All lessons Lesson 8 of 30
Sentence building

Negation

Make negative identity, state, possession, and action sentences.

10 minute lesson

The negative auxiliary moves before the main verb

With present action verbs, use the negative forms of “to be” before the -ում (-um) form. The third-person singular action form is չի (ch’i), while the standalone negative of “is” is չէ (ch’e).

Negative present action

PersonArmenianTransliterationEnglish
Iչեմ կարդումch’em kardumI do not read
you, informalչես կարդումch’es kardumyou do not read
he / sheչի կարդումch’i kardumdoes not read
weչենք կարդումch’enk’ kardumwe do not read
you, plural / politeչեք կարդումch’ek’ kardumyou do not read
theyչեն կարդումch’en kardumthey do not read

Examples

Ես միս չեմ ուտում։Yes mis ch’em utum.I do not eat meat.Pronunciation: ch’ is aspirated.
Նա այսօր չի աշխատում։Na aysor ch’i ashkhatum.He / she is not working today.Pronunciation: ch’ is aspirated; kh is throaty.
Սա թանկ չէ։Sa t’ank ch’e.This is not expensive.Pronunciation: t’ and ch’ are aspirated.

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