Negation

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Just the 'Nada' Bit

Putting 'no' before a verb makes the phrase negative. 'No hablo inglés' means I don't speak English. 'Nada' is added on to create the meaning of 'nothing' or 'anything'.

'No'

Adding 'no' is the most simple way that we can turn a Spanish sentence into a negative. The 'no' will usually come before the verb.
- Me gustan las verduras → No me gustan las verduras.
  - I like vegetables → I do not like vegetables.
'No' comes after verbs of belief, hope and desire.
- Creo que no.
  - I don't think so.
'Que no' is used in short answers when there is no need to repeat a previous statement.

'No'

No hago ejercicio.
- I don't do exercise.
No como carne.
- I don't eat meat.
No bebemos alcohol.
- We don't drink alcohol.

'No' + 'nada'

'Nada' is used with 'no', in a double negation.
'No' comes before the verb and 'nada' comes after.
- No queremos hacer nada.
  - We don't want to do anything.
Occasionally 'nada' is used without 'no', but this is a very formal style.
- Nada justifica el terrorismo.
  - Nothing justifies terrorism.

'No' + 'nada'

No haces nada
- You do nothing.
No tenemos nada que comer.
- We don't have anything to eat.
No te gusta nada.
- You like nothing.

Negatives

We can describe when something is not there in lots of different ways:

Nadie - no one, nobody

'Nadie' is used with 'no', 'nadie' comes after the verb.
- No hay nadie en casa.
  - There is no one at home.
"Nadie' takes an impersonal 'a' when it is the object of the sentence.
- No veo a nadie.
  - I cannot see anyone.
'Nadie' can occasionally start a sentence as well, this is the only time it is used without 'no'.
- Nadie quiere salir cuando hace frío.
  - Nobody wants to go outside when it is cold.

Tampoco - neither

'Tampoco' can be used by itself before the verb.
- Yo tampoco sé nadar.
  - I can't swim either.
'Tampoco' can be used after the verb if 'no' comes before the verb.
- María no se gusta correr tampoco.
  - Maria doesn't like to run either.

Nunca - never

'Nunca' is used in a double negative construction as well as on its own.
- No he ido nunca al cine.
  - I have never been to the cinema.
- Nunca me olvidaré de Argentina.
  - I will never forget Argentina.
'Nunca' can also be used with other negatives.
- Nunca he visto a nadie tan alto.
  - I have never seen anyone so tall.

Jamás - never

'Jamás' is a close synonym to 'nunca'. It is used less frequently and it is more formal. It has the same uses.
- Jamás quiero volver a Bélgica.
  - I never want to return to Belgium.
'Jamás' is also used with 'nunca' to form the expression 'nunca jamás', meaning 'never ever'.
- Nunca jamás volveré a Birmingham.
  - I will never return to Birmingham.

Negatives 2

In Spanish there are different words to express the negative action. The position of them varies. They can be used on their own or in a double negative construction.

Ningún, ninguno/a/os/as - none, not one

'Ningún, ninguno' can be used as an adjective.
- No existe ningún problema. (there is no problem).
'Ningún, ninguno' can be used as a pronoun and it refers to objects or people.
It agrees with the gender and person with the nouns that it replace.
- Ninguna de las dos opciones tuvo éxito. (None of the two options were succesful).

Ni...ni - neither...nor

'Ni...ni' can be used in a double negative construction with 'no' or by itself.
It 'ni' is before the verb then 'no' is usually not needed in modern Spanish.
- Ella no quiere ni agua ni café. (She doesn't want neither water nor coffee).
- E.g. Ni más ni menos. (No more no less).
'Ni' is also used with 'siquiera' to mean 'not even'.
- E.g. Ni siquiera tengo un trabajo. (I don't even have a job).

Sino - but rather

'Sino' is always used in the second part of a negative statement, to correct the previous statement.
- No me gustan las películas de terror sino las películas de comedía. (I don't like horror films but rather comedies).
When two verbs are conjugated, you must use 'sino que'.
- No juego al fútbol sino que juego al rugby. (I don't play football, but rather I play rugby).
When 'no sólo' is used, you must use 'sino también'.
- Mi amiga no sólo es simpática sino también guapa. (My friend is not only nice but also beautiful).