Negative Adverbs - 不、没（有）、不要
否定副词 — 不、没（有）、不要
The adverb 不 (not) negates the present/future and habitual states. 没（有） negates the past or possession. 不要 expresses a prohibition.
Structure
不 + Verb/Adj (present, future, habit) 没(有) + Verb (past, possession) 不要 + Verb (prohibition)
Elements
不没（有）不要
How to use it
- Not for permanent states, habits, and future: I don't like (I don't like).
- 没（有）for past events: He didn't come yesterday.
- 不要 for negative commands: Don't speak! (Don't talk!)
Examples
请不要在这里吸烟
qǐng búyào zài zhèlǐ xīyān
Please don't smoke here.
他昨天没来。
tā zuótiān méi(yǒu) lái。
He didn't come yesterday.
我没有钱。
wǒ méiyǒu qián
I don't have money.
不要说话！
búyào shuōhuà
Don't speak!
我不喜欢吃鱼。
wǒ bù xǐhuan chī yú。
I don't like eating fish.
不会唱歌
bù huì chàng gē
can't sing
Notes and exceptions
- 不 + 是 = it's not
- 没 + 有 = it doesn't have.
- Never use *不了 to negate the past: it must use 没.
- 不 : not...; the character 不 is used to form negations in Chinese. Common combinations observed: 不 (general negation).
- 没 : doesn't have; doesn't. Common combinations observed: 没/没有 (negation of the past).
- 没有 : doesn't have; doesn't. Common combinations observed: 没/没有 (negation of the past).
- 不要 : not (imperative). Common combinations observed: 不 (general negation).
Common mistakes
- *我不去了昨天 → 我昨天没去: the past is negated with 没, not with 不.
- *我不有钱 → 我没有钱: 有 is always negated with 没, never with 不.
Practice quiz
Choose the best option for each sentence, then submit to view the correction.
1. 请____在这里吸烟
(Please don't smoke here.)
2. 我____钱。
(I don't have money.)
3. ____说话！
(Don't speak!)
4. 我____喜欢吃鱼。
(I don't like eating fish.)
5. ____会唱歌
(can't sing)