11.2.3

Just the 'Nada' Bit

Test yourself

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'.

Illustrative background for 'No'Illustrative background for 'No' ?? "content

'No'

  • Adding 'no' is the most simple way to make a sentence negative in Spanish. 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.
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'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.
Illustrative background for 'No' + 'nada'Illustrative background for 'No' + 'nada' ?? "content

'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.
Illustrative background for 'No' + 'nada'Illustrative background for 'No' + 'nada' ?? "content

'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.

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1The Basics

2Everyday Activities

3Personal & Social Life

4The World Around Us

5The World of Work

6The International World

7Listening

7.1Time Expressions - Listening

7.2The Human Body & Health - Listening

7.3Food & Drink - Listening

7.4Travel & Transport - Listening

7.5Self, Family & Friends - Listening

7.6In the Home - Listening

7.7Colours - Listening

7.8Clothes & Accesories - Listening

7.9Leisure Time - Listening

7.10People & Places - Listening

7.11The Environment - Listening

7.12Communications & Technology - Listening

7.13The Built Environment - Listening

7.14Measurements - Listening

7.15Materials - Listening

7.16The World of Work - Listening

7.17Culture, Customs, Faith & Celebrations

8Common Tenses

8.1Present Tense

8.2Preterite Tense

8.3Imperfect Tense

8.4Preterite vs Imperfect Tenses

8.5Future Tense

9Important Verbs

10Advanced Tenses

10.1Future

10.2Conditional

10.3Continuous Tenses

10.4Perfect Tense

10.5Passive

10.6Present Subjunctive

10.7Imperfect Subjunctive

10.8Imperative

11Extra Grammar

11.1Articles

11.2Negatives

11.3Nouns

11.4Asking Questions

11.5Adjectives

11.6Adverbs

11.7Conjunctions

11.8Pronouns

11.9Prepositions

11.10Verbs

11.11Comparisons & Superlative

11.12Numbers, Expressions of Quantity, Dates & Times

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