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Negative Forms 否定形

Learn how to say "don't", "didn't", and "not" in Japanese. Negative forms change depending on the verb group, adjective type, and formality level.

Formal Negative — ません

ます → ません (present) / ませんでした (past)

食べます→don't eat

行きます→don't go

飲みました→didn't drink

U-verbs: final vowel → a + ない | Ru-verbs: る → ない | する→しない | くる→こない

行く→don't go (plain)

飲む→don't drink (plain)

食べる→don't eat (plain)

Noun/な-adj + じゃない (casual) or ではない (formal)

学生です→not a student

元気です→not well

便利です→not convenient (formal)

い → くない (present) | い → くなかった (past)

高い→not expensive

おいしい→not delicious

いい→not good (irregular!)

Tabemasen

I don't eat (formal)

Ikanai

I don't go (plain)

Gakusei ja nai

I'm not a student

Tabemasendeshita

I didn't eat

Takakunai

It's not expensive

Genki ja nai

I'm not well

Kimasen

I won't come / don't come

Shinai

I won't do it (plain)

Convert to the correct negative form

Question 1 of 10

食べます → 否定 (formal)