Negation in Spanish
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In Spanish you need the word "no" to build negations. Sentences, nouns and verbs can be negated. You can differentiate between simple and double negation.
Lesson outline
HideMeaning of "no"
The different meanings of "no" lead to many sentences having a "no" at the beginning of the sentence in the meaning of no and a second "no" before the conjugated verb in the meaning of "not".
Example dialogues:
- ¿Eres francesa? - (Are you French?)
- No, no soy francesa. Soy italiana. - (No, I'm not French. I'm Italian.)
- ¿Sabes nadar? - (Do you know how to swim?)
- No, no sé nadar. - (No I don't know how to swim.)
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Simple negation
In order to make verb phrases negative in Spanish, you simply put the word "no" in front of the conjugated verb. Therefore it stands before the auxiliary verb in compound tenses. "No" is always before the pronoun.
Example sentences:
- No trabajo el domingo. (I don't work on Sunday.)
- Carmen no tiene hijos. (Carmen doesn't have children.)
- No me gustan las películas de terror. (I don't like horror movies.)
The following rule applies: subject + "no" + pronoun + verb + object.
Double negation
In Spanish many things are double negated.Then, in addition to the particle "no", there is another expression of negation in the sentence.
The following expressions are used for a double negation:
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| nada | nothing | No veo nada. (I see nothing.) |
| nunca | never | No voy a ir nunca a la discoteca. (I will never go to the disco.) |
| nunca más | never again | Me dije que nunca más volvería a fumar. (I told myself I would never smoke again.) |
| jamás | never | El candidato jamás ganará. (The canditate will never win.) |
| ya no | anymore | Ya no tengo un perro. (I will never get a dog anymore.) |
| todavía no | not yet | No he comido todavía. (I haven't eaten yet.) |
| nadie | nobody | No he visto a nadie hoy. (I have seen nobody today.) |
| ninguno/-a | none | No compra ninguna revista. (Don't buy any magazine.) |
| tampoco | neither, not either | Pepe no está comiendo tampoco. (Pepe isn't eating either.) |
| ni | nor | No puedo encontrarlo ni descargarlo. (I can't see it nor download it.) |
| ni...ni | neither...nor | No me gusta ni el teatro ni el cine. (I don't like neither the theater nor the cinema.) |
Position of negation expressions
Before the verb
If the negation expressions are before of the verb, the particle "no" is completely eliminated.
Example sentences:
- Nada le gusta. - (He likes nothing.)
- Nadie ha venido. - (No one has come.)
- Nunca voy a ir a la discoteca. - (I will never go to the disco.)
Exception: If "todavía" or "ya" are used at the beginning of the sentence, "no" is following.
Example sentences:
- Todavía no he comido. - (I haven't eaten yet.)
- Ya no trabajo, estoy jubilado. - (I don't work anymore, I'm retired.)
Behind the verb
If the negation expressions are behind the verb, then there must be an additional "no" in front of the verb. This double negation is the common variant.
Example sentences:
- No tengo ninguna idea. - (I have no idea.)
- Carmen no ha estudiado nada. (Carmen hasn't studied anything.)
- Fernanda no conoce a nadie. (Fernanda doesn't know anyone.)
Multiple negation expressions
In Spanish it is also possible to include several negation expressions in one sentence.
Example sentences:
- Nadie sabe nada. - (Nobody knows anything.)
- Mis amigos no han dicho nada a nadie. - (My friends haven't said anything to anyone.)
- No he regalado nunca flores a nadie. - (I have never given flowers to anyone.)
In the exercises you can practice now the simple and double negation. Good luck!
Exercises
Practice the simple negation in Spanish
Form simple negative sentences.
1. Tengo hambre. (I'm hungry.) → . (I'm not hungry.)
2. Rosa vive en Sevilla. (Rosa lives in Sevilla.) → . (Rosa doesn't live in Sevilla.)
3. Estudiamos economía. (We study economy.) → . (We don't study economy.)
4. Te quiero. (I love you.) → . (I don't love you.)
5. Me gusta viajar. (I like to travel.) → . (I don't like to travel.)
6. Leona habla italiano. (Leona speaks Italian.) → . (Leona doesn't speak Italian.)
7. Hago mucho deporte. (I do a lot of sports.) → . (I don't do a lot of sports.)
8. Vamos al cine. (We go to the cinema.) → . (We don't go to the cinema.)
9. María se levanta. (María gets up.) → . (María doesn't get up.)
10. Leen mucho. (They read a lot.) → . (They don't read a lot.)
Practice the double negation in Spanish
Exercises
Practice the simple negation in Spanish
Form simple negative sentences.
1. Tengo hambre. (I'm hungry.) → . (I'm not hungry.)
2. Rosa vive en Sevilla. (Rosa lives in Sevilla.) → . (Rosa doesn't live in Sevilla.)
3. Estudiamos economía. (We study economy.) → . (We don't study economy.)
4. Te quiero. (I love you.) → . (I don't love you.)
5. Me gusta viajar. (I like to travel.) → . (I don't like to travel.)
6. Leona habla italiano. (Leona speaks Italian.) → . (Leona doesn't speak Italian.)
7. Hago mucho deporte. (I do a lot of sports.) → . (I don't do a lot of sports.)
8. Vamos al cine. (We go to the cinema.) → . (We don't go to the cinema.)
9. María se levanta. (María gets up.) → . (María doesn't get up.)
10. Leen mucho. (They read a lot.) → . (They don't read a lot.)
Practice the double negation in Spanish
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I'm specialized in teaching a foreign language to students with learning difficulties.
I have experience in teaching Modern Greek to children and adults of various levels, from absolute beginners to advanced students. My teaching depends on my students, their needs, their interests and their level in Greek language.
The materials I use during the learning journey are updated and colorful learning materials – the materials are structured in accordance with the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR). Furthermore, I use interactive material, like videos, music, and up-to-date software, where the student gets engaged during the learning process.
My goal is to maintain my students enthusiasm and curiosity during this learning journey. I make sure my students improve their speaking skills and get results so that they can talk with confidence to Greek speakers.
Book your trial lesson and we will discuss your language needs in detail.
I look forward to meeting you. Ya sou!
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Eleni has taught English and Greek since years. She adaptes her lessons according students age, level and needs. Students can learn with personalized lessons as Eleni creates her own courses. Moreover she tries to keep students motivated and involved on their learning by different tools : songs, grammar exercises, understanding and very original lessons on Greek traditions. I recommend her !
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Ivana is a very open and communicative teacher who will help you improve your English and Croatian skills. With more than 15 years of teaching experience, she knows what is important and can help you with your problems. You will get an exciting and interesting lesson, so don't hesitate and book your first lesson with Ivana now!
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My name is Karolin and since the beginning of 2017, while I was still living in Chile, I've been giving online classes. I really enjoy my work and it gives me the privilage to get to know people from all around the world, which is amazing.
Both in English and in German, I teach classes for beginners and advanced students. I speak Spanish fluently, but as I lived in Chile for around 5 years, both my pronounciation and my choice of words are influenced by that. I learned and teach the european Spanish but only for beginners (A1/A2). But if you don't mind the chilenean influence, I do teach to a higher level as well.
If you'd like to get to know me and my teaching methods, just contact me and we will do a free trial lesson (please do NOT by a lesson before the trial lesson, not every teacher is good for every student).
See you soon!
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