res, mai, cap

Basic Negative Words

Level 1

Res, mai and cap express no thing, no time and no member of a set.

How It Works

In a negative statement, put no before the verb when the negative word follows it: no vull res, no ve mai, no tinc cap llibre. Before the verb, a negative word can appear with or without no: ningú (no) ve.

Use res for a thing, enlloc for a place and tampoc for a negative addition. Gens measures degree or an uncountable quantity: no tinc gens de gana. Gaire means much, and gaires means many: no hi ha gaire aigua, no tinc gaires llibres. Do not replace every negative molt with gaire automatically; usage depends on meaning and variety.

In questions and conditions, words such as res or cap can mean anything or any rather than asserting a negative: vols res? Thus a positive question containing cap is not, by itself, a missing-no error.

Examples (3)

  1. No he vist ningú enlloc.

    I have not seen anyone anywhere.

  2. No tinc cap clau.

    I do not have any key.

  3. Vols res més?

    Would you like anything else?

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res, mai, capLevel 1Basic Negative Words

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