How do you use negatives in Italian?

In Italian the main negatives are NO (no) and NON (not). Their use does not always correspond to the English. Examples with the use of NO: -Vieni domani? -No. -Are you coming tomorrow? -No. In this example NO is used like no in English to contradict a whole question.

Examples of NON: -Vieni domani? -(No) non vengo. -Are you coming tomorrow? -(No), I'm not coming. -Hai finito? -(No), non ho finito. -Have you finished? -(No), I haven't finished. NON is used within a sentence and placed immediately before the word it negates, usually a verb. If there is an auxiliary, NON precedes it, unlike in English.

Other examples: -Non lo trovo. I can't find it. -Non mi piace. I don't like it. NON goes before object pronouns.

Answered by Penny J. Italian tutor

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Translate this passage into English:


Describe your holiday


Nella mia città, ci sono due grandi problemi: 1)vicino a casa mia ci sono solo contenitori per la carta e il vetro. Non è possibile riciclare la plastica; 2)c’è molta gente che non lavora. La maggior parte dei disoccupati è giovane. What are the problems?


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