Indetinites are words that refer to persons, things, or periods of time

that are not specific or that are not clearly defined.

IN ENGLISH

Some common indefinites are someone, anybody, something, some

day. These indefinite words are often paired with negative words

which are opposite in meaning: no one, nobody, nothing, and never

Indetinites Negatives

someone 1 no one

anyone I

somebody I no body

anybody J

something ~ nothing

someday } never

any day

In conversation indefinites frequently appear in questions while nega-

fives appear in answers.

question Is anyone coming tonight?

answer No one.

question Do you have anything for me?

answer Nothing.

question Are you going to Europe some day?

answer Never.

English sentences can be made negative in one of two ways (see

What are Affirmative and Negative Sentences?, p. 47).

• the word not appears before the main verb

I am studying.

I am not studying.

• a negative word can be used in any part of the sentence

No one is coming.

He has never seen a movie.

English allows only one negative word (either not or any of the other

negative words) in a sentence (or clause). When a sentence contains

the word not, another negative word cannot be used in that sentence.

181

“I am not studying nothing.” [incorrect English]

negative word

This sentence contains a double negative: not and nothing.

When a sentence contains the word not, the indefinite word that is the

opposite of the negative word must be used.

I am not studying anything.

indefinite word

Let us look at another example.

I have nothing.

negative word

Nothing is the one negative word.

¶

I do not have anything.

indefinite word

This sentence contains not; therefore, the word anything is substituted

for nothing.

“I do not have nothing.” [incorrect English]

This sentence contains a double negative: not and nothing.

IN SPANISH

As in English, the indefinite and negative words exist as pairs of oppo-

sites. Here is a chart of the most common indefinites and negatives.

Indefinltes N atlves

something algo nada nothing

some, any f ~ ningün } none

alguno ninguno

someone ai~uien nadie no one

somebody b nobody

some day alguin dia

always siempre nunca never

so~netimes a veces

also, too también tampoco not...either

either or o ni neither...nor

Notice that most indefinites begin with the letters alg- and the nega-

tives begin with n-.

Contrary to English, a negative word (not an indefinite) is used in a

Spanish sentence that contains no meaning not. An indefinite word

cannot appear in a negative Spanish sentence.

English I do not have anything.

not indefinite word

Spanish No tengo nada.

I I

not negative word (nothing)

The following formula for indefinite and negatives in English and

Spanish will help you use them correctly.

ENGLISH not + main verb + indefinite word(s)

SPANISH no + verb + negative word(s)

In order to use the indefinites and negatives correctly in Spanish, it

will often be necessary to reword the English sentence so that it is a

word-for-word translation of the Spanish sentence.

I do not see anybody.

I I

not + indefinite

No veo a nadie.

I I

no + negative

[word-for-word: “I do not see nobody”]

Follow these steps to find the Spanish equivalent of an English sen-

tence with not + an indefinite word:

1. Locate the indefinite word in the English sentence.

2. From the chart choose the negative word that is the opposite of the

English indefinite word.

3. Restructure the English sentence using not + the negative word

chosen under #2 above.

4. Put the sentence into Spanish.

Let us apply the steps outlined above to the following sentences.

I do not want to eat anything.

1. IDENTIFY THE INDEFINITE: anything

2. SELEcT THE NEGATIvE: nothing

3. RESTRUCTURE: “I do not want to eat nothing”

No quiero corner nada.

183

I don’t (do not) know anyone here.

1. IDENTIFY THE INDEFINITE: anyone

2. SELECT THE NEGATIVE: no one

3. RESTRUCTURE: “I don’t know no one here”

No conozco a nadie aqui.