A1 Negation 1 min read Leicht

Negating Verbs with 'Ne'

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To make a verb negative in Croatian, simply place the particle 'ne' directly before the conjugated verb.

  • Place 'ne' before the verb: 'Ja ne radim' (I do not work).
  • The particle 'ne' is always written as a separate word.
  • In questions, 'ne' stays attached to the verb: 'Ne radiš li?' (Are you not working?).
Subject + ne + Verb

Negation of 'Raditi' (To Work)

Person Affirmative Negative
Ja
radim
ne radim
Ti
radiš
ne radiš
On/Ona
radi
ne radi
Mi
radimo
ne radimo
Vi
radite
ne radite
Oni/One
rade
ne rade

Reference Table

Reference table for Negating Verbs with 'Ne'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb
Ja radim
Negative
Subject + ne + Verb
Ja ne radim
Question
Ne + Verb + li + Subject?
Ne radiš li?
Short Answer
Ne + Verb
Ne radim
Modal Negative
Subject + ne + Modal + Verb
Ne mogu raditi
Future Negative
Subject + ne + Aux + Verb
Neću raditi

Meanings

The particle 'ne' is the standard way to negate verbs in Croatian, effectively turning an affirmative statement into a negative one.

1

General Negation

Used to negate the action of the verb.

“On ne spava.”

“Mi ne jedemo.”

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
Ne znam.

Ne znam. (General)

Neutral
Ne znam.

Ne znam. (General)

Informell
Ne znam.

Ne znam. (General)

Umgangssprache
Nemam pojma.

Nemam pojma. (General)

Negation Concept Map

NE

Placement

  • Before verb Always precedes

Usage

  • Statements General denial

Affirmative vs Negative

Affirmative
Pijem I drink
Negative
Ne pijem I don't drink

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Ja ne radim.

I do not work.

2

On ne pije kavu.

He does not drink coffee.

3

Mi ne znamo.

We do not know.

4

Ona ne spava.

She is not sleeping.

1

Ne razumijem što govoriš.

I don't understand what you are saying.

2

Ne želim ići u školu.

I don't want to go to school.

3

Ne vidim auto.

I don't see the car.

4

Ne čujem te dobro.

I don't hear you well.

1

Ne mogu vjerovati da je to istina.

I can't believe that it is true.

2

Ne trebaš kupovati kruh.

You don't need to buy bread.

3

Ne sviđa mi se ovaj film.

I don't like this movie.

4

Ne smiješ ovdje pušiti.

You are not allowed to smoke here.

1

Ne bih to učinio na tvom mjestu.

I wouldn't do that in your place.

2

Ne čini se da će padati kiša.

It doesn't seem like it will rain.

3

Ne prestaje padati snijeg.

The snow doesn't stop falling.

4

Ne očekujem nikakve promjene.

I don't expect any changes.

1

Neovisno o tome, ne odustajem.

Regardless of that, I am not giving up.

2

Ne preostaje nam ništa drugo.

Nothing else remains for us.

3

Ne bih se usudio tvrditi suprotno.

I wouldn't dare to claim the opposite.

4

Neosporno je da ne griješim.

It is undeniable that I am not wrong.

1

Ne mareći za posljedice, ne povlači se.

Not caring for the consequences, he does not retreat.

2

Ne bijaše mi jasno zašto ne dolazi.

It wasn't clear to me why he isn't coming.

3

Ne htjedoh priznati da ne znam.

I didn't want to admit that I don't know.

4

Ne mogavši spavati, ne prestajao sam misliti.

Unable to sleep, I didn't stop thinking.

Leicht verwechselbar

Negating Verbs with 'Ne' vs. Ne vs Ni

Learners mix them up because both are negative particles.

Negating Verbs with 'Ne' vs. Nisam vs Ne

Both mean 'not'.

Negating Verbs with 'Ne' vs. Neću vs Ne

Both are used for negation.

Häufige Fehler

✗

Radim ne.

✓

Ne radim.

The particle 'ne' must come before the verb.
✗

Ja do ne radim.

✓

Ja ne radim.

Croatian does not use 'do' as an auxiliary verb.
✗

Ne-radim.

✓

Ne radim.

The particle 'ne' is a separate word.
✗

Nisam radim.

✓

Ne radim.

Mixing up 'nisam' (I am not) with 'ne' (not).
✗

Ne ja radim.

✓

Ja ne radim.

The particle 'ne' should be next to the verb.
✗

Ne radim li?

✓

Ne radim li?

Actually correct, but often confused with 'Radim li ne?' which is wrong.
✗

Ne ne radim.

✓

Ne radim.

Redundant negation.
✗

Nitko ne radi ništa.

✓

Nitko ne radi ništa.

This is actually correct, but learners often think it's wrong because of English double-negative rules.
✗

Ne radim ništa.

✓

Ne radim ništa.

Correct, but learners often forget to negate the verb if they use 'ništa'.
✗

Ne mogu ne ići.

✓

Ne mogu ne ići.

Correct, but confusing for learners.
✗

Ne bih to ne učinio.

✓

Ne bih to ne učinio.

Correct, but stylistically complex.
✗

Ne htjedoh ne doći.

✓

Ne htjedoh ne doći.

Correct, but archaic.
✗

Ne mogavši ne vidjeti.

✓

Ne mogavši ne vidjeti.

Correct.

Satzmuster

Ja ___ ___.

Ne ___ li ___?

Ne mogu ___ ___.

Ne želim ___ ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Ne mogu doći.

Ordering food very common

Ne želim luk.

Job interview common

Ne radim vikendom.

Travel common

Ne razumijem.

Social media very common

Ne sviđa mi se.

Food delivery apps common

Ne želim dostavu.

💡

Keep it simple

Don't overthink it. Just put 'ne' before the verb.
⚠️

No auxiliary verbs

Do not try to translate 'do not' as 'do' + 'ne'. Just use 'ne'.
🎯

Pro-drop

You can omit the subject pronoun. 'Ne radim' is enough.
💬

Be direct

It's okay to say 'ne' directly.

Smart Tips

Use 'Ne znam' instead of 'Ja ne znam' to sound more natural.

Ja ne znam. → Ne znam.

Repeat the verb with 'ne' for a clear answer.

Ne. → Ne radim.

Always keep 'ne' before the verb.

Nitko radi. → Nitko ne radi.

Place 'ne' before the modal verb.

Mogu ne raditi. → Ne mogu raditi.

Aussprache

NE-ra-dim

Stress

The particle 'ne' usually takes the stress when it is the first word in the sentence.

Falling

Ne radim. ↘

Statement of fact.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'ne' as a 'No-Entry' sign that you place right before the verb's door.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a red 'NO' sign floating in front of a person who is trying to do an action. The person stops because the 'NE' sign is blocking the path to the verb.

Rhyme

To say 'no' in a simple way, put 'ne' before the verb today.

Story

Marko wants to eat, but he is not hungry. He says 'Ne jedem' (I am not eating). His friend asks 'Ne jedeš?' (You are not eating?). Marko shakes his head and says 'Ne, ne jedem.'

Word Web

nene radimne znamne mogune želimne vidim

Herausforderung

For 5 minutes, look at objects around you and say 'Ne vidim [object]' (I don't see the [object]) for 5 different things.

Kulturelle Hinweise

Croatians are very direct with 'ne'. It is not considered rude to say 'ne' when you don't want something.

In some coastal dialects, you might hear 'ne' used with specific local verb forms.

Standard 'ne' is used universally in Slavonia.

The particle 'ne' comes from Proto-Slavic *ne, which is a common Indo-European negative particle.

Gesprächseinstiege

“

Piješ li kavu?

“

Razumiješ li hrvatski?

“

Želiš li ići van?

“

Možeš li mi pomoći?

Tagebuch-Impulse

Write 3 things you don't like to do.
Describe a day where nothing went right.
Explain why you don't want to do something.
Write a dialogue where someone refuses an offer.

Häufige Fehler

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Ja ___ radim.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne
The particle 'ne' is used for negation.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne radim.
The particle 'ne' must come before the verb.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

On radim ne.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: On ne radi.
The particle 'ne' must come before the verb.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ja ne radim.
The correct order is Subject + ne + Verb.
Translate to Croatian. Übersetzung

I do not know.

Answer starts with: Ja ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ja ne znam.
The particle 'ne' is used for negation.
Choose the correct question. Multiple Choice

Are you not working?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne radiš li?
In questions, 'ne' stays with the verb.
Fill in the blank.

Mi ___ pijemo kavu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne
The particle 'ne' is used for negation.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vi ne radite li?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne radite li?
The particle 'ne' must come before the verb.

Score: /8

Ubungsaufgaben

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Ja ___ radim.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne
The particle 'ne' is used for negation.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne radim.
The particle 'ne' must come before the verb.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

On radim ne.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: On ne radi.
The particle 'ne' must come before the verb.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

radim / ne / ja

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ja ne radim.
The correct order is Subject + ne + Verb.
Translate to Croatian. Übersetzung

I do not know.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ja ne znam.
The particle 'ne' is used for negation.
Choose the correct question. Multiple Choice

Are you not working?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne radiš li?
In questions, 'ne' stays with the verb.
Fill in the blank.

Mi ___ pijemo kavu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne
The particle 'ne' is used for negation.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vi ne radite li?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne radite li?
The particle 'ne' must come before the verb.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

Yes, 'ne' is used with almost all verbs in the present tense.

Yes, 'ne' is always a separate word.

You say 'Ne radim ništa'. Croatian uses double negation.

No, it's just a neutral particle.

Yes, but it's often combined with the auxiliary verb.

'Ni' is used for 'neither/nor' or in double negation.

No, you can drop it if the context is clear.

Yes, 'ne' is the Croatian word for 'no'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

no + verb

Spanish doesn't require double negation as strictly as Croatian.

French partial

ne + verb + pas

French requires two words; Croatian only one.

German moderate

nicht + verb

Word order is the main difference.

Japanese low

verb-nai

Suffix vs prefix.

Arabic moderate

la + verb

Arabic negation changes based on tense.

Chinese high

bù + verb

Chinese has different particles for different tenses.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Double Negation (e.g., Nitko ne radi)

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Genitive for Negation of Existence (Nema...)
A0

Basic Negation with 'Ne'
A2

Negation of Future Tenses
A1

Negation of 'Biti' (Nisam, Nisi, Nije)
A1

Double Negation (e.g., Nitko ne radi)
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