Tener Ganas De

Question

Following on from bcollin2151's question a few days ago, I am left with a nagging doubt in my mind. She asked the following,

How do you say "I don't feel like (doing something).

From the answers given there is no doubt that "no tengo ganas de hacer" is a good translation for "I don't feel like doing" but how about this construction,

I don't feel like doing anything.

Would this be

1) No tengo ganas de hacer algo

or

2) No tengo ganas de hacer nada

I get the feeling that it should be number 2) even though the English equivalent, two negatives making a positve as in "I don't feel like doing nothing", would mean that I do feel like doing something.

Answer 1

It is not a matter of choice. There is a number of negative words and phrases which -for historical reasons- demand the presence of an extra no when they appear after the verb, and reject completely that "no" if they appear before the verb:

nada, nadie, ninguno, nunca, en absoluto, para nada, ni... (eg. ni en broma)

Examples:

No voy nunca - Nunca voy ("Voy nunca" or "Nunca no voy" are unacceptable)

No vino nadie - Nadie vino

Now, in the sentence in question, if you say "No tengo ganas de hacer algo", it would be translated as "I don't feel like doing something", while "No tengo ganas de hacer nada" would be "I don't feel like doing anything".

Notice that in English you use "something" for positive sentences, and "anything" for negative and interrogative sentences (and other some- and any- words). In Spanish we use "algo", "alguien"... for positive and interrogative sentences, as well as negative ones when they appear before the verb. We use "nada", "nadie"... for negative sentences when they appear after the verb, and they must go along with "no".

Answer 2

Estoy desganado! No quiero hacer nada! (desganar)

I am without the desire to do anything!

Answer 3

A double negative in Spanish actually strengthens the negative, so yes, #2 would be correct.

It does not strenghten anything. It is simple compulsory when certain words appear after the verb. - lazarus1907, Sep 3, 2010

Answer 4

Good morning, Eddy.

I would go with "No tengo ganas de hacer nada," which gets 798,000 results on Google.

However, let's wait for someone with more experience to chime in and let us know what's more natural.

Gracias Marianne. Todos aquí saben que la gramatica no es uno de mis puntos fuertes, jeje. - Eddy, Sep 3, 2010