Chapter 2

Topic 3 Negative and Indefinite Words

Negatives Words

Indefinite Words

A table that displays a list of negative words in Spanish, and a list of the English translations.
nadie nobody
nada nothing
ningún/o/a/os/as no, no one, none, any
nunca, jamás never
tampoco neither, not either
todavía no not yet
ya no no longer
no no
ni nor
ni…ni neither….nor
A table that displays a list of indefinite words in Spanish, and a list of the English translations.
alguien somebody
algo something
algún/o/a/os/as some, something
siempre always
alguna vez ever
también also
todavía, aún still
todavía, aún still
o or
o… o either… or

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Spanish, to make a phrase negative, place a “no” in front of it. Negative and indefinite words can provide additional information, and can be adjectives, pronouns, or adverbs.

 

Negative Words

Common negative words can refer to people or things and are mostly used with “no.” Unlike the English language, in Spanish, there can be MORE than one negative expression in the same sentence.

  • En Pennsylvania, no voy nunca a la playa. In Pennsylvania, I never go to the beach.
  • No hay nadie en la playa. There is nobody at the beach.
  • No traje ninguna toalla. I didn’t bring a towel.

 

Indefinite Words

Indefinite words are the opposites of negative words.

  • En Pennsylvania siempre voy a la playa. In Pennsylvania, I always go to the beach.
  • Hay algunas personas en la playa. There are some people at the beach.

 

Practícalo…

Rewrite each sentence from the affirmative to negative. Remember, you may have to use more than one negative, and you are still correct!

Ex. Yo quiero un café también, por favor. = Yo no quiero café tampoco. 

  1. Tengo algunos problemas con mi clase.
  2. He visitado el Caribe.
  3. Tengo un perro y un gato.

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