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?
Nobody knows this.
We cannot all do everything.
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. |
| Mārcus dormit. - Mārcus is sleeping. | Mārcus non dormit. - Mārcus is not sleeping. |
| Romani sunt. - They are Romans. | Romani non sunt. - They are not Romans. |
Placed before another word, nōn denies just that word: nōn hodie - not today; nōn 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 nōn before the verb: nōn 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? Nōn 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 nōn.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesNobody knows this.
Nemo is already negative, so non is not added. Standard English works the same way: 'nobody knows', not 'nobody doesn't know'.
We cannot all do everything.
Non stands directly before what it negates. In Vergil's line the position is the meaning.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises