Negation with non
To say that something is not the case, Latin uses the little word non.
Can recognize Negation with non in a short Latin prompt
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Marcus reads.
Julia sees the tablet.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
To say that something is not the case, Latin uses the little word non. It is the everyday "not", and it is refreshingly simple: it does not change its form, and it normally sits directly in front of the word it denies - usually the verb.
| Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
| Ambulo. - I am walking. | Non ambulo. - I am not walking. |
| Marcus dormit. - Marcus is sleeping. | Marcus non dormit. - Marcus is not sleeping. |
| Romani sunt. - They are Romans. | Romani non sunt. - They are not Romans. |
Placed before another word, non denies just that word: non hodie - not today; non magnus - not big.
For English speakers: the great convenience is that Latin needs no helper verb. English has to insert "do" to say "I do not walk", but Latin just puts non before the verb: non ambulo. So do not look for a Latin word for "do" - there is none. Two small notes: to answer "no" as a full reply, Romans more often repeat the verb in the negative (Venisne? Non venio. - Are you coming? I am not) rather than using a bare "no", and for negative commands ("Do not...") Latin uses noli plus the infinitive (noli plorare - do not cry), not non.
Marcus reads.
Example for Negation with non.
Julia sees the tablet.
A short A1 sentence with visible endings.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises