Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface and acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- 1 Varieties of language
- WORDS AND THEIR MEANINGS
- THE CLAUSE – combining words
- 14 Gender
- 15 Number
- 16 Pronouns
- 17 Comparison
- 18 Word order
- 19 Negation
- 20 Periphrases
- 21 Verbs of movement
- 22 Auxiliary verbs in compound tenses
- 23 The passive
- 24 Reflexives and impersonals
- THE SENTENCE – combining clauses
- TEXTS AND THEIR STRUCTURE
- Bibliography
- Italian word index
- Grammar index
19 - Negation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface and acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- 1 Varieties of language
- WORDS AND THEIR MEANINGS
- THE CLAUSE – combining words
- 14 Gender
- 15 Number
- 16 Pronouns
- 17 Comparison
- 18 Word order
- 19 Negation
- 20 Periphrases
- 21 Verbs of movement
- 22 Auxiliary verbs in compound tenses
- 23 The passive
- 24 Reflexives and impersonals
- THE SENTENCE – combining clauses
- TEXTS AND THEIR STRUCTURE
- Bibliography
- Italian word index
- Grammar index
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).
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- Information
- Using ItalianA Guide to Contemporary Usage, pp. 284 - 289Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2004