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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