Negation with hindi and wala

A1 — Pangungusap

Negation with hindi and wala

Can negate sentences using hindi and wala

Examples

Hindi ako Pilipino. — I'm not Filipino.
Wala akong trabaho. — I don't have a job.
Hindi pa siya kumakain. — He/she hasn't eaten yet.

Sentence structureA1

Negation with hindi and wala

Learning Goal

Can negate sentences using hindi and wala

Exam Skills:ListeningReadingWritingSpeaking

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

Hindi ako Pilipino.

I'm not Filipino.

Wala akong trabaho.

I don't have a job.

Hindi pa siya kumakain.

He/she hasn't eaten yet.

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

Hindi is the everyday "not". It goes before the predicate - the verb, adjective or noun that says something about the topic:

Positive	Negative
Maganda siya. (She is beautiful.)	Hindi siya maganda.
Kumain ako. (I ate.)	Hindi ako kumain.
Doktor si Jun. (Jun is a doctor.)	Hindi doktor si Jun.

Notice that the short pronoun moves: Kumain ako becomes Hindi ako kumain. Short words like ako, ka, siya, ko, mo like to sit right after the first word of the clause, and hindi is now the first word.

Wala: there is none

Wala is the opposite of may/mayroon. It denies that something exists or that someone has it, and it links to what follows:

Wala akong pera. - I don't have any money.
Walang tao rito. - There's nobody here.
Wala si Kuya. - Big brother isn't here.

Typical mistakes

"I don't have money" is Wala akong pera, not Hindi may pera ako: hindi does not negate may.
Hindi on its own also answers "no". To say "don't!" use huwag (see Commands and requests).

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Using hindi where wala is needed. English speakers: "I don't have money" is Wala akong pera, not Hindi may pera ako. After hindi, a short pronoun moves forward: Hindi ako kumain, not Hindi kumain ako. For "don't!" use huwag.

Common Error Patterns

Error with Negation with hindi and wala

Review the rules for Negasyon: Hindi

Hindi ako Pilipino.

I'm not Filipino.

Hindi negates the whole sentence. Placed before the pronoun.

Wala akong trabaho.

I don't have a job.

Wala = not have/nothing. Ako + -ng linker = I (possessive). Trabaho = job.

Hindi pa siya kumakain.

He/she hasn't eaten yet.

Hindi pa = not yet. Kumakain = eating (uncompleted aspect).

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Frequently asked questions

When do you use Negation with hindi and wala?: Hindi is the everyday "not". It goes before the predicate - the verb, adjective or noun that says something about the topic:
How do you form Negation with hindi and wala?: Notice that the short pronoun moves: Kumain ako becomes Hindi ako kumain . Short words like ako, ka, siya, ko, mo like to sit right after the first word of the clause, and hindi is now the first word. Wala is the opposite of may/mayroon . It denies that something exists or that someone has it, and it links to what follows:
What are common mistakes with Negation with hindi and wala?: Using hindi where wala is needed. English speakers: "I don't have money" is Wala akong pera, not Hindi may pera ako. After hindi, a short pronoun moves forward: Hindi ako kumain, not Hindi kumain ako. For "don't!" use huwag.

Positive

Negative

Maganda siya. (She is beautiful.)

Hindi siya maganda.

Kumain ako. (I ate.)

Hindi ako kumain.

Doktor si Jun. (Jun is a doctor.)

Hindi doktor si Jun.

Frequently asked questions

When do you use Negation with hindi and wala?

Hindi is the everyday "not". It goes before the predicate - the verb, adjective or noun that says something about the topic:

How do you form Negation with hindi and wala?

Notice that the short pronoun moves: Kumain ako becomes Hindi ako kumain . Short words like ako, ka, siya, ko, mo like to sit right after the first word of the clause, and hindi is now the first word. Wala is the opposite of may/mayroon . It denies that something exists or that someone has it, and it links to what follows:

What are common mistakes with Negation with hindi and wala?

Using hindi where wala is needed. English speakers: "I don't have money" is Wala akong pera, not Hindi may pera ako. After hindi, a short pronoun moves forward: Hindi ako kumain, not Hindi kumain ako. For "don't!" use huwag.