The double negation rule
In Portuguese, expressing negative concepts often requires a double negative. If a negative word like nada (nothing / anything) or ninguém (nobody / anybody) comes after the verb, you must also place não before the verb.
| The room is empty, there is nothing here. | O quarto está vazio, não há nada aqui. |
| My father likes silence and doesn't hear anyone. | O meu pai gosta do silêncio e não ouve ninguém. |
Stacking negatives with nunca
The word nunca (never) frequently comes before the verb. When any negative word sits in front of the verb, you drop the não.
Portuguese allows you to stack multiple negative words in the same sentence. If nunca is before the verb, you can still place nada or ninguém after the verb. This translates smoothly into English as "never [verb] anything" or "never [verb] anyone."
| Our friend is calm and never says anything. | O nosso amigo é calmo e nunca diz nada. |
| We never hear anybody's voice. | Nós nunca ouvimos a voz de ninguém. |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io
