Welcome to the first session of Negation!
There is a saying that one of the first expressions that a baby learns is to say “No.” Like this, learning negative expressions is also important to express your opinions and to avoid misunderstandings.
The Negative session will consist of three sessions and will discuss some useful negative expressions that you can apply in daily conversations.
In the first session, two forms of negation will be discussed: the short form and the long form.
Short Form: “안” and “못”
The negative markers “안” and “못” are used when negating an action verb. Both are placed directly before the verb but have different functions. The negative marker “안” is used when a subject has a choice of whether to do something or not, but the subject does not perform the action at the end. Whereas the negative marker “못” indicates that the subject is unable to do something due to external reasons or limitations. So, the subject cannot perform the action.
The Negative Marker “안”
1. 저는 집에 안 가요.
[I don’t go home (because I don’t want to)]
2. 우리는 아침을 안 먹는다.
[We don’t have breakfast (because we don’t want to)]
3. 수지는 운동을 안 해요.
[Suji doesn’t work out (because she doesn’t want to)]
4. 그 영화는 너무 길어서 안 볼 거예요.
(I will not watch the movie because it is too long)
5. 주희는 어제 출근을 안 했다.
(Juhee didn’t go to work yesterday)
The Negative Marker “못”
1. 저는 집에 못 가요.
[I can't go home (because I still have classes)]
2. 도희는 수영을 못 해요.
[Dohee can’t swim (because he did not learn it)]
3. 나는 우유를 못 마신다.
(I can’t drink milk (because I am allergic to it)]
4. 길을 못 찾았다.
(I couldn’t find the way (because I was unfamiliar with the area)]
5. 수지는 그 영화를 못 봐요.
(Suji can’t watch the movie (because it is a scary movie)]
Note:
There are action verbs that come from combining a Chinese noun and the verbal suffix “~하다.” When you make a negative expression with those verbs, the negative markers have to be placed between the noun and the verbal suffix.
By separating them from each other, the noun becomes an independent noun so it serves as an object and takes an object case marker “-을/를” in a sentence. The object case marker can be removed.
Noun + -하다 (Action verbs)
공부 + -하다 : 나는 공부를 안 한다.
(I don’t study)
수영 + -하다 : 도희는 수영을 전혀 못 한다.
(Dohee can’t swim at all)
숙제 + -하다 : 우리는 숙제를 못 했다.
(we couldn’t do homework)
This rule can apply to any verbs formed by combining with “Noun + -하다.”
Verbs with Korean Nouns
일 + -하다 : 아파서 오늘 일(을) 못 했다.
(I couldn’t work today because I was sick)
말 + -하다 : 우리는 말(을) 안 했다.
(We didn’t speak)
낚시 + -하다 : 시혁이는 낚시(를) 안 한다.
(Sihyuk doesn’t fish)
Verbs with English Nouns
쇼핑 + -하다 : 나는 주말에 쇼핑(을) 안 한다.
(I don’t shop on weekends)
데이트 + -하다 : 우리는 평일에 데이트(를) 못 한다.
(We cannot go on dates on weekdays)
게임 + -하다 : 지현이는 10시 이후에 게임(을) 안 한다.
(Jihyun doesn’t play a game after 10pm)
There are some action verbs that come from combining a Chinese noun and the verbal suffix “~하다” should not be separated.
So you should be careful when you use them. As you study Korean, it is also better to familiarize how each verb is combined or used.
내 인생은 안 망했다. (My life is not ruined)
내 인생은 망 안 했다. (X)
그 사람은 전혀 안 변했다. (He hasn’t changed at all)
그 사람은 전혀 변 안 했다. (X)
Negating a Stative Verb
The negative marker “안” can also be used when negating stative verbs. However, some verbs sound more natural either with a short form or a long form depending on the verbs. Whether you use the short form or the long form the meaning that you want to deliver will not change as “No,” but the long form is generally used for stative verbs in both written text and casual conversation.
When you study Korean, please pay attention to how Koreans combine action verbs and stative verbs with the short form or the long form so that you can discover what form makes sound more natural.
Then, let’s look at the long form.
Long Form : “~지 않다” and “~지 못하다”
The long form can be used as “It is not the case that ~” in English. It shows the speaker’s negative judgment on the preceding statement. “~지 않다” simply indicates the negation of the state implied by the preceding statement. So, the subject can do something but does not take it. Whereas “~지 못하다” indicates that the preceding statement does not reach the state of meaning. It can be used when a subject is unable to do something due to external reasons or limitations like the function of the negative marker “못.”
Action Verb
~지 않다.
나는 아침을 먹지 않는다 (It is not the case that I have breakfast)
=> I don’t have breakfast (because I don’t want to)
우리는 아직 학교에 가지 않았다. (It is not the case that we went to school already)
=> We did not go to school yet (because we did not want to)
오늘 저녁에 커피를 마시지 않을 거다. (It is not the case that I will drink coffee this evening today)
=> I will not drink coffee this evening today (because I am on a diet)
~지 못하다
나는 아침을 먹지 못한다. (It is not the case that I am able to have breakfast)
=> I cannot have breakfast (because I always get up late)
우리는 아직 학교에 가지지 못했다. (It is not the case that we were able to go to school already)
=> We couldn’t go to school yet (because we were not ready yet)
오늘 저녁에 커피를 마시지 못할 거다. (It is not the case that I will drink coffee this evening today)
=> I will not be able to drink coffee this evening today (because I have surgery tomorrow)
Stative Verbs
~지 않다
이 제품은 지금 비싸지 않다. (It is not the case that this product is expensive now)
=> This product is not expensive now (because I have a lot of money)
아기는 더럽지 않다. (It is not the case that a baby is dirty)
=> A baby is not dirty (because the mother always takes the baby a bath)
~지 못하다
집 밖이 조용하지 못하다. (It is not the case that the outside of the house is quiet)
=> The outside of the house is not quiet (because of the noise)
바닥이 평탄하지 못하다. (It is not the case that the floor is even)
=> The floor is not even (because it is not paved)
증거가 충분하지 못하다. (It is not the case that the evidence is enough)
=> The evidence is not enough (because it is only circumstantial evidence)