A1
no — and double negatives that are correct
How Spanish negation works with no, why double negatives are required, and where the negative word can move.
No goes immediately before the verb. Nothing separates them except an object pronoun.
No hablo francés.
not I-speak French
I don’t speak French.
No está aquí.
not is here
He isn’t here.
Spanish needs no equivalent of do — one word does the whole job.
Answering takes two
¿Vienes? — No, no puedo.
you-come — no, not I-can
Are you coming? — No, I can’t.
The first no is the answer, the second negates the verb. Both are needed and it is not a stutter.
Double negatives are compulsory
This is where Spanish parts company with English. When a negative word follows the verb, no stays in front of it.
No hay nada.
not there-is nothing
There’s nothing.
No viene nadie.
not comes nobody
Nobody’s coming.
Hay nada.
No hay nada.
The negative word after the verb does not replace no. English forbids the double negative; Spanish requires it.
Unless the negative word comes first
Move it in front of the verb and no disappears.
Nadie viene.
nobody comes
Nobody’s coming.
No viene nadie and nadie viene mean the same thing. The first is more common in speech.
The negative words
Nada (nothing), nadie (nobody), nunca and jamás (never), tampoco (neither), ninguno (none).
Nunca he estado en México.
never I-have been in Mexico
I’ve never been to Mexico.