não...ninguém

Not...Anyone

Level 3

In Portuguese, when you want to say 'not anyone' or 'not anybody', you must use a double negative: não + [verb] + ninguém.

How It Works

The pattern não...ninguém is the standard way to express the absence of people in a sentence.

1. The Structure:
The adverb não is placed before the verb, and ninguém is placed after. Note that while não usually precedes the verb, object pronouns can sit between them (e.g., Não o vi).

2. Translation and Meaning:
While ninguém is a negative pronoun, its English translation depends on the structure. When paired with não, it translates to 'anyone' or 'anybody'.
Example: Eu não vi ninguém. (I didn't see anyone.)

3. Word Order and Subject Use:
If ninguém starts the sentence as the subject, you do not use não. In this case, it translates as 'nobody'.
Correct: Ninguem veio. (Nobody came.)

4. Verb Agreement:
Even if you are referring to a group of people, ninguém always requires the verb to be in the third-person singular (ele/ela form).

5. Prepositions:
If the verb requires a preposition, it must be placed directly before ninguém.
Example: Eu não falei com ninguém. (I didn't talk to anyone.)

6. Orthography:
Always remember the mandatory acute accent on the final 'é' (ninguém). This is a common spelling mistake for learners to avoid.

Examples (5)

  1. Eu não conheço ninguém aqui.

    I don't know anyone here.

    Word by Word: I not know nobody here.

    The 'não' triggers the negation, and 'ninguém' specifies that it refers to people.

  2. Não havia ninguém na praia hoje.

    There was no one at the beach today.

    Word by Word: Not there-was nobody at-the beach today.

    Used with the verb 'haver' (there is/are) to show the absence of people.

  3. Ela não disse nada a ninguém.

    She didn't say anything to anyone.

    Word by Word: She not said nothing to nobody.

    This is a triple negative (não + nada + ninguém), which is perfectly correct and standard in Portuguese.

  4. Nós não vimos ninguém no parque.

    We didn't see anyone in the park.

    Word by Word: We not saw nobody in-the park.

    A standard example of the pattern with a past tense verb.

  5. Você não ligou para ninguém?

    You didn't call anyone?

    Word by Word: You not called for nobody?

    In questions, the double negative structure remains the same.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting 'não' when 'ninguém' follows the verb.

    Vi ninguém na festa.
    Não vi ninguém na festa.

    Learners often apply English logic where one negative is enough. In Portuguese, if 'ninguém' is after the verb, 'não' is required.

  • Using 'não' when 'ninguém' is the subject (before the verb).

    Ninguém não sabe a resposta.
    Ninguém sabe a resposta.

    If the negative word starts the sentence, it already 'triggers' the negation, so 'não' is not used.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

não...ninguémLevel 3Not...Anyone

Learn This First

To learn 'não...ninguém', a learner must first understand the general logic of double negation in Portuguese, where 'não' is placed before the verb and a negative word follows it. Familiarity with indefinite pronouns and basic negation placement is required to ensure the learner can distinguish between 'someone' and 'no one' within a sentence.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

ninguém