Re: Query: Negative usage of DE.

mirror wrote:
Hello,

In Drohan's "Handbook of Japanese Usage" under the entry for NARA
DE WA Drohan says the DE in this structure is the negative
conjunction DE. What gives here? Since when does the DE/TE
structure possess a negative sense?

It's not the one you're thinking of. This is the て of the negative
auxiliary verb ぬ・ず. The evolution goes something like this: にて→んて
→んで→で.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Query: Negative usage of DE.
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