GRAMMAR DETAIL
～ません
Follows the connective form of a verb to politely negate a present habit or future action.
Examples
今日は肉を食べません。
I will not eat meat today.
Words used
私は甘い飲み物を買いません。
I do not buy sweet drinks.
Words used
明日は車を使いません。
I will not use the car tomorrow.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Attach
ませんto the same stem used withます. - Basic usage: It politely negates a habit or future action, as in
明日は車を使いません。.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Stems and negative forms
- Change the polite ending as in
食べます → 食べませんand買います → 買いません. The stem differs from the plain negative買わない.
- Change the polite ending as in
- Time and context
毎日は飲みませんmeans that the person does not drink every day, while明日は飲みませんnegates tomorrow's action. To say it did not happen in the past, use飲みませんでした.