Learning how to form negative sentences is a fundamental skill for any Spanish learner, especially for the DELE A1 exam. While in English we primarily use “not” and “no” to create negatives, Spanish offers a variety of words like no, nada, nadie, and ninguno to express negation.
This complete guide will break down each of these essential negative words, providing clear rules, practical examples, and common patterns to help you master Spanish negatives with confidence.
The Basic Rule: Where to Place “No”
The most fundamental negative word in Spanish is no. Unlike English, where “not” typically comes after the verb (with auxiliaries), in Spanish, no always comes directly before the verb.
- English: I do not understand.
- Spanish: No entiendo. (I don’t understand)
This simple rule applies to almost all verbs:
- No hablo. (I don’t speak.)
- No comemos. (We don’t eat.)
- No van. (They don’t go.)
Beyond “No”: Other Essential Negative Words
To express more specific negatives like “nothing,” “nobody,” or “none,” Spanish uses a set of specific words that often work together with no.
1. Nada (Nothing, Anything)
Nada means “nothing” or “anything.” It is used when referring to things or concepts.
Placement:
- After the verb: Typically, nada comes after the verb. In this case, you still need no before the verb.
- No quiero nada. (I don’t want anything.)
- No hay nada en la mesa. (There is nothing on the table.)
- Before the verb: For emphasis, nada can come at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, you do not use no.
- Nada es perfecto. (Nothing is perfect.)
- Nada me importa. (Nothing matters to me.)
2. Nadie (Nobody, No One, Anyone)
Nadie means “nobody,” “no one,” or “anyone.” It is used exclusively when referring to people.
Placement:
- After the verb: When it follows the verb, use it with no and often with the personal a.
- No veo a nadie. (I don’t see anyone.)
- No conozco a nadie aquí. (I don’t know anyone here.)
- Before the verb: When nadie is the subject and comes at the beginning, do not use no.
- Nadie sabe la respuesta. (Nobody knows the answer.)
- Nadie vino a la fiesta. (Nobody came to the party.)
3. Ninguno / Ninguna (None, Not Any, No)
Ninguno and its feminine form ninguna mean “none,” “not any,” or “no.” They must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to. Before a masculine singular noun, ninguno shortens to ningún.
Key Forms:
- Ningún + [masculine singular noun] (e.g., ningún problema – no problem)
- Ninguno (used alone or to mean “none”)
- Ninguna + [feminine singular noun] (e.g., ninguna idea – no idea)
- Ningunos / Ningunas + [plural noun] (less common, but used for emphasis) (e.g., ningunas ganas – no desire)
Placement:
- Before the noun:Ninguno/a typically comes before the noun.
- No tengo ningún amigo. (I don’t have any friends.)
- No hay ninguna silla. (There isn’t a single chair.)
- After the noun: When used after the noun (often with de), it means “none of.”
- Ninguno de mis libros. (None of my books.)
- Ninguna de ellas. (None of them.)
Double Negatives are Correct!
This is a crucial difference from English. In Spanish, using multiple negative words in a sentence is not only correct—it’s required.
- English Incorrect: I don’t see nobody.
- Spanish Correct: No veo a nadie. (I don’t see anybody.)
- English Incorrect: She doesn’t want nothing.
- Spanish Correct: No quiere nada. (She doesn’t want anything.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the personal “a” with nadie: When nadie is the object of a verb, it usually needs the personal a.
- Correct: No escucho a nadie. (I don’t listen to anyone.)
- Incorrect: No escucho nadie.
- Using ninguno without gender agreement: Remember to match the gender of the noun.
- Correct: No tengo ningún libro. (masculine)
- Correct: No tengo ninguna pluma. (feminine)
- Translating English directly: Avoid word-for-word translation. Remember the double negative rule.
- English: I never say anything.
- Spanish Correct: Nunca digo nada. (Literally: “I never say nothing.”)
- Spanish Incorrect: Nunca digo algo.
Ready to Test Your Knowledge?
Understanding the rules is the first step, but practice is what makes them stick! We’ve created a dedicated DELE A1 Forming Negatives Quiz to help you master this essential Spanish grammar topic.
Our interactive quiz provides immediate feedback and explanations for every answer, making it the perfect tool for DELE A1 exam preparation or for any beginner Spanish student.
