Forming negative sentences using no (negation) with complex verbal structures

Spanish negative sentences

In Spanish, to make a sentence negative with compound verbs or complex verbal structures, simply put no before the first verb:

No quiero ver esa película.I don't want to see that film.

No podemos escuchar bien.We can't hear well.

Miguel y Nuria no han viajado a Tailandia.Miguel and Nuria haven't travelled to Thailand.

No tienes que ser demasiado impaciente.You do not have to be too impatient.

If the sentence has me, te, se, le, nos, os, les, lo, la, los, las then no goes in front of these:

No me he olvidado de ti.I haven't forgotten you.

No te vas a ir a España por ahora.You are not going to Spain for the moment.

No le quiero decir una mentira.I don't want to tell him a lie.

No nos gusta comer en ese restaurante.We don't like eating at that restaurant.

No la he visto hoy.I have not seen her today.

Sara no los ha comprado en esta tienda.Sara hasn't bought them in this shop.


In Spanish, the adverb no is often repeated to emphasise the negation.

No, no os puedo hacer el favor. Lo siento.No, I can't do you that favour. I am sorry.

See also Oración negativa and Forming negative sentences using no in Spanish (negation).

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Examples and resources

No podemos escuchar bien.We can't hear well.
No me he olvidado de ti.I haven't forgotten you.
No te vas a ir a España por ahora.You are not going to Spain for the moment.
No la he visto hoy.I have not seen her today.
Sara no los ha comprado en esta tienda.Sara hasn't bought them in this shop.
No tienes que ser demasiado impaciente.You do not have to be too impatient.
No, no os puedo hacer el favor. Lo siento.No, I can't do you that favour. I am sorry.
No quiero ver esa película.I don't want to see that film.
No nos gusta comer en ese restaurante.We don't like eating at that restaurant.
Miguel y Nuria no han viajado a Tailandia.Miguel and Nuria haven't travelled to Thailand.
No le quiero decir una mentira.I don't want to tell him a lie.
I'll be right with you...