When a detective is investigating an empty safe or a missing item, they might find absolutely nothing. To express "no", "not any", or "none" in Portuguese, use the negative word nenhum.
The Forms of Nenhum
Just like algum (some), nenhum changes its form to agree with the gender and number of the noun it describes or replaces:
- nenhum (masculine singular)
- nenhuma (feminine singular)
- nenhuns (masculine plural)
- nenhumas (feminine plural)
Double Negatives
In Portuguese, double negatives are perfectly normal and grammatically required. If nenhum (or one of its variations) comes after the verb, you must put não before the verb to complete the negative sentence.
| He does not notice any detail. | Ele não nota nenhum detalhe. |
| There is no clue in the closet. | Não há nenhuma pista no armário. |
However, if nenhum comes before the verb (usually as the subject of the sentence), it already makes the sentence negative. In this case, do not add não.
| No detail of the safe is new. | Nenhum detalhe do cofre é novo. |
Plural Forms
Since nenhum essentially means "zero" or "not a single one", it is most often used in the singular. You will generally only see the plural forms (nenhuns, nenhumas) with nouns that are always plural, such as óculos (glasses).
| The detective did not find any glasses. | O detetive não encontrou nenhuns óculos. |
| No thief was in my office. | Não esteve nenhum ladrão no meu escritório. |