Negative Imperatives (Не прави!)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To tell someone not to do something, simply place 'Не' before the imperative verb form.
- Use 'Не' + imperative verb for singular: 'Не пий!' (Don't drink!)
- Use 'Не' + imperative verb for plural: 'Не пийте!' (Don't drink!)
- The verb must be in the perfective aspect for specific commands.
2. Negative Imperative Formation
| Person | Verb (Root) | Singular (-и/-й) | Plural (-ете/-йте) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd Person (Ty/Vie)
|
Пия (Drink)
|
Не пий!
|
Не пийте!
|
|
2nd Person (Ty/Vie)
|
Ям (Eat)
|
Не яж!
|
Не яжте!
|
|
2nd Person (Ty/Vie)
|
Чета (Read)
|
Не чети!
|
Не четете!
|
|
2nd Person (Ty/Vie)
|
Пиша (Write)
|
Не пиши!
|
Не пишете!
|
|
2nd Person (Ty/Vie)
|
Спя (Sleep)
|
Не спи!
|
Не спете!
|
|
2nd Person (Ty/Vie)
|
Гледам (Watch)
|
Не гледай!
|
Не гледайте!
|
Meanings
The negative imperative is used to forbid an action or give a negative command to one or more people.
Direct prohibition
Stopping someone from performing an immediate action.
“Не пипай!”
“Не говори!”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb (Imp)
|
Пий!
|
|
Negative
|
Не + Verb (Imp)
|
Не пий!
|
|
Plural Negative
|
Не + Verb (Imp-pl)
|
Не пийте!
|
|
Reflexive Negative
|
Не + Refl + Verb
|
Не се притеснявай!
|
|
Formal Negative
|
Не + Verb (Pl)
|
Не влизайте!
|
|
Short Answer
|
Не!
|
Не!
|
Formalitätsspektrum
Не отивайте там. (Giving directions.)
Не отивай там. (Giving directions.)
Не ходи там. (Giving directions.)
Не се вясвай там. (Giving directions.)
Negative Imperative Logic
Target
- Ти (Singular) Informal
- Вие (Plural) Formal/Group
Beispiele nach Niveau
Не пипай!
Don't touch!
Не говори!
Don't talk!
Не влизай!
Don't enter!
Не яж това!
Don't eat that!
Не пийте вода от тук.
Don't drink water from here.
Не закъснявайте за срещата.
Don't be late for the meeting.
Не отваряйте вратата.
Don't open the door.
Не купувай този хляб.
Don't buy this bread.
Не се притеснявай за мен.
Don't worry about me.
Не забравяйте да заключите.
Don't forget to lock.
Не казвай на никого.
Don't tell anyone.
Не се бавете твърде дълго.
Don't delay too long.
Не пренебрегвайте тези предупреждения.
Don't ignore these warnings.
Не се поддавайте на провокации.
Don't give in to provocations.
Не допускайте грешки в доклада.
Don't make mistakes in the report.
Не се колебайте да попитате.
Don't hesitate to ask.
Не се самозалъгвайте относно резултатите.
Don't delude yourself regarding the results.
Не подценявайте сложността на задачата.
Don't underestimate the complexity of the task.
Не се отклонявайте от темата.
Don't deviate from the topic.
Не се възползвайте от ситуацията.
Don't take advantage of the situation.
Не се уповавайте на случайността.
Don't rely on chance.
Не се поддавайте на меланхолията.
Don't give in to melancholy.
Не се впускайте в излишни обяснения.
Don't embark on unnecessary explanations.
Не се отказвайте от принципите си.
Don't abandon your principles.
Leicht verwechselbar
Both use the same verb roots.
Häufige Fehler
Не пиеш
Не пий
Не яжте
Не яж
Не давай го
Не го давай
Не давай
Недей да даваш
Satzmuster
Не ___ това!
Real World Usage
Не закъснявай!
Keep it short
Smart Tips
Use 'Не' + imperative.
Aussprache
Stress
The stress usually stays on the same syllable as the affirmative imperative.
Falling
Не пий! ↘
Strong command.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'Не' as a 'No' sign blocking the action.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a big red 'NO' sign placed in front of a person doing an action, stopping them instantly.
Rhyme
Just add 'Не' to the start, and keep the command smart!
Story
Ivan was running. His mom shouted 'Не тичай!' (Don't run!). Then he saw a cake and reached for it. She shouted 'Не яж!' (Don't eat!). He stopped.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write 5 things you shouldn't do in a library using 'Не'.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Bulgarians are direct with negative imperatives. It is not considered rude to say 'Не пипай' to a child.
Derived from Old Church Slavonic negation and imperative forms.
Gesprächseinstiege
What should I not do in Sofia?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
Не ___ (пипай/пипате) това!
Score: /1
Ubungsaufgaben
1 exercisesНе ___ (пипай/пипате) това!
Score: /1
FAQ (1)
Yes, as long as it's a command.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
No + Subjunctive
Bulgarian uses the imperative mood for negation.
Ne + Verb + Pas
Bulgarian is single-particle negation.
Nicht + Imperativ
Word order is slightly different.
Verb-nai + de
Bulgarian uses a prefix particle.
La + Jussive
Bulgarian uses the imperative mood.
Bu + Verb
Bulgarian has complex verb conjugation.
