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Negator · Grammar concept

Negator: Negator - μή

Negator - μή is a negator topic in Koine (biblical) Greek. This page gathers its forms, paradigms, and function, drawn from the lessons of Reading Greek Deeply.

Negator1 lesson5 paradigms

GrammarNegator - μή

It is quite common for languages to have different words for different kinds of negation, and Greek is no different in this respect (English has both no and not). In general, μή is the negation word that is used with non-indicative mood, while οὐ is used for indicative mood (see Semantics D for more on mood).

fromLesson 29.4

SyntaxNegator - μή

Negated clauses in subjunctive mood normally use μή. Since the subjunctive can be used in a variety of ways, μή also has different functions when used with the subjunctive. First, μή is used after ἵνα to negate the clause:

  • (272) Negating a ἵνα clause
  • ἵνα μὴ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλθωσιν εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον (Luke 16:28)
  • So that they also might not come to this place

fromLesson 29.4

Paradigms for this concept

-ος, -ον A.a.γ-ος, -α, -ον A.a.β-ε contract C.a.β-ις B.a.γ.vStrong C.a.α

Taught in these lessons

Lesson 29.4 Negator – μή

Related negator topics

Negative polarity items, constituent negation, existential negation, concord negationοὐ ‘no’

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New Testament text shown on hover: Greek from the SBLGNT, © 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0; English from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain).