What are common mistakes with निषेध: नहीं, न, मत?

Using nahin with a command, and keeping the auxiliary after nahin in the simple present. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: one Russian ne covers all three functions, so the split has to be learned from scratch; ni ... ni is the one part that transfers.

निषेध: नहीं, न, मत: rules, examples & exercises | Hindi Grammar B1

निषेध: नहीं, न, मत

B1 — अव्यय

नहीं, न और मत — तीन निषेध और उनके क्षेत्र

I can choose the right negative for a statement, a clause and a command

नहीं, न और मत — तीन निषेध और उनके क्षेत्र

Examples

— Don't worry.
— He neither came nor phoned.
— I don't go there.

अव्ययB1

Negation in Detail

Three negatives and where each belongs

Learning Goal

I can choose the right negative for a statement, a clause and a command

Exam Skills:बोलनालिखना

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Don't worry.

He neither came nor phoned.

I don't go there.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

The three

नहीं	the ordinary negative	मैं नहीं जाता।
न	in subjunctive and subordinate clauses	अगर वह न आए...
मत	with commands only	मत जाओ।

नहीं swallows the auxiliary

In the simple present the है usually drops after नहीं: मैं नहीं जाता, not मैं नहीं जाता हूँ. In the past with था it does not: मैं नहीं गया था.

Position

नहीं goes immediately before the verb group, but it can move earlier for emphasis: मैं आज नहीं जाऊँगा against नहीं, मैं आज जाऊँगा.

न ... न

'Neither ... nor' is न ... न: न वह आया न उसने फ़ोन किया - he neither came nor phoned.

Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Using nahin with a command, and keeping the auxiliary after nahin in the simple present.

Common Error Patterns

nahin used with an imperative

Commands take mat.

Auxiliary kept after nahin in the simple present

main nahin jata, not main nahin jata hun.

Don't worry.

A command takes mat, never nahin.

He neither came nor phoned.

na ... na is the Russian ni ... ni exactly.

I don't go there.

The hun drops after nahin in the simple present.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises

B1 Course

← Back to topics

Frequently asked questions

When is निषेध: नहीं, न, मत used?: In the simple present the है usually drops after नहीं: मैं नहीं जाता, not मैं नहीं जाता हूँ. In the past with था it does not: मैं नहीं गया था.
How is निषेध: नहीं, न, मत formed?: नहीं goes immediately before the verb group, but it can move earlier for emphasis: मैं आज नहीं जाऊँगा against नहीं, मैं आज जाऊँगा. 'Neither ... nor' is न ... न: न वह आया न उसने फ़ोन किया - he neither came nor phoned.
What are common mistakes with निषेध: नहीं, न, मत?: Using nahin with a command, and keeping the auxiliary after nahin in the simple present. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: one Russian ne covers all three functions, so the split has to be learned from scratch; ni ... ni is the one part that transfers.

Sources

हिन्दी व्याकरण — काशी नागरी प्रचारिणी सभा, 1920
Kamta Prasad Guru's grammar, the standard prescriptive reference for Hindi morphology and syntax.
Hindi (London Oriental and African Language Library 12) — John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2006
Yamuna Kachru's reference grammar; the descriptive account relied on for aspect, valency and clause structure.