Extreme inclusion and exclusion (hasta, ni siquiera)

Extreme inclusion with "hasta"

You may already know hasta as "until", but it is also widely used as an adverb meaning "even". Use it to highlight that something surprising or unexpected is included in a situation.

Place hasta right before the noun, phrase, or verb you want to emphasize.

The climate is so extreme that even the animals flee.
El clima es tan extremo que hasta los animales huyen.
It is evident that even the trees are dying because of this extreme drought.
Es evidente que hasta los árboles mueren por esta sequía extrema.

Extreme exclusion with "ni siquiera"

To express extreme exclusion, use ni siquiera (not even). This phrase is perfect for emphasizing a shocking lack of effort, or when something expected simply does not happen.

I do not care about the drought; I do not even need a drop of water.
A mí me da igual la sequía; ni siquiera necesito una gota de agua.
How severe the hurricane is, and not even a drop of rain is falling!
¡Lo severo que es el huracán, y ni siquiera cae una gota de lluvia!

Emphasizing apathy and severe conditions

Hasta and ni siquiera are incredibly useful for complaining about harsh conditions or extreme laziness. Notice how ni siquiera often sits right before the verb to highlight a total lack of willpower.

Even the doctor lost the will to help.
Hasta la médica perdió la voluntad de ayudar.
They do not even have the will to survive in the forest.
Ni siquiera tienen la voluntad de sobrevivir en el bosque.
Not even the nurse helped you; he remained motionless because of the apathy.
Ni siquiera el enfermero te ayudó; se quedó inmóvil por la apatía.
The apathy is extreme; they do not even want to work.
La apatía es extrema; ni siquiera quieren trabajar.
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