What's new

Difference between -nakute and -naide form.

Tsurugi

後輩
16 Apr 2008
41
1
18
This is something I never could remember.When should I change the negative form of the verb with "nakute",and when with "naide"?

For example-should I say

Watashi wa Nihonjin de wa nakute,Montenegurojin desu.

Or

Watashi wa Nihonjin de wa naide,Montenegurojin desu.
 
Afaik one would normally use nakute in this situation, as thats what you would use with a negative. Nai de kinda sounds like "without" to me.
Like "iwanai de tsuzuke", "continue without saying [it]".
Although thats only what my instincts tell me. From what I know, in your case that de should be the -te form of the copula.
 
~nakute is the negative ~te form conjugation, your first sentence uses it correctly. You can also use it for such structures as "~nakutemo ii," "~nakutewa ikenai."

~nai de cannot be used interchangeably with ~nakute (so your second sentence doesn't work). It could mean "without" as in Derfel's examples. It is also used in negative requests, like "shinai de kudasai."
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom