Negation med "inte"
Negation: 'inte' after the verb in main clauses
Can use Negation: 'inte' after the verb in main clauses
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Jag talar inte svenska.
I don't speak Swedish.
Hon har ingen bil och inget hus.
She has no car and no house.
Det finns inga biljetter kvar.
There are no tickets left.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Inte placeras efter verbet i huvudsatser:
- Jag talar inte svenska.
- Hon är inte hungrig.
Ingen/inget/inga = no (replaces en/ett/plural):
- Jag har ingen bil. (en-ord)
- Jag har inget hus. (ett-ord)
- Jag har inga pengar. (plural)
English: 'not' uses auxiliaries (don't/doesn't). Swedish: just add 'inte' after the verb.
German: 'nicht' placement is complex. Swedish 'inte' is simpler — always after the verb.
Common Error Patterns
Common error with Negation: 'inte' after the verb in main clauses
Review the rules for Negation med "inte".
Jag talar inte svenska.
I don't speak Swedish.
'Inte' comes AFTER the verb in main clauses.
Hon har ingen bil och inget hus.
She has no car and no house.
'Ingen' for en-words, 'inget' for ett-words. Replaces 'en/ett' in negation.
Det finns inga biljetter kvar.
There are no tickets left.
'Inga' for plural nouns. Det finns + inga = there are no.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises