No estoy ocupado.
English: I am not busy.
- Language
- Spanish
- Level
- A0
- Unit
- Negaciones y preguntas básicas
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Negatives in Spanish are built by placing 'no' before the verb. There is no helper verb needed.
When to use it
Use 'no' to say no, deny information, or describe absence.
Key forms
- no + verb
- no puedo (modal awareness)
Examples
Ella no conduce.
English: She does not drive.
Ellos no están en la escuela.
English: They are not at school.
No entendemos.
English: We do not understand.
Tips
- Place 'no' directly before the verb.
- Use contractions only in spoken Spanish (e.g., pa' for para), but not for negatives.
- Do not add -s to verbs for negatives.
Exceptions and edge cases
- With compound verbs, 'no' comes before the whole verb phrase: No puedo ir.