Negation
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
Mi vecino las escaleras corriendo.
My neighbor never runs down the stairs.
The rule
The basic rule is simple: put no before the verb. But Spanish also uses double negatives (no tengo nada), which is the opposite of English grammar rules. Understanding this pattern is important because double negatives are required, not optional, in standard Spanish.
The pattern
Put no right before the verb.
No + verb
No hablo = I do not speak
No tengo = I do not have
Words like nada (nothing), nadie (nobody), nunca / jamás (never), tampoco (neither / not either), and ninguno (none) also make a sentence negative. When one of these comes after the verb, you must also put no before the verb. The double negative is the only correct form.
No + verb + negative word
No tengo nada = I have nothing
No conozco a nadie = I do not know anyone
A negative word can come before the verb instead. In that position, drop the no. This order is more emphatic or literary. The no + verb + negative word order is the everyday default.
Negative word + verb
Nunca voy = I never go
Nada tengo = I have nothing
Use ninguno when no noun follows: No tengo ninguno. Before a masculine singular noun, it shortens to ningún: No tengo ningún libro.
Examples
- No quiero salir esta nocheI do not want to go out tonight
- No tengo nada en mi mochilaI have nothing in my backpack
- No conozco a nadie aquíI do not know anyone here
- No voy nunca a ese restauranteI never go to that restaurant
- Nunca he estado allíI have never been there
- Tampoco quiero caféI do not want coffee either
- No tengo ningún problemaI do not have any problem
Watch out
- No tengo algo. No tengo nada.After a negative verb, use nada, not algo.
- Tengo nada. No tengo nada.A negative word after the verb requires no before the verb.
- No nunca voy. Nunca voy.When nunca comes before the verb, no is dropped.
- No tengo ninguno libro. No tengo ningún libro.Before a masculine singular noun, ninguno shortens to ningún.