In Finnish there is no word exactly corresponding to the English words ‘not,’ ‘no.’ Instead there is a negative verb, consisting of a root combined with the personal terminations, and which may be literally translated ‘not I,’ ‘not thou,’ ‘not it,’ etc.
The root of this verb in the present is e or ei, and it is conjugated as below.
| Sing. | Plur. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | en | emme |
| 2. | et | ette |
| 3. | ei | eivät |
The forms for the imperative are formed from the root äl or el.
| Sing. | Plur. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | —— | älkäämme, elkäämme |
| 2. | älä, elä | älkäätte, elkäätte, or älkää, elkää |
The optative is formed similarly.
| Sing. | Plur. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2. | ällös or ellös | —— |
| 3. | älköön or elköön | älkööt or elkööt |
There is also a form used in dubitative or conditional sentences.
| Sing. | Plur. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | ellen | ellemme |
| 2. | ellet | ellette |
| 3. | ellei | elleivät |
This form is used in composition with the present or conditional: minä tulen, ellei paha ilma estä, I will come if the bad weather does not stop me. Elleivät olisi kotona, in case they are not at home.