N550/133

い-Adjectives くない

い-Adjective + くないい-Adjective + くないですい-Adjective + くありません

Meanings

  • not an i-adjective
  • negative form of i-adjective
  • not/does not have the quality described by the adjective

About this pattern

Explanation

This grammar is used to negate i-adjectives in plain, polite, or polite formal contexts. Take the い ending of an i-adjective, drop the い, and add くない for plain negation, or くないです / くありません for polite negation. It describes that something does not have the stated quality (not expensive, not big, not interesting, etc.). It is common in everyday conversation and basic writing. Remember to keep the adjective stem unchanged before adding くない.

Learn in context

Example sentences

この本は高い。 → この本は高くない。

This book is expensive. → This book is not expensive.

この靴は軽くないです。

These shoes are not light.

今日は暑くないです。

It isn’t hot today.

このバッグは大きくないです。

This bag isn’t big.

その映画は長くないです。

That movie isn’t long.

このシャツは安くないです。

This shirt isn’t cheap.