In Spanish, negation is straightforward and typically involves placing the word no before the verb. For example:
- Yo no hablo (I do not speak)
If there are negative words like nada (nothing), nadie (nobody), ningún/ninguna (none), nunca (never), or jamás (never), they usually follow the verb, and no is also used before the verb:
- No veo nada (I don’t see anything)
- No hay nadie (There is no one)
- No tengo ningún libro (I don’t have any book)
- No voy nunca (I never go)
Alternatively, you can omit the initial no when the negative word comes first in the sentence for emphasis:
- Nada veo (Nothing do I see) — more poetic or formal
Remember, double negatives are common and grammatically correct in Spanish, unlike in English.
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Table of Contents
- Simple Negations
Simple negations in Spanish, focusing on the use of no to express straightforward negative statements.
- Double Negatives
Double negatives in Spanish, how multiple negative words work together to express negation without creating a positive meaning.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
