When you want to say something is not happening in Italian, you need to follow some simple rules. It can be a little trickier, but I’ll make it easy for you. Here’s how it works:

1. Basic Rule: To say "no" in Italian, you put the word "non" right before the verb. For example:

   • "Io mangio" (I eat) turns into "Io non mangio" (I do not eat).

2. Present Tense: Just remember to place "non" right before the verb:

   • "Loro partono" (They leave) becomes "Loro non partono" (They do not leave).

3. Past Tense: For talking about things that happened before (like using the passato prossimo), "non" goes before the helping verb:

   • "Ho mangiato" (I ate) changes to "Non ho mangiato" (I did not eat).

4. Future Tense: When you talk about things that will happen, you still put "non" before the verb:

   • "Partirò" (I will leave) becomes "Non partirò" (I will not leave).

5. Special Words: If you want to say "nobody" or "nothing," use "nessuno" or "niente" along with "non".

Using "non" to make something negative in Italian is simple. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll sound more natural when you speak!