How to Make Negative Sentences in Portuguese: Não, Nunca, Nada, and Ninguém — Practice

Put não before the verb to say no

The basic way to make a Portuguese sentence negative is to put não before the verb. This pattern works with most everyday statements: Eu não entendo (I do not understand), Ela não trabalha hoje (She is not working today), and A gente não tem tempo (We do not have time). In casual speech, não is sometimes shortened to num, but learners should recognize the informal sound and use standard não when writing clearly.

An answer can also begin with Não, followed by a complete sentence or a short phrase. Pay attention to the difference between the response word and the negative placed inside a sentence. Saying Não, não sei means “No, I don’t know.” The second não belongs with the verb sei.

Use nunca for “never” and “not ever”

Nunca means never. It normally appears before the verb in a simple statement: Eu nunca viajei sozinho (I have never traveled alone). Depending on context, Portuguese may use the present, past, or another tense where English chooses a different form. Learn the sentence as a complete example instead of translating each tense word for word.

Nunca can also answer a question by itself. If you want to strengthen a negative claim, the common pattern is nunca + verb, without adding a second não before the verb: Eu nunca tomo café à noite. This is a practical pattern for habits, experience, and personal preferences.

Place nada and ninguém where they make sense

Nada means nothing or anything in a negative sentence; ninguém means nobody or anybody. In a basic sentence, place the word before the verb: Nada aconteceu (Nothing happened) and Ninguém respondeu (Nobody answered). With não, use a clear pattern such as Não vi ninguém (I didn’t see anyone) or Não comprei nada (I didn’t buy anything).

Portuguese commonly uses these negative words together with não in this post-verbal position. That combination does not create the English-style “double negative” meaning of a positive sentence. Keep the full Portuguese pattern together as a unit: não + verb + ninguém/nada.

Build a negative answer from a real question

A good practice routine starts with a question and changes only the part you need. Ask Você trabalha amanhã? Then answer Não trabalho amanhã or Não, amanhã eu não trabalho. Next add nunca, nada, or ninguém to express a more specific idea. The question-and-answer format helps you remember both word order and natural response rhythm.

If you are unsure, start with the dependable pattern não + verb. Then learn the position of another negative word from a complete sentence. Compare the examples here with everyday listening practice from I Speak Portuguese and reuse the Real Life Portuguese guides to common questions and conversation responses.

Remember: Start with não before the verb. Learn nunca + verb and não + verb + nada/ninguém as complete patterns, then adapt them to your own routine.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I don’t live here.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Eu não moro aqui.

2. You don’t need to wait.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você não precisa esperar.

3. No, she isn’t at home.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não, ela não está em casa.

4. I never wake up this early on Sunday.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Eu nunca acordo tão cedo no domingo.

5. She has never been to Salvador.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela nunca veio a Salvador.

6. Have you tried acarajé? Not yet, I’ve never tried it.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você já comeu acarajé? Ainda não, nunca experimentei.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Start with não before the verb. Learn nunca + verb and não + verb + nada/ninguém as complete patterns, then adapt them to your own routine.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our How to Make Negative Sentences in Portuguese: Não, Nunca, Nada, and Ninguém lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.