Basic Negation

Spanish: La negación básica

Level: A1 Beginner

Category: negation

Explanation

In Spanish, making a sentence negative is very simple: you just place the word "no" right before the verb. For example, "Hablo español" (I speak Spanish) becomes "No hablo español" (I don't speak Spanish). The "no" always goes before the verb, never after. Unlike English, Spanish uses double negation naturally and correctly. When we use negative words like "nada" (nothing), "nadie" (nobody), or "nunca" (never) after the verb, we also need to put "no" before the verb. For example: "No quiero nada" (I don't want anything) or "No viene nadie" (Nobody is coming). In English a double negative is wrong, but in Spanish it is required. However, if the negative word comes before the verb, we no longer need the "no". Compare: "No viene nadie" and "Nadie viene". Both sentences mean the same thing, but in the second one, "nadie" is already before the verb, so the "no" disappears. These words are very useful in daily conversations, for example when you are at a café and say "No quiero nada más, gracias" (I don't want anything else, thanks) or when you explain "Nunca bebo café por la noche" (I never drink coffee at night).

Examples

• No quiero nada más, gracias. - I don't want anything else, thanks.
• No tengo dinero en efectivo. - I don't have cash.
• Nunca bebo café por la noche. - I never drink coffee at night.
• No hay nadie en la recepción. - There is nobody at the reception.
• No entiendo el menú. - I don't understand the menu.