Negatives (2/2)
Spanish: Cambridge International GCSE, topic 11.2.2
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).
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 Negatives (2/2)
How do you say 'but rather' in Spanish?
¿Cómo dírias 'no longer' en español?