Negative polarity (ollenkaan / lainkaan)

Emphasizing Negatives

To emphasize a negative statement (meaning "not at all"), Finnish uses the adverbs ollenkaan or lainkaan. They are completely interchangeable and are used alongside a negative verb (such as en, et, or ei).

Chronic insomnia is not an easy thing at all.
Krooninen unettomuus ei ole ollenkaan helppo asia.
I do not have any sleeping pills at all.
Minulla ei ole lainkaan unilääkkeitä.

You can use these adverbs to emphasize that an action didn't happen, highlight a total lack of a substance, or describe a complete absence of a feeling or trait.

I am more tired, because I could not doze at all.
Olen väsyneempi, koska en voinut torkkua lainkaan.
We do not have any caffeine at all.
Meillä ei ole ollenkaan kofeiinia.
He is not alert at all.
Hän ei ole lainkaan virkeä.
The student yawns all the time, because he did not doze at all at night.
Opiskelija haukottelee koko ajan, koska hän ei torkkunut yöllä ollenkaan.