In this unit we will study negation in K’iche’. We will use the particles na and ta(j) to create negative sencences.

Verb negation

Negative clauses in K’iche’ require two negation particles: na preceding the predicate head–which can be a verb, adjective, noun or pronoun–and ta(j) following it. Na is often deleted in colloquial speech. There are two variants of the second particle: taj in phrase-final position and ta elsewhere.

To answer “no” in K’iche’, the whole verb phrase is repeated and negated.

La kixwarik? La k-ix-warik? INT INC-2pl-sleep-pfm Are you all sleeping?

Na kujwar taj. Na     k-uj-war         taj Neg1 INC-1pl-sleep Neg2 We aren’t sleeping.

Na kujwar ta waral. Na     k-uj-war         ta       waral Neg1 INC-1pl-sleep Neg2 here We don’t sleep here.

Na kawar ta la. Na ka-ø-war ta la Neg1 INC-ø-sleep Neg2 2singF You aren’t sleeping. (Second person singular, formal)

Here are a couple more examples:

La katb’in pa le uxlanb’al? La k-at-b’in pa le uxlanb’al? INT INC-2sing-walk loc. art. park Are you walking to the park?

Na kimb’in taj. Na k-im-b’in taj Neg1 INC-1sing-walk Neg2 I am not walking.

La kixpe pa tijob’al? La k-ix-pe pa tijob’al? INT INC-2pl-come loc. school Are y’all coming to school?

Na kojpe taj. Na k-oj-pe taj Neg1 INC-1pl-come Neg2 We are not coming.

 

These are some more common intransitive verb roots:

b’in(ik)	to walk, to travel
b’e(k)	to go
pe(tik)	to come
kape le jab’	“it starts to rain”
kos(ik)	to be/become tired
qaj(ik)	to descend, to go down
kinqaj chuwach le juyub’.	“I descend the mountain”
wa'(ik)	to eat
ch’aw(ik)	to talk
ka’y(ik)	to see, to look
chakun(ik)	to work
kam(ik)	to die
war(ik)	to sleep
b’ixan(ik)	to sing
ki’kot(ik)	to be happy
b’ison(ik)	to be unhappy, sad
t’uyi'(k)	to sit
tak’i'(k)	to stand

 

You will hear a series of questions. Listen carefully and answer them both in the positive and the negative:

Answers

1. Je’ kinchakunik; Na kinchakun taj.
2. Je’ kaki’kot le achi; Na kaki’kot ta le achi.
3. Je’ kakos le b’anal si’; Na kakos ta le b’anal si’.
4. Je’ kape jab’; Na kape ta le jab’.
5. Je’ kimb’isonik; Na kimb’ison taj.
6. Je’ kojb’e awuk’ pa le nimatijob’al; Na kojb’e ta awuk’ pa le nimatijob’al.
7. Je’ kojwa’ik; Na kojwa’ taj.