Something, nothing, somebody, nobody, in Spanish
algo - something
nada - nothing
alguien - somebody
nadie - nobody
Yo tengo algo. (I have something.)
Yo conozco a alguien. (I know somebody.)
In English, we cannot use double negatives:
We say either I have nothing or I don't have anything. (We use anything instead of nothing in negative sentences.)
In Spanish, we must use double negatives:
Yo no tengo nada. (Lit. I don't have nothing.)
Yo no conozco a nadie. (Lit. I don't know nobody.)
We cannot use nada or nadie in affirmative sentences.
I have nothing and I don't have anything can only be translated into yo no tengo nada.
I know nobody and I don't know anybody can only be translated into yo no conozco a nadie.
Progress, Vol. 2
Progress, all volumes
