Lesson 21. Negative Sentences / 안, -지 않다

This lesson is Lesson 21 from TTMIK Core Grammar Level 1.
We recommend starting from the beginning and studying in order!

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1. Warm Up!

Preview today’s key vocabulary and simple examples to ease in.

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Key Vocabulary & Expressions

안 [an] not
집 [jip] home / house
가다 [ga-da] to go
그거 [geu-geo] it
버리다 [beo-ri-da] to throw away
있다 [it-tta] to be / to exist / to have
없다 [eop-tta] to not be / to not exist / to not have
알다 [al-da] to know
모르다 [mo-reu-da] to not know
돈 [don] money

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2. Main Lesson

Learn how to make negative sentences using 안 and -지 않다 with clear, step-by-step examples.

Lesson Note

There are two common ways to make negative sentences in Korean.

Use 안 [an] before the verb (simple and casual)
집 [jib] house, home
집에 가요. [ji-be ga-yo] I’m going home.
집에 안 가요. [ji-be an ga-yo.] I’m not going home.

그거 [geu-geo] it, that
버리다 [beo-ri-da] to throw away
그거 버렸어요. [geu-geo beo-ryeo-sseo-yo.] I threw that away.
그거 안 버렸어요. [geu-geo an beo-ryeo-sseo-yo.] I didn’t throw it away.

Use -지 않다 [-ji an-ta] (more formal or polite)
가다 [ga-da] to go
가지 않아요. [ga-ji a-na-yo.] I do not go.
가지 않았어요. [ga-ji a-na-sseo-yo.] I did not go.

버리다 [beo-ri-da] to throw away
버리지 않아요. [beo-ri-ji a-na-yo.] I do not throw (it) away.
버리지 않았어요. [beo-ri-ji a-na-sseo-yo.] I did not throw (it) away.

Compare:
집에 안 가요. [ji-be an ga-yo.] (casual)
집에 가지 않아요. [ji-be ga-ji a-na-yo.] (formal)

Some verbs use a completely different word instead of following negative patterns:
있다 [it-tta] to exist → 없다 [eop-tta] to not exist
알다 [al-da] to know → 모르다 [mo-reu-da] to not know

These are the basics of how to make negative sentences in Korean.

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3. Speaking Practice

Listen and repeat, then try short role-plays using today’s grammar.

Complete Lesson

Listen & Repeat

집에 안 가요. I am not going home.
집에 가지 않아요. I’m not going home.
그거 안 버렸어요. I did not throw it away.
그거 버리지 않았어요. I did not throw it away.

Role-Play

1)
경은: 집에 안 가요?
Are you not going home?

학습자: 네, 집에 안 가요.
No, I’m not going home.

2)
경은: 돈 있어요?
Do you have money?

학습자: 아니요, 돈 없어요.
No, I don’t have money.

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4. Review Quiz

Check your understanding with a quick quiz and lock in what you’ve learned.

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