Breakdown of No veo ninguna señal en la calle.
yo
I
la calle
the street
en
on
ver
to see
no
not
la señal
the sign
ninguna
any
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Questions & Answers about No veo ninguna señal en la calle.
Why are there two negatives in this sentence (no + ninguna)?
In Spanish, double negation is mandatory: the negative particle no precedes the verb, and a negative determiner like ninguno/a, nada, or nadie follows to reinforce the negation. Together they form a single negative idea (“I don’t see any…”). In English, double negatives usually cancel out, but in Spanish they intensify the negative meaning.
Why is ninguna used instead of ninguno?
Because ninguna must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Señal is feminine and singular, so we pair it with ninguna. If the noun were masculine (e.g., problema), we would use ningún (the apocopated form of ninguno): No veo ningún problema.
Why is the noun singular (señal) rather than plural (señales)?
The determiner ninguna is singular, so the noun it modifies must also be singular. Spanish does not allow ningunas in the plural. If you want to express “I don’t see any signs” with a plural noun, you drop ninguna and say No veo señales.
What’s the difference between No veo ninguna señal and No veo señales?
Both translate as “I don’t see any signs,” but:
• No veo señales is more neutral and concise.
• No veo ninguna señal uses a singular negative determiner for emphasis or clarity, often sounding a bit stronger or more deliberate.
Why do we say en la calle instead of just en calle?
Spanish normally uses the definite article with general locations: en la escuela, en la casa, en la calle (on/along the street). Omitting the article (en calle) sounds unnatural except in some fixed expressions or when using official street names (e.g., vivimos en Calle 42).
Can I move en la calle to the beginning of the sentence?
Yes. Spanish has flexible word order. You can say En la calle no veo ninguna señal. Starting with en la calle places slight emphasis on the location, but the meaning remains the same.