DELE A2 Preperation Guide: Spanish Negative Words

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Key Takeaways

• Master essential negative words: nada, nadie, ninguno, nunca, tampoco
• Learn the “double negative” rule in Spanish
• Understand proper placement of negative words in sentences
• Practice with DELE-focused scenarios for exam success

Welcome to your complete guide to Spanish Negative Words. Unlike English, Spanish frequently uses double (and sometimes triple!) negatives, which can be confusing for learners. Mastering negative words is essential for expressing absence, denial, and contradiction on the DELE A2 exam.

Essential Negative Words

Spanish	English	Usage
nada	nothing, not…anything	Things, objects
nadie	nobody, no one, not…anyone	People
ninguno/a	no, none, not…any	Quantity, selection
nunca	never, not…ever	Time, frequency
jamás	never, not…ever (stronger)	Time, frequency
tampoco	neither, not…either	Agreement in negative

Forming Negative Sentences

Rule 1: The Double Negative
In Spanish, using multiple negative words in one sentence is correct and common:

Examples:

• “No veo a nadie.” (I don’t see anyone.)
• “No quiero nada.” (I don’t want anything.)
• “Nunca como nada picante.” (I never eat anything spicy.)

Rule 2: Placement Matters
Negative words can go before or after the verb, but meaning changes:

Before the verb = stronger negation:

• “Nadie viene.” (Nobody is coming.)

After the verb (with “no”) = standard negation:

• “No viene nadie.” (Nobody is coming.)

Detailed Usage and Examples

NADA (Nothing/Not…Anything)

• “No tengo nada que hacer.” (I have nothing to do.)
• “Nada es imposible.” (Nothing is impossible.)
• “¿Qué quieres?” – “Nada.” (What do you want? – Nothing.)

NADIE (Nobody/No one)

• “No conozco a nadie aquí.” (I don’t know anyone here.)
• “Nadie sabe la respuesta.” (Nobody knows the answer.)
• “¿Quién viene?” – “Nadie.” (Who is coming? – Nobody.)

NINGUNO/A (None/Not any)
Important: Becomes ningún before masculine singular nouns:

• “No tengo ningún problema.” (I don’t have any problem.)
• “No veo ninguna solución.” (I don’t see any solution.)
• “¿Cuál prefieres?” – “Ninguno.” (Which one do you prefer? – None.)

NUNCA/JAMÁS (Never)

• “Nunca voy al cine.” (I never go to the cinema.)
• “No voy nunca al teatro.” (I never go to the theater.)
• “Jamás olvidaré este día.” (I will never forget this day.)

TAMPOCO (Neither/Not either)
Used to agree with a negative statement:

• “No me gusta el café.” – “A mí tampoco.” (I don’t like coffee. – Me neither.)
• “No voy a la fiesta.” – “Yo tampoco.” (I’m not going to the party. – Me neither.)

DELE A2 Practical Scenarios

Social Situations:

• “No conozco a nadie en esta ciudad.” (I don’t know anyone in this city.)
• “Nunca salgo los lunes.” (I never go out on Mondays.)
• “No quiero nada de beber, gracias.” (I don’t want anything to drink, thank you.)

Work and Study:

• “No tengo ninguna pregunta.” (I don’t have any questions.)
• “Nadie terminó la tarea.” (Nobody finished the homework.)
• “No entendí nada de la lección.” (I didn’t understand anything from the lesson.)

Daily Life:

• “No como nunca comida rápida.” (I never eat fast food.)
• “No veo a nadie en la calle.” (I don’t see anyone in the street.)
• “Ningún supermercado está abierto.” (No supermarket is open.)

Important Grammar Rules

1. “A” Personal with Nadie:
Use “a” before “nadie” when it’s a direct object:

• “No veo a nadie.” (I don’t see anyone.)

2. Ninguno becomes Ningún:

• “ningún libro” (not “ninguno libro”)
• “ninguna casa” (feminine stays the same)

3. Multiple Negatives:

• “No hago nunca nada los domingos.” (I never do anything on Sundays.)
• “Nadie tiene ningún problema.” (Nobody has any problem.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Avoiding Double Negatives:

• ✅ “No quiero nada.” (correct Spanish)
• ❌ “Quiero nada.” (incorrect)

2. Forgetting the “A Personal”:

• ✅ “No veo a nadie.”
• ❌ “No veo nadie.”

3. Wrong Form of Ninguno:

• ✅ “ningún hombre”
• ❌ “ninguno hombre”

DELE A2 Exam Tips

1. Speaking Section: Use negative words to express absence and denial
2. Writing Section: Show mastery of double negative structures
3. Listening Section: Recognize negative statements in conversations
4. Key Contexts: Personal preferences, daily routines, social situations

Practice Exercises

Transform these sentences to negative:

1. “Veo a alguien.” → ___
2. “Tengo algún problema.” → ___
3. “Siempre estudio por la tarde.” → ___

Complete the responses:

1. “No me gusta el fútbol.” – “___”
2. “No voy a la playa.” – “___”

Answers:

1. No veo a nadie. 2. No tengo ningún problema. 3. Nunca estudio por la tarde.
   Responses: 1. A mí tampoco. 2. Yo tampoco.

Memory Aids

• Double negatives are correct in Spanish
• Ninguno → ningún before masculine nouns
• Use “a” before nadie as direct object
• Tampoco for “me neither”

Pronunciation Tips

• nada (NAH-dah)
• nadie (NAH-dyeh)
• ningún (neen-GOON)
• nunca (NOON-kah)

Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to master negative words?

Take our DELE A2 Negative Words Quiz here to ensure you’re prepared for the exam.

What’s Next in Your DELE A2 Journey?

• Need basic review? Study DELE A1 Negation
• Ready for related topics? Review DELE A2 Sentence Structure
• Want more practice? Learn DELE A2 Adverbs of Frequency
• Practice all A2 grammar? Return to DELE A2 Grammar Hub

Looking for a deeper dive?
This guide covers the essentials for the DELE A2 exam. If you want to explore more negative expressions, advanced placement rules, and nuanced usage, check out our complete guide: Spanish Negative Words: The Complete Guide

Master negative words and you’ll be able to express denial, absence, and contradiction with confidence in Spanish!