Question 1

Why isn't there a no in this sentence, like No me lo dijo nadie?

Accepted Answer

When a negative word like nadie (nobody) comes before the verb, you do not use no. If you put nadie after the verb, you must use a double negative: No me lo dijo nadie. Both structures are correct and mean the same thing, but putting nadie at the beginning is slightly more direct.

Question 2

What exactly do me and lo stand for in me lo dijo?

Accepted Answer

These are double object pronouns placed right before the conjugated verb. Me is the indirect object meaning "to me," and lo is the direct object meaning "it." In Spanish, the indirect object always comes first, so me lo dijo literally translates to "to me it told" (told it to me).

Question 3

Is en particular a fixed phrase, or could I use an adverb like particularmente?

Accepted Answer

En particular is a set phrase that works exactly like the English "in particular." While particularmente (particularly) is a real word, using the phrase nadie en particular is the most natural and common way to express this idea in Spanish.

Question 4

Why is the verb in the preterite tense (dijo) instead of the imperfect (decía)?

Accepted Answer

The act of telling someone a specific piece of information is viewed here as a single, completed event in the past. Because of this, the preterite form dijo (from decir) is used instead of the imperfect decía, which would imply an ongoing or habitual action like "nobody used to tell me."

Nadie en particular me lo dijo.

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