Elementary - Grade 5
Lesson 3: Negative Commands
(-지 마세요)
How to say "Please don't..."
You've learned how to make negative statements like "I don't go" (가지 않아요).
This grammar is different! This is how you politely *tell someone else* not to do something.
The pattern is simple: Verb Stem + -지 마세요. It translates to "Please don't..."
The One and Only Rule
This grammar is easy because it doesn't care about vowels or consonants. You just add -지 마세요 to the verb stem (after dropping `다`).
Verb Stem + -지 마세요
"Please don't go."
"Please don't eat."
"Please don't study."
Don't mix them up!
Be careful not to confuse a negative statement (what *is*) with a negative command (what someone *shouldn't do*).
-
Statement (안 / -지 않다):
안 가요 / 가지 않아요.
"I am not going." / "He is not going." -
Command (-지 마세요):
가지 마세요!
"Please don't go!" (Telling *you* not to go)
Example Commands
-
걱정하지 마세요.
"Please don't worry." (from 걱정하다 - to worry)
-
여기 앉지 마세요.
"Please don't sit here." (from 앉다 - to sit)
-
사진 찍지 마세요.
"Please don't take pictures." (from 사진 찍다 - to take a picture)