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Negation

Spanish: AQA A Level, topic 18.1.1

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'

'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'

  • 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'

'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' + '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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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/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 - 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 - 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).
Ya no - no longer

Ya no - no longer

  • 'Ya no' is used before the verb and it is used by itself.
  • Ya no vivimos juntos.
    • We no longer live together.

Test yourself on Negation

  • How do you say 'I have never been to Madrid' in Spanish?

  • How do you say 'never ever' in Spanish?

  • How do you say 'but rather' in Spanish?

  • ¿Cómo dírias 'no longer' en español?

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