4 - Negative Verbs

Negative verbs behave differently from affirmative verbs. At this point, only present and future tenses will be covered.

There are 2 common ways to negate a verb:

'No' Method

For both present and future tense, add 'nai' immediately before the verb, and at the end of the verb, simply replace the infinitive ending 'an' with 'no,' the ending for future tense.

'Lagan' - Nai lagno

'Khaiyan'- Nai kheno

'Kapan' - Nai kapno

'Thian' - Nai thino

Some Examples

Mukhe nai lagno* - It doesn't seem so (to me)

Hi kutho thukhe nai kheno - This dog won't eat you

Mukhe nai kapno* - I don't want it

Thu bimaar nai thino - You won't become sick

*Different verbs require either oblique or nominative verbs for cases different from English. For instance, in English, wanting something is a verb that is done to something. However, in Kutchi, a want is something that is felt by a person. Thus, for a person with the desire to do something, 'kapan' is typically used with an oblique pronoun to indicate the individual with the desire. For instance, mukhe paani kapetho.

Short Method

Another method to negate a verb is described as follows;

Add 'nathi' immediately before a verb, and replace the infinitive ending 'an' with 'e'

Some Examples

Mukhe nathi lage - It doesn't seem so (to me)

Mukhe nathi kape - I don't want it

Note that like other rules for conjugation, this rule does not apply to all verbs. For example, this method would not work for neither 'khaiyan' nor 'thian.'

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