Mastering Negation in Serbian – Magic word “NE”

Mastering Negation in Serbian: Present, Past, and Future Tense

Negation is a fundamental part of any language, and Serbian is no exception. Whether you’re a beginner or advancing in your Serbian language journey, understanding how to form negative sentences in different tenses is essential. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the rules for negation in the present, past, and future tenses, with practical examples to help you master Serbian negation and speak like a pro.

Present Tense Negation in Serbian

In Serbian, negation in the present tense is formed by placing “ne” directly before the verb. It is as simple as this!

Examples:

  • Ja ne volim kafu. (I do not like coffee.)
  • On ne ide u školu. (He is not going to school.)
  • Mi ne radimo danas. (We are not working today.)

Past Tense Negation in Serbian

In the past tense, negation is slightly more complex because it requires the auxiliary verb “biti” (to be) in its negative form.

Examples:

  • Ja nisam video film. (I did not see the movie.)
  • Ona nije došla kući. (She did not come home.)
  • Mi nismo bili tamo. (We were not there.)

Important Tip: In Serbian, negative auxiliary verbs change depending on the subject (ja nisam, ti nisi, on/ona nije, mi nismo, vi niste, oni nisu).

Future Tense Negation in Serbian

When negating the future tense in Serbian, you place “ne” before the auxiliary verb “će” (will).

Examples:

  • Ja neću ići sutra. (I will not go tomorrow.)
  • Oni neće igrati fudbal. (They will not play football.)
  • Mi nećemo kupiti kola. (We will not buy a car.)

Important Note: For future tense, the auxiliary verb changes with the subject: (ja neću, ti nećeš, on/ona neće, mi nećemo, vi nećete, oni neće).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Double Negation: In Serbian, double negatives are mandatory. Example: Nema ničega (There is nothing).
  • Verb Agreement: Ensure that the negative auxiliary verb matches the subject in past and future tenses.

Test Your Knowledge!

Try to translate these sentences using correct negation in Serbian:

  1. I am not sleeping now.
  2. She did not call yesterday.
  3. They will not travel tomorrow.

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