Taking a new look at Cornish grammar 29 (negative subject pronouns)

There are some negative versions of indefinite pronouns which are used in negative sentences, with a negative verb. Unlike English, where we avoid a double negative and can say “Nobody came”, in Cornish we have to use a double negative to say “Nobody didn’t come”. 

The main negative indicators to look out for are nag not (used in place of neb) and veth no, none, not any.

nagonan	no-one, nobody, none, not one
den veth den’eth	nobody, no-one
tra veth	nothing

Here are some examples:

Nag eus nagonan obma. SWFM Nyns eus nagonan omma.	There is nobody here. There isn’t anybody here.
Nag era den veth ena. SWFM Nyns esa den vyth ena.	There was nobody there. There wasn’t anyone there.
Na veu den’eth en chei. SWFM Ny veu den’yth yn chi.	There was nobody home (in the house). There wasn’t anyone home.
Na or den veth. SWFM Ny wor den vyth.	Nobody knows.
Nag eus tra veth e’n gisten. SWFM Nyns eus tra vyth y’n gisten.	There is nothing in the box. There isn’t anything in the box.
Nag ew nagonan a bris. SWFM Nyns yw nagonan a bris.	No-one is important.
Nag ew tra veth dhe les. SWFM Nyns yw tra vyth dhe les.	Nothing is interesting.