Identify

• Turning positive statements into negative ones (yes/no).
• Answer simple questions, and engage in basic conversation.

Connect

• LEAF Spanish Grammar: Verb Conjugation Basics

60-Second Spanish Grammar Lesson

Study

Ella no habla alemán.
She does NOT speak German.

Él no es estudiante.
He is NOT a student.

When the answer to a question is negative, two negative words are required. One to answer the yes/no part of the question and the second one to affirm the type of answer you are giving.

¿Habla Ud. español?
Do you speak Spanish?

No. No hablo español.
No. I do NOT speak Spanish.

¿Está Gerardo en la clase?
Is Gerardo in the class?

No. Gerardo no está en la clase.
No. Gerardo is NOT in the class.

¿Siempre bailas tú?
Do you always dance (familiar)?

No. Nunca bailo.
No. I never dance.

There are other phrases that we can use to make affirmative and negative statements, like the example above. These aren’t as abrupt as yes/no and can help express yourself more clearly in conversations.

algo : something
nada : nothing

alguien : somebody
nadie : nobody

algún (-o, -a, -os, -as) : some, something
ningún (-o, -a, -os, -as) : no, none

siempre : always
nunca : never
jamás : never, ever …

también : also
tampoco : neither

The negative words can be used alone in phrases, coming before the verb.

Nadie habla.
Nobody speaks.

Él nunca come.
He never eats.

Alfredo tampoco baila.
Alfredo does NOT dance either.

Adapt

No, no voy a la tienda.
No, I am not going to the store.

¿Usted es un estudiante?
Are you (formal) a student?

No, no soy un estudiante. ¡Yo soy un profesor!
No, I am not a student. I am a professor!

¿Siempre tienes buenas notas en la escuela?
Do you have good grades in school?

No, nunca tengo buenas notas en la escuela.
No, I never have good grades in school.

Engage

• LEAF 60-Second Spanish Grammar Lesson Index

Explore

• YouTube/TravelLinguist: Spanish word for “No”
• YouTube/Mahalodotcom: How to say “Yes” or “No”
• YouTube/MrLearnSpanish: Saying “No”

Quizlet Activities

• Basic Negation
• Direct Link: [https://quizlet.com/_8c3r2l]
• Click on the top right-hand corner for Options.
• Click on the bottom right-hand corner to change Study Mode.