Expressions of absence may be counted as a subgroup of expressions of possession, but are negated. They usually show that subject do not possess the object (which may be not a material object but an abstract quality). Absence in Nûrlâm may be expressed with five different constructions:

1. Negated verb of possession + object in accusative case;
2. Negation of object in comitative case;
3. Object of possession becomes grammatical subject;
4. Impersonal clause with object in genitive case (usually in subordinate sentences);
5. Short colloquial form.

Typical verbs that express ownership in Nûrlâm are “tabz-” (to possess, to own) and “brus-” (to have [got]). To express absence they should be negated by prefix “nar-”. This way looks like calque from English and is mostly used in colloquial speech. Example: “You have no power here!” = “Finarbrus bal zin!”.

Straightforward translation of English preposition “without” is done by adding negative particle “nar” after postposition of comitative case “sha” (with). Example: “Fikul balshanar zin” = “You're without power here!”

Object of (lacked) possession may be raised to grammatical subject the following way:

1. Object is being put into nominative case, thus becoming the subject.
2. Absence of possession is expressed by prefix “nar-” added to the verb “kul-” (to be) which is frequently omitted, thus often just by particle “nar”.
3. Subject of possession becomes grammatical object being put into comitative case.

For example: “You have no power here!” = “Finarbrus bal zin!” ⇒ “Bal nar(kulâ) (zin) fisha!” (“Balnarfisha”, lit. “Power isn't (here) with you!”)

Impersonal clauses may be used to translate English negative existential clauses “there is/are no…”:

1. Dummy subject “there” is not used in Nûrlâm
2. The verb “to be” (kûl) is usually omitted in present tense
3. Object is put into genitive case.

Example 1: “He runs like there is no tomorrow” = “Takhîg oth nar ârshabob”.

Example 2¹⁾: “Nar balob fisha” = “There is no power with you!”

The 4th form may be further reduced colloquially in short sentences. Just use the noun in default form and the particle “nar” as separate word: “There is no light”: “Ghâzh nar” (literally “no light”).

 Please note, that English impersonal expressions of prohibition like “No way!” or “No smoking!” do not mean absence and are translated differently: “no way” = “nararz”²⁾ = “nardabhaga”³⁾, “no smoking” = “trim nardabhaga”⁴⁾.