Welcome to the last session of Negation!
Let’s continue to learn some useful negative expressions. In this session, you will be learning the concepts of complete and partial negations, and complete assertion. It is important for classifying negative sentences in terms of the degree of negation. Also, some useful negation expressions will be introduced at the end of this session.
Complete Negation vs. Partial Negation vs. Complete Assertion
Complete Negation: “아무 + Noun + -도”
The complete negation “아무+Noun + -도” is used in a negative sentence indicating that none or no instance of the noun is accepted or affirmed in Korean. The noun used in the form of “아무+Noun + -도” is typically a generic noun like “것(thing)” or “일(happening)” as in “아무것도(anything),” 아무 일도(any happening).” If it refers to a place, “데(place) or 곳(place) can be used as in “아무데도(anywhere) and 아무 곳에도(anywhere). If it refers to a non-specific person, the noun can be used as “아무도(anyone) or 아무한테도(to anyone). Let’s take a look at each concept with sample sentences.
아무 + Noun + -도
나는 아무 말도 하지 않았어요. (I didn't say a word)
부모님한테서 아무 소식도 없어요. (There is no news coming from my parents)
식당에 아무 음식도 없어요. (There is no food in the restaurant)
아무것도(nothing)
냉장고에 아무것도 없어요. (There is nothing in the refrigerator)
책상 위에 아무것도 없습니다. (There is nothing on the desk)
내 친구는 아무것도 몰라. (My friend doesn’t know anything)
저는 아무것도 안 했습니다. (As for me, I didn't do anything)
아무 일도(nothing)
오늘은 아무 일도 없었어요. (There was nothing happened today)
아무 일도 없을 거예요. (Nothing will happen)
아무데도(nowhere)
우리 가족은 지난 주말에 아무데도 안 갔습니다. (As for my family, we didn't go anywhere last weekend)
아무데도 가지마. (Don’t go anywhere)
아무 곳에도(nowhere)
아무 곳에도 주차할 곳이 없었다. (There was nowhere to park)
아무 곳에도 없어. (It’s nowhere)
우리는 아무 곳에도 머무를 수 없었어요. (We couldn’t stay anywhere)
아무도 (no one)
집에 아무도 없습니다. (No one is in the house)
아무도 질문에 답하지 않았다. (No one answered the question)
학교에 학생이 아무도 없다. (There is no student at school)
아무도 그를 모릅니다. (No one knows him)
아무한테도 (not to anyone)
이건 아무한테도 말하지 마세요. (Don't tell anyone about this)
저는 아무한테도 연락하지 않았어요. (I didn’t contact anyone)
아무한테도 부탁할 수 없었습니다. (I couldn’t ask anyone for help)
그녀는 아무한테도 약속을 지키기 않았다. (She didn't keep his promise to anyone)
Note:
1. The form of “아무런 + Noun + -도” can be used instead of “아무 + Noun + -도” to express “not any kind of the noun.”
아무런 소식도 듣지 못했다. (I haven’t heard any news)
형은 아무런 이유도 없이 화를 냈다. (My older brother got angry for no reason)
어제 아무런 일도 일어나지 않았다. (Nothing happened yesterday)
아무런 계획도 세우지 않았다. (I didn’t make any plans)
Partial Negation : 아무 + Noun + (이)나
The form of “아무 + Noun + (이)나” can indicate that the negation is not absolute, implying a degree of negation or a specific aspect being negated rather than the entire statement. It can be rendered as “not just anything/any place/anyone” in English. The noun used in the form of “아무 + Noun + (이)나” is generally replaced by the generic noun like “것(thing)” or its contraction form “거(thing)” as in “아무것이나(anything), and ” 아무거나(anything).” If it refers to a place, “데(place) or 곳(place) can be used as in “아무데나(anywhere) and 아무 곳이나(anywhere). If it refers to a non-specific person, the noun can be used as “아무나(anyone) or 아무한테나(to anyone). Let’s take a look at each concept with sample sentences.
아무 + Noun + (이)나
나는 아무 음식이나 먹지 않습니다.
(I don’t eat just any food = I only eat some specific foods)
우리 회사는 아무 물건이나 팔지 않아요.
(Our company doesn’t sell just any kind of product)
아무 말이나 하지마.
(Don’t say just any kind of word)
아무것이나/아무거나 (nothing)
아무것이나 사오면 안돼.
(Don’t buy just anything = buy something that meets our need)
아무거나 입지 마세요.
(Please don't wear just any kind of clothes = Please wear something you like)
아무것이나/아무거나 질문하지 마세요.
(Please don’t ask any kind of question = Please ask something worth)
아무데나 (nowhere)
쓰레기를 아무데나 버리면 안 돼요.
(You shouldn’t throw trash just anywhere)
짐을 아무데나 두지 마세요.
(Don’t put your luggage just anywhere = Put it in a secure area)
아무데나 눕지 마세요.
(Don’t lie down and rest anywhere)
아무 곳에나 (nowhere)
옷을 아무 곳에나 걸지 마세요.
(Don’t hang the clothes anywhere)
지금부터 아무 곳에나 머무를 수 없어요.
(You cannot stay just anywhere from now on)
여기선 아무 곳에나 앉을 수 없습니다.
(You cannot sit just anywhere here)
아무나(no one)
아무나 그를 도와줄 수 없어요.
(Not just anyone can help him)
그 일은 아무나 할 수 없어요.
(Not just anyone can do the task)
여기는 아무나 들어올 수 없습니다.
(Not just anyone can enter these premises. = Only an authorized person can enter here)
아무한테나 (not to anyone)
이 사실은 아무한테나 알려줄 수 없습니다.
(I cannot tell this fact to just anyone = I can only tell this fact to someone I can trust)
아무한테나 도움을 요청하지 마세요.
(Don’t ask just anyone for help)
Complete Assertion: 아무 + Noun + (이)나 in a positive sentence
The form of “아무 + Noun + (이)나'' also can be used in a positive sentence to express complete assertion. It indicates that any or every instance of the noun is affirmed or accepted. It can be rendered as “not just anything/any place/anyone” in English. The noun used in the form of “아무 + Noun + (이)나” is generally replaced by the generic noun like “것(thing)” or its contraction form “거(thing)” as in “아무것이나(anything), and ” 아무거나(anything).” If it refers to a place, “데(place) or 곳(place) can be used as in “아무데나(anywhere) and 아무 곳이나(anywhere). If it refers to a non-specific person, the noun can be used as “아무나(anyone) or 아무한테나(to anyone). Let’s take a look at each concept with sample sentences.
아무 + Noun + (이)나 In a Positive Sentence
아무 책이나 읽어도 돼요.
(You can read just any kind of books)
아무 과일이나 사세요.
(Buy any kind of fruit)
저는 아무 옷이나 입습니다.
(I wear just any kind of clothes)
아무데나 (anywhere)
아무데나 가고 싶어요.
(I want to go just anywhere)
여기 아무데나 두세요.
(Just put it anywhere here)
사진을 아무데나 걸어 놓으세요.
(You can hang the picture anywhere)
아무 곳에나 (anywhere)
주차장 아무 곳에나 차를 주차할 수 있어요.
(You can park the car just anywhere in the parking lot)
잡초는 아무곳에나 잘 자라요.
(Weeds can grow well anywhere)
아무곳에나 앉아도 됩니다.
(You can sit anywhere)
아무나(anyone)
아무나 따라오세요.
(Anyone, follow me)
이 테스트는 아무나 통과할 수 있습니다.
(Anyone can pass this test)
그 일은 아무나 할 수 있어요.
(Anyone can do the job)
아무한테나 (to anyone)
아무한테나 길을 물어보세요.
(Ask anyone for direction)
이 정보는 아무한테나 공유해도 됩니다.
(You can share this information with anyone)
그 물건은 아무한테나 맡길 수 있습니다.
(You can entrust the item to anyone)
아무한테나 부탁하세요.
(Just ask anyone there for help)
Some Useful Negative Expressions
1. A이지 B이/가 아니다
The expression “A이지 B이/가 아니다” can be used to strongly confirm or deny a statement about someone or something by emphasizing what they are or are not. It makes strong confirmation of “A” and strong denial of “B” in a given sentence.
그는 의사지 교수가 아니다. (He is a doctor, not a professor)
그 차는 내 차지 네 차가 아니었다. (The car was mine, not yours)
나는 한국사람이지 미국사람이 아니다. (I am Korean, not American)
2. A이/가 아니라 B
The expression “A이/가 아니라 B” can be used to correct or clarify information that is incorrect or misleading. It states the wrong information “A” and fixes it into the correct information “B.”
그건 커피가 아니라 주스예요. (That’s is not a coffee, it is a juice)
제가 음식을 만들었습니다. (I made the food)
=> 사실 제가 아니라 제 동생이 만들었습니다.
(In fact, it was my younger brother, but not me, who made it)
지연이는 집에 있어요? (Is Jiyeon at home?)
=> 지연이는 집이 아니라 학교에 있어.
(Jiyeon is at school, but not at home)
3. ~이/가 아닌가요? (Seeking confirmation)
The expression “~(이/가) 아닌가요?” can be used to seek information or agreement about a statement. It is used in a question where the speaker expects the listener’s confirmation if the preceding expression is true or not.
이곳은 학교가 아니라 회사인가요? (Is this a company, not a school?)
오늘 네 생일 아닌가? (Today is your birthday, right?)
혹시 변호사님이 아닌가요? (By any chance, you are the lawyer, right?)
4. ~이/가 아니고서는
The expression “~이/가 아니고서는” can be used to emphasize that something is fundamentally dependent on “A.” It suggests that without “A,” the stated action or outcome is considered impossible. The preceding noun is the precondition for taking action in the following clause. Also, the expression itself is negative, so the sentence will be using a double-negative form, which can be a strong positive sentence as “If it is not an A, it is impossible = it is possible only depending on A.”
팀이 아니고서는 이 시험을 통과할 수 없다.
(If it is not a team, an individual cannot pass this test)
전문가가 아니고서는 이 문제를 해결할 수 없습니다.
(If someone is not an expert, no one can solve this problem = only an expert can solve it)
우리 엄마가 아니고서는 그 음식을 만들 수 없다.
(If it is not my mom, it is impossible to make the food = Only my mom can make the food)