 않아요
5. 물어보지 않아요
6. 입지 않아요

Activity 4 Answers

1. 거기 살지 않아요
2. 비 오지 않아요
3. 드레스 입지 않아요
4. 남자친구 만나지 않아요

Conclusion

We’ve now explored the key aspects of forming negative sentences in Korean, covering the use of ‘안’ and the more formal ‘지 않다’. Understanding how to correctly negate sentences is a crucial part of mastering Korean. It allows you to express a wide range of thoughts and emotions, from simple refusal or denial to conveying inability or impossibility.

Remember, negation in Korean goes beyond just saying ‘no’. It’s about understanding the context, the level of formality, and the subtle nuances that different negation words bring to your sentences. Whether you’re having a casual chat with friends or engaging in a formal discussion, knowing how to construct negative sentences correctly will greatly enhance your communication skills.

Call to Action:

• Practice Regularly: Incorporate these negation forms into your daily Korean practice. Try creating sentences using ‘안’ and ‘지 않다’ to describe various situations and leave a comment below.
• Engage with Native Speakers: If possible, practice these forms with native Korean speakers. Pay attention to how they use negation in different contexts.
• Join Language Learning Communities: Participate in online forums, language exchange groups, or Korean language classes where you can practice and receive feedback on your sentence construction.
• Explore Further: Dive into Korean media like films, dramas, and music. Listen for negative sentences and observe how they are used in various contexts.

By actively practicing and immersing yourself in the language, you’ll become more comfortable and proficient in using negation in Korean. Continue exploring, practicing, and enjoying the journey of learning Korean. 화이팅! (Hwaiting – Keep it up!)

감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida) for joining us on this linguistic journey. Your dedication to learning Korean is commendable, and we look forward to seeing your progress in mastering this beautiful language.