Just the 'Nada' Bit
Spanish: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 11.2.1
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'
- 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.
'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.