Affirmative and Negative
Words
Spanish has certain guidelines to follow when using negative and affirmative words.
Here is a list of the most common affirmative and negative words.
Palabras Afirmativas
sí
yes
alguien
algo
siempre
somebody
something
always
alguno/alguna/algunos/algunas
también
o…o
some
also, too
either…or
Palabras Negativas
no
no
ya no
not anymore, no more
nadie
nobody
nada
nothing
nunca
never
jamás
never (more emphatic than
nunca)
ninguno/ninguna/ningunos/ningunas
none
tampoco neither, not even
ni...ni
not...nor
Guidelines
1. When using alguno and ninguno, be sure to use the correct form. These words
must agree in both gender and number with the noun they modify or replace.
For example:
Algunas personas quieren ser famosas.
Some people want to be famous.
Sí, sólo algunas.
Yes, only some.
2. When alguno and ninguno come before a singular, masculine noun, they must be
shortened to algún and ningún.
For example:
Ningún hombre quiere ir a esa película.
that movie.
No man (none, not one) wants to go to
Algún problema debes tener.
You must have some problem.
3. Spanish uses double negatives whereas English does not.
For example:
No sé nada.
I don't know anything (Literally, I don't know
nothing.)
No vino nadie a la fiesta.
Nobody came to the party (Literally, nobody
didn't come to the party.)
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express permission of Middlebury Interactive Languages.
Affirmative and Negative
Words
4. No always goes before the verb. Other negative words can be placed at the end of
the sentence. When the negative word precedes the verb, no is not used.
For example:
No vino nadie. = Nadie vino.
No one came.
No salgo con mi hermano nunca. = Nunca salgo con mi hermano. I never go out with
my brother.
Affirmative and Negative Words
© 2012 Middlebury Interactive Languages.
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