Negation in Spanish
Introduction
Negation is a fundamental aspect of Spanish grammar, allowing you to express denial, refusal, or absence. In Spanish, the word "no" is placed before the verb to create a negative sentence.
Structure
The basic structure for negation in Spanish is:
- Subject + "no" + verb + rest of the sentence
Examples
| Affirmative Sentence | Negative Sentence |
|---|---|
| Yo hablo español. | Yo no hablo español. |
| Ella tiene una mascota. | Ella no tiene una mascota. |
| Nosotros vamos al cine. | Nosotros no vamos al cine. |
| Tú comes fruta. | Tú no comes fruta. |
| Ellos trabajan los fines de semana. | Ellos no trabajan los fines de semana. |
Common Uses
- Denial or Refusal:
- Absence or Lack:
- Negating Questions:
Additional Examples
- Mi hermano no sabe nadar. (My brother doesn’t know how to swim.)
- Ellas no hablan inglés. (They don’t speak English.)
- El gato no está en la casa. (The cat is not in the house.)
Negation with "no" in Spanish is simple yet powerful, helping to convey what is not happening, missing, or denied. By placing "no" before the verb, you transform an affirmative statement into its negative counterpart.