In this lesson, we're going to learn how to make negative sentences using regular present tense verbs in Spanish.

Knowing how to create negative sentences is really important for speaking in Spanish.

We will focus on three kinds of regular verbs:

• -ar verbs
• -er verbs
• -ir verbs

1. How to Make Negative Sentences

Making a negative sentence in Spanish is simple.

You just need to use the word "no" before the verb. Here’s the easy formula:

• Subject + No + Conjugated Verb

For example:

• Affirmative: Yo hablo. (I speak.)
• Negative: Yo no hablo. (I do not speak.)

2. Changing Regular Present Tense Verbs

Before we look at examples, let’s quickly go over how to change regular verbs into the present tense.

-ar Verbs:
Here’s how to change -ar verbs (like hablar):

• Yo → -o
• Tú → -as
• Él/Ella/Usted → -a
• Nosotros/as → -amos
• Vosotros/as → -áis
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes → -an

Example:
Hablar (to speak)

• Yo hablo (I speak)
• Tú hablas (You speak)
• Él habla (He speaks)
• Nosotros hablamos (We speak)
• Vosotros habláis (You all speak)
• Ellos hablan (They speak)

-er Verbs:
Here’s how to change -er verbs (like comer):

• Yo → -o
• Tú → -es
• Él/Ella/Usted → -e
• Nosotros/as → -emos
• Vosotros/as → -éis
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes → -en

Example:
Comer (to eat)

• Yo como (I eat)
• Tú comes (You eat)
• Él come (He eats)
• Nosotros comemos (We eat)
• Vosotros coméis (You all eat)
• Ellos comen (They eat)

-ir Verbs:
Here’s how to change -ir verbs (like vivir):

• Yo → -o
• Tú → -es
• Él/Ella/Usted → -e
• Nosotros/as → -imos
• Vosotros/as → -ís
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes → -en

Example:
Vivir (to live)

• Yo vivo (I live)
• Tú vives (You live)
• Él vive (He lives)
• Nosotros vivimos (We live)
• Vosotros vivís (You all live)
• Ellos viven (They live)

3. Making Negative Sentences with Regular Verbs

Now let’s use what we learned to create some negative sentences:

For Hablar:

• Yo no hablo. (I do not speak.)
• Ellos no hablan. (They do not speak.)

For Comer:

• Tú no comes. (You do not eat.)
• Nosotros no comemos. (We do not eat.)

For Vivir:

• Ella no vive. (She does not live.)
• Vosotros no vivís. (You all do not live.)

4. Practice Time!

Now it's your turn! Try to change these positive sentences into negative ones:

1. Ella baila. (She dances.)
2. Yo corro. (I run.)
3. Ustedes escriben. (You all write.)

Remember to place "no" before the verb!

Practicing this way will help you get better at making negative sentences in Spanish!