Nunca expresses that an action does not happen at any time or on any occasion.
The idea
Put nunca before the verb, or put no before the verb and nunca after it.
Examples
- Nunca tomo café por la noche.I never drink coffee at night.
- No como nunca en el tren.I never eat on the train.
- Mi abuelo nunca usa el ascensor.My grandfather never uses the lift.
- Nunca llegamos tarde a clase.We never arrive late for class.
- Ella no trabaja nunca los domingos.She never works on Sundays.
- ¿Nunca escuchas música en casa?Do you never listen to music at home?
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Watch out
When nunca comes before the verb, ordinary negative sentences do not need another no.
Try it yourself
Choose “never”: ___ tomo café por la noche. (Nunca / Siempre)
Show answer or example answer
Nunca
Nunca means never; siempre means always.
Choose “never”: No como ___ en el tren. (nunca / siempre)
Show answer or example answer
nunca
After no como, nunca can follow the verb.
Choose the normal negative before the verb: Mi abuelo ___ usa el ascensor. (nunca / no nunca)
Show answer or example answer
nunca
Before the verb, nunca makes the ordinary sentence negative.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Spanish sentences where available. We keep your score.
Choose “never”: ___ tomo café por la noche. (Nunca / Siempre)
Choose “never”: No como ___ en el tren. (nunca / siempre)
Choose the normal negative before the verb: Mi abuelo ___ usa el ascensor. (nunca / no nunca)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe two things you never do, using each of the two word orders.