não...nada
Not...Anything
In Portuguese, negative words like nada (nothing/anything) usually require the adverb não (not) before the verb. This is called negative concord.
How It Works
The pattern não...nada is the standard way to express that 'nothing' is happening or that someone is 'not doing anything.'
1. The Rule of Position
In Portuguese, if a negative word like nada appears after the verb, you must place não before the verb.
Example: Eu não vi nada (I didn't see anything).
2. Dropping the 'Não'
If you move nada to the beginning of the sentence (before the verb), the não is dropped because the sentence is already marked as negative.
Example: Nada aconteceu (Nothing happened) vs. Não aconteceu nada.
3. Pronoun Placement (Proclisis)
In European Portuguese, the presence of não triggers proclisis, meaning object pronouns must move before the verb.
Example: Não o vi nada (I didn't see him at all).
4. Adverbial Use
Sometimes nada acts as an adverb meaning 'not at all' rather than 'nothing.'
Example: Ele não é nada simpático (He is not at all friendly).
Examples (5)
- Eu não vi nada na mesa.
I didn't see anything on the table.
Word by Word: I not saw nothing on-the table.
This is the standard construction: 'não' before the verb and 'nada' after.
- Ela não sabe nada sobre o projeto.
She knows nothing about the project.
Word by Word: She not knows nothing about the project.
Even in formal contexts, the double negative is required.
- Não aconteceu nada de especial hoje.
Nothing special happened today.
Word by Word: Not happened nothing of special today.
When 'nada' is the subject but placed after the verb, 'não' is mandatory.
- Nada aconteceu ontem.
Nothing happened yesterday.
Word by Word: Nothing happened yesterday.
Since 'nada' comes before the verb here, 'não' is not used.
- Isso não é nada bom.
That is not good at all.
Word by Word: That not is nothing good.
Here 'nada' acts as an adverb of intensity, emphasizing the negative state.
Common Mistakes
Omitting 'não' when 'nada' follows the verb.
Eu vi nada.Eu não vi nada.In standard Portuguese, you cannot have a negative word after the verb without 'não' before the verb.
Using 'não' when 'nada' starts the sentence.
Nada não aconteceu.Nada aconteceu.If the negative word starts the sentence, adding 'não' is redundant and incorrect.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the 'não...nada' double negation, learners first need to be comfortable with basic verb conjugation to form the core of the sentence. They also need to understand how 'não' functions as a primary negator and how neuter terms like 'nada' function as objects in a sentence.
- isto/isso/aquiloNeuter Demonstrative Pronouns
Understanding neuter pronouns helps the learner grasp 'nada' as a neuter concept representing 'nothing' or 'anything' in negative contexts.
Level 1 - não + Pronoun + VerbProclisis with Negation
This pattern introduces the concept of 'não' as a trigger for specific word orders and negative structures in Portuguese.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- não...nuncaNot...Never
Another common negative concord pattern meaning 'not... ever' or 'never'.
Level 3 - não...ninguémNot...Anyone
The negative concord pattern used for people, meaning 'not... anyone'.
Level 3 - não...nenhum/nenhumaNot...Any
Used when negating specific nouns (not any/no), whereas 'nada' is for general things.
Level 3 - Proclisis (Pronoun Before Verb)
The grammatical term for placing pronouns before the verb, which is triggered by 'não'.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice não...nada in Bubblegum
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