A1 Questions & Negation 16 min read Easy

Spanish Negation: How to say 'No' and 'Not' (No)

Simply place no before the verb to negate any action; no auxiliary verbs are needed in Spanish.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To make a sentence negative in Spanish, simply place 'no' directly before the conjugated verb.

  • Place 'no' before the verb: 'Yo no hablo' (I do not speak).
  • Double negatives are required: 'No veo nada' (I see nothing).
  • Keep the 'no' before the verb even in questions: '¿No vas?' (Are you not going?).
No + Verb + Rest of sentence

Overview

In Spanish, expressing negation—saying 'no' or 'not'—is remarkably straightforward. Unlike English, which often requires auxiliary verbs like 'do,' 'does,' or 'did' to form negative statements, Spanish employs a direct and consistent approach using the single word no. This simplicity is a hallmark of Spanish grammar, allowing you to negate an entire idea by strategically placing no before the conjugated verb.

Whether you are refusing an invitation, denying a fact, or simply stating what you do not possess, the principle remains constant and predictable.

This guide will provide a comprehensive understanding of Spanish negation, focusing on the versatile use of no at the A1 CEFR level. You will learn the precise rules for constructing negative sentences, understand the linguistic reasons behind these patterns, and gain insight into common pitfalls for English speakers. Mastering no is foundational; it acts as the primary 'delete' button for your Spanish sentences, enabling clear and effective communication from the very beginning of your learning journey.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, Spanish negation functions by directly preceding the verb. This linguistic structure, where the negator immediately modifies the verb, is known as pre-verbal negation. It means that the word no acts as a shield, standing directly in front of the action word to declare its absence or reversal.
There is no equivalent to English's 'do not' or 'does not'; the Spanish no inherently carries this meaning.
Consider the fundamental difference: in English, you say "I do not eat." The auxiliary 'do' is introduced to carry the negation. In Spanish, you simply take the affirmative verb como (I eat) and place no directly before it: No como (I do not eat / I don't eat). This pattern is universal across all persons and tenses in simple sentences, making it incredibly reliable.
This directness reflects a core syntactical preference in Spanish to keep the negator tightly bound to the verb it modifies, simplifying sentence construction and reducing ambiguity.
This strict pre-verbal placement also applies when object pronouns are involved. If you have a pronoun like lo (it) or me (me), no still maintains its position at the very front, before any pronouns that precede the verb. Think of no as always claiming the first available position in the verbal cluster to assert its negative force.
This consistent positioning minimizes cognitive load for the learner, as you do not need to track different auxiliary verbs or complex agreement rules for negation.
  • Affirmative: Hablo español. (I speak Spanish.)
  • Negative: No hablo español. (I do not speak Spanish.)
  • Affirmative with pronoun: Lo tengo. (I have it.)
  • Negative with pronoun: No lo tengo. (I do not have it.)

Formation Pattern

1
Forming negative sentences in Spanish follows a strict and consistent order. The primary rule is that the negative particle no must always be placed directly before the conjugated verb. This rule is inviolable for simple verbal negations and forms the backbone of all negative statements.
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1. Basic Negation: No + Verb
3
For most sentences, you simply insert no before the verb. This applies regardless of the subject pronoun (which is often omitted in Spanish) or the verb's conjugation.
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| Subject | Affirmative Verb | Negative Sentence | Translation | Explanation |
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| :------ | :--------------- | :---------------- | :---------- | :---------- |
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| (Yo) | como | No como. | I don't eat. | no directly precedes como. |
7
| (Tú) | hablas | No hablas. | You don't speak. | no directly precedes hablas. |
8
| (Él/Ella/Usted) | trabaja | No trabaja. | He/She/You don't work. | no directly precedes trabaja. |
9
| (Nosotros/as) | leemos | No leemos. | We don't read. | no directly precedes leemos. |
10
| (Vosotros/as) | vivís | No vivís. | You all don't live. (Spain) | no directly precedes vivís. |
11
| (Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes) | estudian | No estudian. | They/You all don't study. | no directly precedes estudian. |
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2. Negation with Object Pronouns: No + Pronoun(s) + Verb
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When a verb is accompanied by an object pronoun (e.g., me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las), the no still maintains the initial position. It comes before all pronouns and then the verb. This sequence ensures that no always takes precedence in negating the verbal action.
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Affirmative: Te veo. (I see you.)
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Negative: No te veo. (I don't see you.)
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Affirmative: Lo queremos. (We want it.)
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Negative: No lo queremos. (We don't want it.)
18
This rule applies even with reflexive or indirect object pronouns. The order is always no + (indirect object pronoun) + (direct object pronoun) + verb. At the A1 level, you will most commonly encounter single object pronouns.
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3. Answering Questions Negatively: No, no + Verb
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When responding to a "yes/no" question with a negative answer, Spanish typically uses a double no. The first no acts as the direct answer to the question ("No."), while the second no negates the verb in your clarifying statement ("...I don't..."). This pattern is crucial for clarity and natural speech.
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¿Eres estudiante? (Are you a student?)
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No, no soy estudiante. (No, I am not a student.)
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¿Vienes conmigo? (Are you coming with me?)
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No, no vengo contigo. (No, I am not coming with you.)
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The first no directly addresses the interlocutor, while the second ensures the verb's negation. Omitting the second no would result in an affirmative statement following a negative answer, which is grammatically confusing and incorrect in most contexts (No, soy estudiante would mean "No, I am a student" – a contradiction).

When To Use It

The word no is fundamental for expressing a wide array of negative ideas in Spanish. You will use it constantly in everyday conversation to negate statements, answer questions, and express disagreement or refusal. Its consistent placement makes it a powerful tool for A1 learners.
1. Negating Affirmative Statements:
This is the most common use. Any positive statement can be turned negative by placing no directly before the conjugated verb. This includes statements about facts, opinions, habits, or current actions.
  • To state a fact: (Ella) No vive en Londres. (She does not live in London.)
  • To express a habit: (Yo) No bebo café por la noche. (I don't drink coffee at night.)
  • To describe a current state: (Nosotros) No estamos cansados. (We are not tired.)
2. Answering Questions Negatively:
As discussed in the Formation Pattern, the double no is the standard for negative responses to yes/no questions. This provides a clear, unambiguous denial.
  • ¿Trabajas los sábados? (Do you work on Saturdays?)
  • No, no trabajo los sábados. (No, I don't work on Saturdays.)
  • ¿Tienes hermanos? (Do you have siblings?)
  • No, no tengo hermanos. (No, I don't have siblings.)
3. Expressing Disagreement, Refusal, or Dislike:
No is essential for polite or direct refusal and for expressing what you do not like or prefer.
  • To refuse an offer: ¿Quieres más agua? No, gracias. (Do you want more water? No, thank you.) Note that no can stand alone as a short answer.
  • To state a dislike: No me gusta el frío. (I don't like the cold.)
  • To disagree: No estoy de acuerdo. (I don't agree.)
4. Negating Imperative (Command) Forms:
While imperative forms are generally introduced at a slightly higher CEFR level, no is also used to negate commands, ensuring consistency across verb types. For tú commands, no is placed before the subjunctive form of the verb.
  • Affirmative command: Come. (Eat.)
  • Negative command: No comas. (Don't eat.)
  • Affirmative command: Habla. (Speak.)
  • Negative command: No hables. (Don't speak.)
This consistent pre-verbal placement of no reinforces its role as the universal negator in Spanish, applicable across moods and tenses.

When Not To Use It

While no is the primary negator, there are specific situations where its initial placement is either unnecessary or grammatically incorrect. This often occurs when other negative words are present in the sentence. Understanding these nuances is crucial for constructing natural-sounding Spanish.
1. When Another Negative Word Precedes the Verb:
Spanish allows for double negation (or even multiple negations) within a sentence, but only one negative word must precede the conjugated verb. If a negative word like nunca (never), nada (nothing/anything), nadie (nobody/anybody), tampoco (neither/either), or jamás (never, ever) comes before the verb, then no is omitted. This is a key distinction from English, where double negatives are generally considered ungrammatical.
  • Incorrect: No nunca leo libros.
  • Correct: Nunca leo libros. (I never read books.)
  • Incorrect: No nadie está aquí.
  • Correct: Nadie está aquí. (Nobody is here.)
The linguistic principle here is that Spanish requires at least one negative element before the verb to mark the sentence as negative. If another strong negative word fulfills this role, no becomes redundant and is therefore dropped from the pre-verbal position. However, if the other negative words appear after the verb, then no must be used before the verb.
  • No leo nunca libros. (I don't ever read books.) - Here, no precedes the verb, and nunca follows, reinforcing the negation.
  • No veo a nadie en la calle. (I don't see anybody on the street.)
2. With the Preposition sin (without):
Sin inherently carries a negative meaning and is typically followed by a noun or an infinitive verb. You do not use no with sin to create a negative phrase.
  • Incorrect: Ella no está sin amigos. (She is not without friends.) - While grammatically possible, it's an awkward double negative.
  • Correct: Ella está sin amigos. (She is without friends / She has no friends.)
  • Incorrect: No voy sin no comer.
  • Correct: Voy sin comer. (I go without eating.)
Sin acts as a self-contained negative construction, providing the 'lack of' or 'absence of' meaning. Using no in conjunction with sin generally creates unnecessary complexity or changes the intended meaning.

Common Mistakes

Beginners often transfer English negation rules directly to Spanish, leading to several predictable errors. Understanding these common pitfalls and their underlying causes will help you avoid them and internalize the correct Spanish patterns more quickly.
1. Inserting an Equivalent to "do/does/did":
The most frequent mistake is attempting to translate "don't" or "doesn't" by using hacer (to do/make) as an auxiliary verb. Spanish does not use auxiliary verbs for simple negation.
  • Incorrect: Yo no hago hablo español. (Literal: I do not do speak Spanish.)
  • Correct: No hablo español. (I don't speak Spanish.)
  • Why it's wrong: English's 'do-support' for negation is a unique grammatical feature. Spanish directly negates the main verb. The verb hacer in Spanish means 'to do' or 'to make' as a main verb, not as a grammatical helper.
2. Incorrect Placement of no (After the Verb):
Placing no after the verb is a direct transfer from certain English constructions (e.g., "I want not"). In Spanish, the negator always precedes the conjugated verb.
  • Incorrect: Hablo no español.
  • Correct: No hablo español.
  • Why it's wrong: Spanish consistently uses pre-verbal negation. Placing no after the verb fundamentally alters the sentence structure and makes it ungrammatical or archaic.
3. Omitting the Second no When Answering Questions:
Forgetting the second no in a negative answer to a yes/no question is a common source of confusion.
  • ¿Es tu coche? (Is it your car?)
  • Incorrect: No, es mi coche. (No, it is my car. -> Contradictory.)
  • Correct: No, no es mi coche. (No, it is not my car.)
  • Why it's wrong: The first no answers the question; the second no negates the verb in your statement. Without the second no, the statement becomes affirmative, leading to a logical contradiction in your response.
4. Confusing no with Other Negative Words (for initial placement):
While Spanish uses double negatives, it only permits one negative word before the verb. Using no and another negative word (like nunca) both before the verb is incorrect.
  • Incorrect: No nunca voy.
  • Correct: Nunca voy. (I never go.)
  • Also Correct: No voy nunca. (I don't ever go.)
  • Why it's wrong: The rule is that if a negative word already occupies the pre-verbal position, no is redundant. If no is before the verb, other negative words must follow the verb to reinforce the negation.

Real Conversations

Understanding how no functions in textbooks is one thing; seeing it in authentic, modern communication brings its usage to life. Spanish speakers employ no fluidly across various contexts, from casual texts to more formal interactions.

1. Casual Texting/Social Media:

No is frequently used in its simplest form to react, deny, or express disbelief.

- Amigo: ¿Vienes al cine? (Friend: Are you coming to the movies?)

Tú: No puedo, tengo examen mañana. (You: I can't, I have an exam tomorrow.)

- Post en Instagram: ¡Qué día tan bonito! (Instagram post: What a beautiful day!)

Comentario: No lo creo, ¡aquí llueve! (Comment: I don't believe it, it's raining here!)

- Mensaje: ¿Viste el final de la serie? (Message: Did you see the end of the series?)

Respuesta: ¡Uy, no! No quiero spoilers. (Reply: Oh, no! I don't want spoilers.)

2. Everyday Spoken Interactions:

In face-to-face conversations, no is omnipresent for denials, expressions of preference, and factual statements.

- Camarero: ¿Desea algo más? (Waiter: Would you like anything else?)

Cliente: No, gracias. La cuenta, por favor. (Customer: No, thank you. The bill, please.)

- Madre: ¿Hiciste la cama? (Mother: Did you make the bed?)

Hijo: No, no la hice todavía. (Son: No, I didn't do it yet.)

- Colega: Este proyecto es difícil, ¿verdad? (Colleague: This project is difficult, right?)

Tú: Sí, mucho. No entiendo esta parte. (You: Yes, very. I don't understand this part.)

3. More Formal or Reflective Usage:

Even in more considered language, no maintains its direct negating role.

- Noticia: El gobierno no ha anunciado nuevas medidas. (News: The government has not announced new measures.)

- Email de trabajo: No es posible completar la tarea antes de la fecha límite. (Work email: It is not possible to complete the task before the deadline.)

These examples illustrate that no is consistently applied across communication registers, reinforcing its status as the foundational negator in Spanish.

Progressive Practice

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Mastering Spanish negation with no requires consistent practice, building from simple recognition to spontaneous application. Follow these steps to progressively integrate no into your Spanish.

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1. Identify and Negate Simple Verbs:

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Start by taking any conjugated verb and simply placing no before it. Focus on all persons (yo, tú, él/ella/usted, nosotros/as, vosotros/as, ellos/ellas/ustedes).

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- Yo hablo. -> Yo no hablo.

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- Ellos comen. -> Ellos no comen.

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- Tú vives. -> Tú no vives.

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2. Transform Affirmative Sentences to Negative:

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Take complete affirmative sentences and convert them, paying attention to the correct placement of no relative to the verb and any pronouns.

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- Ella trabaja en el banco. -> Ella no trabaja en el banco.

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- Tenemos mucho tiempo. -> No tenemos mucho tiempo.

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- Lo necesito. -> No lo necesito.

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3. Practice Negative Answers to Questions:

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Respond to simple yes/no questions, always using the double no pattern for negative answers.

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- ¿Estás casado/a? -> No, no estoy casado/a.

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- ¿Vienes de España? -> No, no vengo de España.

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- ¿Hablas alemán? -> No, no hablo alemán.

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4. Create Personal Negative Statements:

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Think about things you don't do, don't like, or don't have, and form sentences using no.

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- Yo no como carne. (I don't eat meat.)

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- Mi amigo no le gusta madrugar. (My friend doesn't like to wake up early.)

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- No tengo mascotas. (I don't have pets.)

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5. Combine no with Other Negative Words (Introductory):

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Begin to differentiate between no and other negative words like nunca, nada, and nadie, focusing on the placement rules.

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- Siempre voy al gimnasio. -> Nunca voy al gimnasio. (If nunca is first)

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- Siempre voy al gimnasio. -> No voy al gimnasio nunca. (If no is first)

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This progressive approach ensures that you build a strong foundation in Spanish negation, moving from basic mechanical application to more nuanced and spontaneous usage.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about Spanish negation with no.
  • Q: Does no change form based on gender or number?
  • A: No, no is invariant. It always remains no, regardless of the gender or number of the subject or object it negates. This makes it incredibly easy to use.
  • Q: Can no mean both "no" (the answer) and "not" (the negator)?
  • A: Yes, no is efficient. It functions as both the direct negative answer (e.g., No, gracias.) and the pre-verbal negator (e.g., No quiero.). The context clarifies its role.
  • Q: Where does no go if there are two verbs, like a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive (querer + comer)?
  • A: Generally, no comes before the first conjugated verb. If the infinitive is part of a verbal periphrasis (like ir a + infinitive), no still precedes the conjugated verb.
  • No quiero comer. (I don't want to eat.)
  • No voy a estudiar. (I am not going to study.)
  • The negation always targets the main action being performed or denied.
  • Q: Is it rude to just say "No"?
  • A: While grammatically correct, a standalone No. can sometimes sound blunt or abrupt in Spanish, similar to English. To soften it, it's customary to add a polite word or phrase, such as gracias (thank you), lo siento (I'm sorry), or con permiso (excuse me).
  • No, gracias. (No, thank you.)
  • No, lo siento, no puedo. (No, I'm sorry, I can't.)
  • Q: How is no different from other negative words like nunca or nada?
  • A: No is the general negator that directly modifies the verb. Words like nunca (never), nada (nothing/anything), and nadie (nobody/anybody) are specific negative adverbs or pronouns. When they appear before the verb, they fulfill the negation requirement, and no is omitted. When they appear after the verb, no must still precede the verb to mark the sentence as negative. Spanish allows for this "double negation" for emphasis, which is grammatically correct and common.
  • Nadie está aquí. (Nobody is here.)
  • No hay nada en la nevera. (There is nothing in the fridge.)
By understanding these points, you will gain confidence in correctly and naturally using Spanish negation.

Negation Pattern

Subject Negation Verb Example
Yo
no
hablo
Yo no hablo
Tú
no
comes
Tú no comes
Él/Ella
no
vive
Ella no vive
Nosotros
no
vamos
Nosotros no vamos
Vosotros
no
tenéis
Vosotros no tenéis
Ellos
no
saben
Ellos no saben

Meanings

The 'no' particle is used to negate the action or state expressed by the verb.

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Simple Negation

Directly negating a verb.

“No hablo español.”

“No tengo dinero.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Spanish Negation: How to say 'No' and 'Not' (No)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb
Yo hablo
Negative
Subject + No + Verb
Yo no hablo
Question
¿No + Verb + Subject?
¿No hablas tú?
Short Answer
No + Verb
No hablo
Double Negative
No + Verb + Nada
No veo nada

Formality Spectrum

Formal
No lo sé.

No lo sé. (Answering a question)

Neutral
No sé.

No sé. (Answering a question)

Informal
Ni idea.

Ni idea. (Answering a question)

Slang
Ni idea, bro.

Ni idea, bro. (Answering a question)

Negation Structure

Negation

Placement

  • Before Verb Always
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Examples by Level

1

No hablo español.

I do not speak Spanish.

1

No quiero ir a la escuela.

I do not want to go to school.

1

No he visto a nadie hoy.

I have not seen anyone today.

1

No solo es inteligente, sino también amable.

He is not only intelligent, but also kind.

1

No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.

Getting up early does not make the sun rise sooner.

1

No habiendo otra opción, decidimos partir.

There being no other option, we decided to leave.

Easily Confused

Spanish Negation: How to say 'No' and 'Not' (No) vs No vs. Tampoco

Learners use 'no' when they should use 'tampoco' (neither).

Spanish Negation: How to say 'No' and 'Not' (No) vs No vs. Nada

Learners think 'nada' replaces 'no'.

Spanish Negation: How to say 'No' and 'Not' (No) vs No vs. Ni

Learners use 'no' for 'neither/nor'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Yo no hago hablo

✓

Yo no hablo

Do not translate 'do' from English.
✗

Yo hablo no

✓

Yo no hablo

No must be before the verb.
✗

No hablo nada

✓

No hablo nada

This is actually correct, but beginners often forget the first 'no'.
✗

No yo hablo

✓

Yo no hablo

Subject usually comes first.
✗

No quiero nada

✓

No quiero nada

This is correct, but learners often add 'no' twice.
✗

No tengo ninguno

✓

No tengo ninguno

Correct, but learners struggle with pronoun placement.
✗

No es no

✓

No es no

Correct, but context matters.
✗

Nunca no voy

✓

Nunca voy

If 'nunca' is first, 'no' is not needed.
✗

No voy nunca

✓

No voy nunca

This is correct, but learners get confused by the order.
✗

Tampoco no quiero

✓

Tampoco quiero

Tampoco already implies negation.
✗

No es que no quiero

✓

No es que no quiera

Subjunctive is needed after 'no es que'.
✗

No dudo que viene

✓

No dudo que viene

Correct, but learners often use subjunctive here.
✗

No por eso no voy

✓

No por eso voy

Redundant negation.

Sentence Patterns

Yo ___ ___.

___ quiero ___.

Él ___ ___ ___.

___ ___ que ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

No puedo ir.

Ordering food very common

No quiero hielo.

Job interview common

No tengo experiencia.

Travel very common

No entiendo.

Social media common

No me gusta.

Delivery apps common

No llamar a la puerta.

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💡

Keep it simple

Don't overthink it. Just put 'no' before the verb.
⚠️

No do-support

Never use 'hago' or 'haces' to negate.
🎯

Double negatives

In Spanish, they are correct and expected.
💬

Polite refusal

Always add 'gracias' after a 'no' to be polite.

Smart Tips

Stop translating 'do'. Just use 'no' + verb.

Yo no hago hablo. → Yo no hablo.

Remember to keep the 'no' before the verb.

Veo nada. → No veo nada.

The 'no' goes before the first one.

Quiero no ir. → No quiero ir.

You can use 'no' alone or with the verb.

No. → No, no voy.

Pronunciation

/no/

Stress

The word 'no' is usually unstressed unless it is the only word in the sentence.

Falling intonation

No. ↓

Finality or refusal.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

No goes before the flow (the verb).

Visual Association

Imagine a big red 'NO' sign blocking the path of the verb.

Rhyme

If you want to say no, put it before the verb, don't be slow.

Story

Maria wanted to say no to the party. She stood in front of the verb 'ir' and shouted 'No!'. Now she is safe at home.

Word Web

nonadanuncatampoconi

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about things you don't like using 'No'.

Cultural Notes

In Spain, 'no' is often used emphatically in conversation.

Mexicans often use 'no' in a soft way to avoid being rude.

Argentines might use 'no' with a specific tone to express disbelief.

Comes from the Latin 'non'.

Conversation Starters

“

¿Quieres ir al cine?

“

¿Hablas francés?

“

¿Tienes planes para hoy?

“

¿Te gusta el picante?

Journal Prompts

Write 3 things you don't like to eat.
Describe a place you don't want to visit.
Write about a habit you don't have.
Discuss why you don't agree with a common opinion.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Yo ___ hablo español.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: no
No goes before the verb.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo no como.
No before verb.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Yo no hago como.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo no como.
No do-support.
Make negative. Sentence Transformation

Tengo dinero.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No tengo dinero.
No before verb.
Match the English to Spanish. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No sé.
No sé is I don't know.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

no / quiero / yo / comer

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo no quiero comer.
Subject-No-Verb.
Choose the correct negative. Multiple Choice

Do you see anything?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¿No ves nada?
Double negative.
Fill in the blank.

___ quiero ir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No
No before verb.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Yo ___ hablo español.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: no
No goes before the verb.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo no como.
No before verb.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Yo no hago como.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo no como.
No do-support.
Make negative. Sentence Transformation

Tengo dinero.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No tengo dinero.
No before verb.
Match the English to Spanish. Match Pairs

I don't know.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No sé.
No sé is I don't know.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

no / quiero / yo / comer

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yo no quiero comer.
Subject-No-Verb.
Choose the correct negative. Multiple Choice

Do you see anything?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¿No ves nada?
Double negative.
Fill in the blank.

___ quiero ir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No
No before verb.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Make this sentence negative: 'Ella estudia mucho.' Fill in the Blank

Ella ___ estudia mucho.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: no
Correct the sentence: 'Nosotros no hacemos vivimos aquí.' Error Correction

Nosotros no hacemos vivimos aquí.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nosotros no vivimos aquí.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

ti / no / lo / para / tengo

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No lo tengo para ti
Translate to Spanish: 'I don't understand.' Translation

I don't understand.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No entiendo
Which is the correct negative question? Multiple Choice

Don't you eat meat?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¿No comes carne?
Complete the sentence: 'Ellos ___ son de aquí.' Fill in the Blank

Ellos ___ son de aquí.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: no
Match the English to the Spanish. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No como = I don't eat
Select the correct way to say 'I don't like it'. Multiple Choice

I don't like it.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No me gusta
Fix the sentence: '¿Vienes? No, vengo no.' Error Correction

¿Vienes? No, vengo no.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No, no vengo.
Fill in the blank: 'Mi perro ___ muerde.' Fill in the Blank

Mi perro ___ muerde.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: no

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, in standard Spanish, it always precedes the conjugated verb.

No, that is incorrect. Just say 'Yo no'.

Put 'no' before the first verb: 'No quiero comer'.

They are required! 'No veo nada' is correct.

Yes, 'no' covers both meanings in Spanish.

Just say 'No' or 'No, [verb]'.

Not if you add 'gracias'.

Yes, '¿No vas?' is perfectly fine.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

English low

do not

Spanish lacks do-support.

French partial

ne...pas

Spanish is simpler.

German moderate

nicht

Placement is different.

Japanese low

-nai

Spanish uses a separate word.

Arabic moderate

la

Similar structure.

Chinese moderate

bu

Similar structure.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Spanish Question Marks: The 'Spoiler Alert' (¿?)
Next
Spanish Question Order: Flipping the Script (¿...?)

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SPANISIMO

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