4. SYNTAX
- maOMnao yah iktaba nahIM pZ,I (hO).
m ́~ne yeh kita:b nahĩ: parhi: (h ́).
I-erg this book neg read (have)
I have not read this book.
The particle mat mat ‘don’t’ is used with imperative constructions. It
is added in the preverbal position.
- AKbaar mat pZ,ao.
axba:r mat parho.
newspaper neg read
Don’t read the newspaper. - Aaja Gar mat jaa[e.
a:j ghar mat ja:iye.
today home neg go-pl
Please don’t go home today.
The negative particle mat mat can be replaced by na na ‘no’, but it is
not used frequently.
3a. AKbaar na pZ,ao.
axba:r na parho.
Don’t read the newspaper.
4a. Aaja Gar na jaa[e.
a:j ghar na ja:iye.
Please don’t go home today.
4.3.3.2. Constituent Negation
A number of devices are employed to mark constituent negation.
The main constituents are the stress and the use of a negative
particle after the negated constituent. Sometimes stress is used to
negate the constituent.
- ]sao kla p%naI sao laD,naa nahIM caaihe qaa.
use kal patni: se larna: nahĩ: ca:hiye tha:.
he-dat yesterday wife with quarrel neg should was
He should not have quarreled with his wife yesterday.