Learn Spanish (Spain): Pero no es ningún error grave.

Pero no es ningún error grave.

But it is no serious mistake.

Breakdown of Pero no es ningún error grave.

Questions & Answers about Pero no es ningún error grave.

Why do we use ningún here instead of ninguno?

Because it comes directly before error, which is a masculine singular noun. When ninguno is placed right before a masculine singular noun, it drops the -o and gains an accent, becoming ningún.

Why are there two negative words (no and ningún) in this sentence?

Spanish uses double negatives frequently! If a negative word like ningún comes after the verb (es), you are required to put no before the verb. It translates naturally to 'it is no serious mistake' in English.

Does the word ningún change the meaning compared to just saying un?

Yes, slightly. If you said no es un error grave, it just means 'it is not a serious mistake.' Using ningún adds a little extra emphasis, meaning 'it is not any kind of serious mistake' or 'it is no serious mistake.'

Why doesn't the adjective grave end in -o to match the masculine noun error?

Adjectives that end in -e in their basic form, like grave (serious) or inteligente (smart), do not change to show gender. You use exactly the same word for both masculine and feminine nouns.