Ch 1 · Lesson 8Spanish · Chapter 1 · Lesson 8 · Grammar primer
No hablo, ¿hablas?: saying no and asking
Spanish has no do or does. No goes straight before the verb, and a yes or no question keeps the statement order: ¿ ?
The short version
No before the verb, and no do in questions
¿ ? , .
Why?Hide
Spanish has no do or does. To say no, put no straight in front of the verb: . To ask a yes or no question, keep the statement order, let your voice rise at the end, and write ¿ at the start and ? at the end.
Divergence 4: Negation goes before the verb
Spanish has no do or does to carry the negative. goes straight in front of the verb, and in front of any object pronoun attached to it.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
. | I don't speak English. |
. | I don't see it. |
. | I don't like it. |
. | I don't want to go. |
When a negative word such as (nothing) or (nobody) comes after the verb, still goes in front. The double negative is correct Spanish:
.- I have nothing..- I don't see anybody.
Put the negative word first and the drops: . - Nobody is coming. The negation page has the full list.
Divergence 5: Yes/no questions keep the statement order
Spanish has no do, does or did. A yes/no question keeps the statement order; the voice rises at the end, and writing marks it at both ends with ¿ and ?.
| Statement | Question | English |
|---|---|---|
. | ¿ ? | Do you speak Spanish? |
. | ¿ ? | Do you eat meat? |
Madrid. | ¿ Madrid? | Do you live in Madrid? |
María . | ¿María ? | Is María coming tomorrow? |
The subject may also move after the verb, with no change in meaning: ¿ María ? - Is María coming tomorrow?
Going further: The SVO baseline and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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Lesson 8 of 17 in this chapter