Study the following list of affirmative words and their negative counterparts:
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, not either)o . . . o (either . . . or)
ni . . . ni (neither . . . nor)
The negative words can be used alone, preceding the verb.
Nadie habla.
Nobody speaks.Él nunca come.
He never eats.Alfredo tampoco baila.
Alfredo doesn't dance either.
The negative words can also be used with the word "no," following the verb. Note that unlike English, double negatives are acceptable in Spanish.
No habla nadie.
Nobody speaks.Él no come nunca.
He never eats.Alfredo no baila tampoco .
Alfredo doesn't dance either.
Sometimes, three negative words occur in the same sentence.
No compro nada nunca.
I never buy anything.Él no compra nada tampoco.
He doesn't buy anything either.
You can even have four negative words in the same sentence.
Yo no veo nunca a nadie tampoco.
I never see anybody either.
Unlike English, Spanish does not normally mix negative and affirmative words.
English
Maria doesn't need anything.
NOT Maria doesn't need nothing.Spanish
María no necesita nada.
NOT María no necesita algo.
