[Common Mistakes] ないで cannot be used to express a reason or cause
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Today, I am going to share a homework correction from my Japanese Course!
The student’s sentence is not quite correct. Can you find the mistake?
[Student’s sentence]
家族に会えないで、さびしいです。
*かぞくにあえないで、さびしいです。
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[My correction]
家族に会えないで、さびしいです。
→ 家族に会えなくて、さびしいです。
I feel lonely because I can’t see my family.
「〜なくて」 implies a reason or cause, meaning “because you don’t/can’t do something, so…”. On the other hand, 「〜ないで」 expresses “the state of not doing something” or “without doing.”
Since you feel lonely because you can’t see your family, you should use the 「なくて」 form to express the cause.
Examples:
彼(かれ)に会えなくて、残念(ざんねん)です。
I’m sorry because I couldn’t meet him.
電車(でんしゃ)が来(こ)なくて、遅刻(ちこく)しました。
I was late because the train didn’t come.
In contrast, use 「〜ないで」 when expressing doing something without doing something else.
Examples:
彼女(かのじょ)は朝(あさ)ごはんを食(た)べないで、学校(がっこう)へ行(い)きました。
She went to school without eating breakfast.
テレビを見(み)ないで、勉強(べんきょう)します。
I study without watching TV.
I hope my explanation helps you.😊
I interact like the above correction with my JLPT All-in-One Course student. (Today’s homework sentence is from the N4, elementary level. Not sure of your Japanese level? Then take a level test here.) I can explain in English or Japanese, depending on your level.
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