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19 - Negation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

J. J. Kinder
Affiliation:
University of Western Australia, Perth
V. M. Savini
Affiliation:
University of Western Australia, Perth
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Summary

No is used to answer questions, both alone and in certain phrases:

Avrai il tempo per uscire stasera?

-No, non credo.

-Credo di no / Temo di no / Spero di no / Mi sembra di no / Direi di no

I don't think so / I am afraid not / I hope not / I don't think so / I would say not

Perché no?

Why not?

No is also used in sentences to sum up a negative alternative:

Ma vuoi venire o no?

But do you want to come or not?

Dimmi se ti piace o no(Note the R1–2 alternative: Dimmi se ti piace o meno).

Tell me if you like it or not.

If no applies to one particular word, it usually follows that word, e.g.:

Tommaso è d'accordo, ma Elena no.

Tommaso agrees, but Elena doesn't.

Andrei volentieri al Luna Park, ma con te no (cf. ma non con te)

I would gladly go to the Amusement Park, but not with you.

R1* vulgar or indecent

R1 informal, colloquial

R2 neutral, unmarked

R3 formal, written Italian words and expressions are R2 unless otherwise indicated. See also p. 5.

Avete tutti ricevuto l'invito? Io no.

Have you all received the invitation? – I haven't.

Sono tutti eligibili, studenti e no.

All are eligible, students and non-students.

A common, but less correct, alternative is to use non:

Sono tutti d'accordo, politici e non.

All are in agreement, politicians and non-politicians (OR politicians and others).

Type
Chapter
Information
Using Italian
A Guide to Contemporary Usage
, pp. 284 - 289
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2004

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  • Negation
  • J. J. Kinder, University of Western Australia, Perth, V. M. Savini, University of Western Australia, Perth
  • Book: Using Italian
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511840791.020
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  • Negation
  • J. J. Kinder, University of Western Australia, Perth, V. M. Savini, University of Western Australia, Perth
  • Book: Using Italian
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511840791.020
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Negation
  • J. J. Kinder, University of Western Australia, Perth, V. M. Savini, University of Western Australia, Perth
  • Book: Using Italian
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511840791.020
Available formats
×