Kannada grammar
Kannada negation — ಅಲ್ಲ vs. ಇಲ್ಲ
Kannada splits negation the same way Telugu does: ಅಲ್ಲ (alla) negates identity/description ("is not"), while ಇಲ್ಲ (illa) negates existence, possession, or a completed action — and is also the everyday word for "no."
This is not a book
ಇದು ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಅಲ್ಲ
idu pustaka alla
ಅಲ್ಲ negates an identity/description statement.
No (plain answer)
ಇಲ್ಲ
illa
The default way to say "no."
There is no water here
ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರು ಇಲ್ಲ
illi nīru illa
ಇಲ್ಲ negates existence.
I don't have money
ನನ್ನ ಬಳಿ ಹಣ ಇಲ್ಲ
nanna baḷi haṇa illa
ಇಲ್ಲ negates possession.
He didn't come
ಅವನು ಬರಲಿಲ್ಲ
avanu baralilla
ಇಲ್ಲ combines with the verb base to negate a past action.
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