No quiero ese libro; prefiero el otro.

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Breakdown of No quiero ese libro; prefiero el otro.

• querer: to want
• el libro: the book
• ese: that

Questions & Answers about No quiero ese libro; prefiero el otro.

Why is the negative no placed before quiero?

In Spanish, no normally goes directly before the conjugated verb:

• No quiero
• No tengo
• No sé

So No quiero ese libro is the standard way to say it. You do not put no after the verb in a sentence like this.

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Why isn’t yo included in No quiero and prefiero?

Spanish often drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• quiero = I want
• prefiero = I prefer

So Yo no quiero ese libro; yo prefiero el otro is possible, but it sounds more emphatic. Without yo, the sentence is more natural in most contexts.

You would add yo if you want contrast or emphasis, for example:

• Yo no quiero ese libro; yo prefiero el otro.

That can sound like I don’t want that book; I prefer the other one with extra stress on I.

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Why is it ese libro and not este libro or aquel libro?