Negation
Negation using conjugated negative verb
I can form negative sentences and questions.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Minä en puhu ruotsia.
I don't speak Swedish.
He eivät asu Suomessa.
They don't live in Finland.
Emme tiedä vastausta.
We don't know the answer.
Etkö sinä pidä kahvista?
Don't you like coffee?
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Negation
Finnish negation is unique: a negative verb (en/et/ei/emme/ette/eivät) conjugates for person, while the main verb stays in stem form.
Using conjugated form after negative verb. Wrong negative verb person.
Common Error Patterns
Using conjugated form after negative verb (ei puhuu instead of ei puhu)
After ei/en/et, use the STEM only (short form), never the conjugated form.
Using wrong negative verb form for the person
Negative verb conjugates: en/et/ei/emme/ette/eivät — must match the subject.
Minä en puhu ruotsia.
I don't speak Swedish.
en + puhu (verb stem). NOT 'en puhun' — no personal ending on the main verb!
He eivät asu Suomessa.
They don't live in Finland.
eivät + asu (stem of asua). 3rd plural uses 'eivät'.
Emme tiedä vastausta.
We don't know the answer.
emme + tiedä (stem of tietää). Note: type 1 verb tietää → tiedä (consonant gradation).
Etkö sinä pidä kahvista?
Don't you like coffee?
Negative question: et + -kö → etkö. Vowel harmony: back vowels → -ko, front → -kö.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises