SPECIAL NEGATIVE FORMS

Some VERBS and ADJECTIVES have special negative forms.

Know/Not Know:

알다'to do know' (dictionary form)

모르다'to do NOT know' (dictionary form)

Have (exists)/Not Have (does not exist):

있다'to exist' or 'to have' (dictionary form)

없다'to NOT exist' or 'to NOT have' (dictionary form)

Delicious/Not Delicious (tasteless):

맛있다'to be delicious' (dictionary form)

맛없다'to NOT be delicious' (dictionary form)

Click here for the Copula/Negation Copula.

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NEGATION (SHORT FORM) FOR STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS

To make Korean sentences that are statements or questions into a negative you can use '안'or '못'.

안'no' or 'not'

못'you cannot' or 'you are unable to'

'못'is used more often than '안'because it is considered less confrontational.

'안'can be placed in front of VERBS:

가다'to go' (dictionary form)

Regular: 가요.'To go.'

Negative: 안 가요.'To not go.'

'안'can also be placed in front of ADJECTIVES:

크다'to be big' (dictionary form)

Regular: 커요.'Is big.' (irregular not 크요)

Negative: 안 커요.'Is not big.'

But '못'can only be placed in front of VERBS not adjectives:

읽다'to read' (dictionary form)

Regular: 읽어요.'To read.'

Negative: 못 읽어요.'Cannot read.'

If a VERB consists of a 'NOUN' + '하다'then '안'or '못'must be placed before '하다':

공부하다'to study' (dictionary form)

공부+ 하다study + to do

Regular: 공부해요.'To study.'

Negative: 공부 안 해요.'To not study.' (not 안 공부해요)

Negative: 공부 못 해요.'Cannot study.' (not 못 공부해요)

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NEGATION (LONG FORM) FOR STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS

To make Korean sentences that are statements or questions into a negative you can use '~지 않다'(the long form of '안') or '~지 못 하다'(the long form of '못').

~지 않다'no' or 'not' (dictionary form)

~지 못 하다'you cannot' or 'you are unable to' (dictionary form)

'~지 않다'can be placed at the end of a VERBS stem:

가다'to go' (dictionary form)

Regular: 가요.'To go.'

Negative: 가지 않아요.'To not go.'

And '~지 않다'can be placed at the end of an ADJECTIVES stem:

크다'to be big' (dictionary form)

Regular: 커요.'Is big.' (irregular not 크요)

Negative: 크지 않아요.'Is not big.'

'~지 못 하다'can be placed at the end of a VERBS stem:

자다'to sleep' (dictionary form)

Regular: 자요.'To sleep.'

Negative: 자지 못 해요.'Cannot sleep.'

Unlike '못'a few ADJECTIVES that express someone's desire can be used with '~지 못 하다' but instead of meaning negation they express feelings of disappointment:

행복하다'is happy' (dictionary form)

Regular: 행복해요.'They are happy.'

Disappointment: 행복하지 못 해요.'(Too bad) they cannot be happy.'

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NEGATION FOR COMMANDS AND SUGGESTIONS

To make Korean sentences that are commands or suggestions into a negative you can use '~지 말다'.

~지 말다'do not' or 'let's not' (dictionary form)

'~지 말다'is placed at the end of the stem:

가다'to go' (dictionary form)

Command: 가요!'GO!'

Negative Command: 가지 말아요!'DO NOT GO!'

Suggestion: 가요.'(Let's) go.'

Negative Suggestion: 가지 말아요.'(Let's) not go.'

In Korean when adding particles to a stem the final consonant 'ㄹ' will drop (disappear) when meeting 'ㄴ', 'ㅂ' or 'ㅅ'. This happens to '~지 말다'if the sentence uses the '합쇼체'formal polite speech level.

Negative Command using '합쇼체'speech level:

~지 마십시오!consists of ~지 말 + 십시오! (ㄹ drops)

Negative Suggestion using '합쇼체'speech level: