Activity Overview
In the initial learning stages of positive and negative in Spanish, students must master the terms for positives and negatives as they would a new vocabulary list. It is helpful to think of the terms in categories and as opposites. For example, también and tampoco are opposites, and they belong to the same category as they are both used to express agreement. También is used to agree with an affirmative statement, while tampoco is used to agree with a negative statement.
In this activity, students will create a grid to illustrate the meaning of opposite positive and negative words. Students should organize their terms into the three categories: people, things, and quantities. With a more advanced class or students, have them also include a sentence in the description box below each cell that uses the vocabulary term and describes or matches the cell illustration. For a more beginner class, students can put the English translation in the description box instead.
The chart below contains what are termed as positive and negative words in Spanish. They are used to communicate absence (negative) or presence (positive) of something—whether a person, a thing, or a quantity.
| Positive | Negative | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agreement | también | also/too | tampoco | neither |
| Conjunction | y, o | and, or | ni…ni | neither…nor |
| Person | alguien | someone | nadie | no one |
| Thing | algo | something | nada | nothing |
| Time/Frequency | siempre | always | nunca | never |
| Quantity | alguno/a(s), algún | some | ninguno/a, ningún | none |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a chart that illustrates positives and negatives for each category: people, things, and quantities.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Label the columns with "Positive" and "Negative" and the rows with "Person", "Thing", and "Quantity".
- In the Positive column, write a sentence for each category.
- In the Negative column, do the same but use the same scenario.
- Create an illustration for each sentence and highlight the vocabulary form used.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
In the initial learning stages of positive and negative in Spanish, students must master the terms for positives and negatives as they would a new vocabulary list. It is helpful to think of the terms in categories and as opposites. For example, también and tampoco are opposites, and they belong to the same category as they are both used to express agreement. También is used to agree with an affirmative statement, while tampoco is used to agree with a negative statement.
In this activity, students will create a grid to illustrate the meaning of opposite positive and negative words. Students should organize their terms into the three categories: people, things, and quantities. With a more advanced class or students, have them also include a sentence in the description box below each cell that uses the vocabulary term and describes or matches the cell illustration. For a more beginner class, students can put the English translation in the description box instead.
The chart below contains what are termed as positive and negative words in Spanish. They are used to communicate absence (negative) or presence (positive) of something—whether a person, a thing, or a quantity.
| Positive | Negative | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agreement | también | also/too | tampoco | neither |
| Conjunction | y, o | and, or | ni…ni | neither…nor |
| Person | alguien | someone | nadie | no one |
| Thing | algo | something | nada | nothing |
| Time/Frequency | siempre | always | nunca | never |
| Quantity | alguno/a(s), algún | some | ninguno/a, ningún | none |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a chart that illustrates positives and negatives for each category: people, things, and quantities.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Label the columns with "Positive" and "Negative" and the rows with "Person", "Thing", and "Quantity".
- In the Positive column, write a sentence for each category.
- In the Negative column, do the same but use the same scenario.
- Create an illustration for each sentence and highlight the vocabulary form used.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Spanish Negatives Vocabulary
How To Practice Spanish Negatives with Interactive Classroom Games
Engage students by turning Spanish negatives practice into fun, movement-based games that reinforce vocabulary and usage.
Set up a 'Positive vs. Negative' relay race.
Divide your class into two teams. Assign one team positive words and the other negatives. Have students race to the board to write correct vocabulary in response to prompts or scenarios. This boosts energy and reinforces word categories!
Play 'Find the Opposite' with flashcards.
Give each student a flashcard with either a positive or negative word. Challenge them to find their partner with the opposite word. After pairing, have each duo share an example sentence using both words. It’s a quick way to review and encourage speaking.
Create a classroom scavenger hunt.
Hide cards around the room with Spanish positive or negative words. Ask students to find cards and use the word in a sentence about something in the classroom. This activity gets students moving and thinking creatively.
Wrap up with a group reflection discussion.
Invite students to share which negatives and positives were most challenging and why. Discuss strategies together for remembering tricky pairs. This encourages metacognition and builds classroom community.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spanish Negatives Vocabulary
What are the main positive and negative words in Spanish for beginners?
Positive words include también (also/too), y (and), o (or), alguien (someone), algo (something), siempre (always), and alguno/a (some). Negative words include tampoco (neither), ni...ni (neither...nor), nadie (no one), nada (nothing), nunca (never), and ninguno/a (none).
How can I teach Spanish negatives and positives using a chart activity?
Have students create a grid with Positive and Negative columns and rows for Person, Thing, and Quantity. In each cell, they write a sentence with the target word and add a description or illustration to reinforce meaning.
What's the difference between 'también' and 'tampoco' in Spanish?
También means also or too and is used to agree with positive statements. Tampoco means neither and is used to agree with negative statements.
What are some examples of positive and negative words for people, things, and quantities in Spanish?
For people: alguien (someone), nadie (no one). For things: algo (something), nada (nothing). For quantities: alguno/algún (some), ninguno/ningún (none).
How do you use Spanish negatives in simple sentences for students?
Use no before the verb and add the negative word: e.g., No veo a nadie (I don't see anyone). For beginners, keep sentences short and use vocabulary like nadie, nada, or nunca.
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