what is it?
Spanish has a set of paired words: an indefinite (positive) form and a negative counterpart. The main pairs are algo / nada (something / nothing), alguien / nadie (someone / nobody), alguno/algún / ninguno/ningún (some / none), and siempre / nunca (always / never). Unlike English, Spanish allows — and often requires — two negative words in the same clause. This is called double negation, and it is grammatically correct in standard Spanish.
when to use it
The position of the negative word relative to the verb determines whether a second negative marker no is needed.
Negative word after the verb: place no directly before the verb as well. Both negatives are required. Example: No veo nada.
Negative word before the verb: the negative word alone is enough; do not add no. Example: Nunca voy al cine.
Affirmative contexts: use the indefinite form (algo, alguien, algún/alguno, siempre) in positive statements and in questions where you expect a positive answer.
Negative contexts: switch to the negative form (nada, nadie, ningún/ninguno, nunca) whenever the sentence is negated.
formation
The table below shows each pair, its apocopated form where one exists, and the two word-order patterns.
| indefinite | negative | apocopated negative | after verb (double negation) | before verb (single negation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| algo | nada | — | no … nada | — |
| alguien | nadie | — | no … nadie | nadie … |
| alguno / alguna | ninguno / ninguna | ningún (before masc. noun) | no … ningún/ninguno | ningún/ninguno … |
| algún (before masc. noun) | — | ningún (before masc. noun) | no tengo ningún problema | ningún problema … |
| siempre | nunca | — | no … nunca | nunca … |
Apocopation rule: alguno and ninguno drop the final -o before a masculine singular noun: algún libro, ningún problema. The full forms alguno / ninguno are used when standing alone (without a following noun).
examples in context
common pitfalls
Adding no before a pre-verbal negative word. When the negative word already stands before the verb, adding no as well is an error. «Nadie no vino» is wrong. Say either Nadie vino (negative word first) or No vino nadie (negative word after verb, with no).
Dropping no when the negative word follows the verb. If the negative word comes after the verb, no before the verb is obligatory. «Veo nada» is not grammatical. The correct form is No veo nada.
Using the indefinite form inside a negated sentence. English uses «anything» and «anyone» in negative sentences, but Spanish requires the negative counterpart. «No tengo algo» is wrong. The correct form is No tengo nada. Likewise, use nadie (not alguien) and ninguno (not alguno) in negated clauses.
Three sentences, graded here. Nothing is saved and no account is needed.
Estaba tan enfermo que ___ pudo levantarse de la cama.
Fill in the blank with the correct two-word phrase to complete the sentence naturally.