Sophie Song

Why we can’t say “昨天我不见到他？ 他一年以前没会说汉语。”

Because “不” and “没” the two words, as adverbs, are both used for negative purpose. But they are different in the following point.

1. “不” is used to negate the nature or state of something, while 没 (有) means the ownership or existence of something.

那本书不是英文书。

书包里没有书。

2. “不” is used to negate a statement about the future, while 没 (有) about the past.

So we should say: 昨天我没见到他？

3. “不” usually collocates with words like “会，可以，是，像，能” ect, to negate a hobby, possibility and willingness, but “没” has no usage like this.

So we should say: 他一年以前不会说汉语。

4. “不” is used to negate non-action verbs as well as action verbs, but 没 (有) to negate action verbs only.

我不认识她。

没去，没写

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