NO is used
to negate verbs. You can't use it to negate predicates,
as in English.
I am not rich. (not negates rich,
which is a property that is "predicated" to the subject
"I".)
No soy rico. (no negates soy)
There are two different meanings/usages for no in Spanish.
One answers a yes-no question, the other negates the verb, and
is therefore equivalent to "not" in English.
If you use one negative expression, additional expressions
must be negative as well. The double and triple negative
are not only possible, but mandatory.
I don't know anything. = No sé nada.
I don't have even the slightest idea. = No tengo nisiquiera
ninguna idea. (I don't have not even none idea)
Common mistakes involve using "o" instead of "ni"
in a negative sentence, or también instead of tampoco.
(either is often a negative expression--watch out!)
Another odd feature--plural questions are switched to negative
singular.
¿Tienes amigos? No, no tengo ninguno. (rather
than ningunos)
There is some flexibility:
Nadie está aquí. No está aquí nadie.
Nunca fumo. No fumo nunca.
