A1 Spanish GrammarNegation
Make negative sentences in Spanish using no and negative words like nada, nadie, nunca, and ninguno. Learn the essential rule of double negatives, which are required in Spanish.
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1Basic Negation with No
To make a sentence negative in Spanish, place no directly before the verb. Unlike English, Spanish doesn't use auxiliary verbs like 'do/does' for negation. Simply add no before any conjugated verb.
Basic Negation
| Affirmative | Negative | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hablo español | No hablo español | I don't speak Spanish |
| Tengo tiempo | No tengo tiempo | I don't have time |
| Ella viene | Ella no viene | She isn't coming |
| Es bueno | No es bueno | It isn't good |
Examples
No entiendo.
I don't understand.
no directly before verb
No tengo hambre.
I'm not hungry.
no before tener
Él no trabaja hoy.
He doesn't work today.
subject + no + verb
No es mi libro.
It's not my book.
no before ser
2Negative Words (Palabras Negativas)
Spanish has several negative words: nada (nothing), nadie (nobody), nunca/jamás (never), ninguno (none/no one), tampoco (neither/not either). These can be used alone or with no.
Negative Words
| Spanish | English | Opposite |
|---|---|---|
| nada | nothing | algo (something) |
| nadie | nobody | alguien (somebody) |
| nunca / jamás | never | siempre (always) |
| ninguno/a | none, no one | alguno/a (some) |
| tampoco | neither, not either | también (also) |
| ni...ni | neither...nor | o...o (either...or) |
Examples
No quiero nada.
I don't want anything.
no + verb + nada
No conozco a nadie.
I don't know anybody.
no + verb + nadie
Nunca como carne.
I never eat meat.
nunca before verb (no 'no')
Yo tampoco.
Me neither.
tampoco = also not
3Double Negatives (Required!)
Unlike English, Spanish REQUIRES double negatives. When a negative word comes after the verb, you must also use no before the verb. This is grammatically correct and mandatory in Spanish.
Double Negative Patterns
| Pattern | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| no + verb + nada | No veo nada | I don't see anything |
| no + verb + nadie | No hay nadie | There's nobody |
| no + verb + nunca | No viene nunca | He never comes |
| negative first (no 'no') | Nadie viene | Nobody comes |
Examples
No hay nada en la nevera.
There's nothing in the fridge.
double negative required
No veo a nadie.
I don't see anybody.
a nadie (personal a)
Nadie habla.
Nobody speaks.
nadie first = no 'no' needed
Nunca he estado allí.
I've never been there.
nunca first = no 'no' needed
4Ninguno/Ninguna and Ni...Ni
Ninguno means 'none' or 'not any' and agrees in gender. Before masculine nouns, it shortens to ningún. Ni...ni means 'neither...nor' and is used to negate two or more items.
Ninguno Forms
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ningún | before masc. noun | ningún libro |
| ninguno | standalone masc. | No tengo ninguno |
| ninguna | before/standalone fem. | ninguna idea |
| ni...ni | neither...nor | ni café ni té |
Examples
No tengo ningún problema.
I don't have any problem.
ningún before masculine noun
No hay ninguna respuesta.
There's no answer.
ninguna with feminine noun
No quiero ni café ni té.
I want neither coffee nor tea.
ni...ni with no
Ni yo tampoco.
Not me either.
ni + tampoco for emphasis
Practice Exercises
3 exercises
How do you say 'I don't understand' in Spanish?
Complete: 'No quiero ___.' (I don't want anything.)
Complete: 'No conozco a ___.' (I don't know anybody.)
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