Negatives

Spanish: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 11.2.2

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).

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

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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