User:Bukkia/sandboxVIII

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Negation

The verbal negation is conveyed by two negative adverbs:

  • əjs
  • əjň

Despite being essentially synonyms, these two adverbs have strictly different grammatical and syntactical usages.

  • əjs in used in main clauses, with either indicative or conditional verbal forms.
  • əjň in used mostly in dependent clauses, with any verbal forms. It is also used in main clauses in all imperative constructions.

Usage of both adverbs can display exception, which are specifically analysed in the syntactical chapter.

Both negative adverbs placed after the conjugated verbal form, namely after either the main verb, an auxiliary, or a modal verb, but before other unconjugated verbal forms.

ež huve čejun → ež huve čejun əjs
the dog is sleeping → the dog isn't sleeping
ež huve pegis čejunəjge → ež huve pegis əjs čejunəjge 
the dog can sleep → the dog cannot sleep
ɔddo pacco hedduk ež huve čejun → ɔddo pacco hedduk ež huve čejun əjň
I'm sad because the dog is sleeping → I'm sad because the dog isn't sleeping

In texts of the earlier period, conversely, the negative adverbs can be firmly placed at the end of the clause. This placement can be still found in modern text when imititating an archaic or extremely formal language.

Double negatives are generally allowed, and often used.