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  4. Negative Expressions

Negative Expressions

3 patterns in this category

안 A/V-아/어요

Word negation. Expresses negation by placing 안 before the verb or adjective. Alternative to A/V-지 않아요.

안 + Verb/Adjective. 안 가요 (not going), 안 먹어요 (not eating), 안 좋아요 (not good). Past: 안 갔어요, 안 먹었어요. Future: 안 갈 거예요, 안 먹을 거예요.

Beginner
A/V-지 않아요

Negation with 지 않다. Alternative form of 안 A/V-아/어요. More formal and commonly used in written Korean.

Verb/Adjective stem + 지 않아요. 가다 → 가지 않아요. 먹다 → 먹지 않아요. 좋다 → 좋지 않아요. Past: 가지 않았어요. Future: 가지 않을 거예요.

Beginner
못 V-아/어요

Inability negation. Expresses inability to do something or impossibility. Alternative to V-지 못해요.

못 + Verb. 못 가요 (cannot go), 못 먹어요 (cannot eat), 못 해요 (cannot do). Past: 못 갔어요, 못 먹었어요. Future: 못 갈 거예요, 못 먹을 거예요.

Beginner