Negation with ni in Spanish
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Negation with ni
In negatives, w use ni:
- To say no emphatically: ni + verb/noun
Ni sueñes con venir a mi fiesta.
Don't even dream about coming to my party.
Ni loca te prestaré mi coche.
No way will I lend you my car (literally “Not even (if I was) crazy…”).
- As the opposite of y (and), to list different items: no + verb + ni + noun/verb + ni + noun/verb
En la tienda no había ni leche, ni pan, ni azúcar.
In the shop there was no milk, nor bread, nor sugar.
No sé ni leer ni escribir.
I can neither read nor write.
- To form a negative hypothesis: ni que + verb in subjunctive
No me hables así. Ni que fuera tonto ser, subj. pret. imperf..
Don't talk to me like that. It's not like I'm stupid.
- As a synonym of ni siquiera: no + verb + ni + verb/noun
No tengo ni 10 euros / No tengo ni siquiera 10 euros.
I don't even have 10 euros.
No puedo ni hablar / No puedo ni siquiera hablar.
I can't even speak.
- As a synonym of ningún: no + verb + ni + un/una + singular noun.
No hay ni un vaso en casa / No hay ningún vaso en casa.
There is not one glass in the house.
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