What is wrong with these sentences? (I'm trying to make negative sentences.)

Question

I was trying to turn each of the sentences into a negative sentence, but I've was told I did it incorrectly. What should I have done instead?

1 Jace tiene un pariente que escribe poemas. Jace no tiene a ningún pariente que escriba poemas.

2 Los Ayala usan coches que son baratos. Los Ayala no usan a ningúnas coches que sean baratos.

3 David trabaja con unas personas que conocen a su padre. David no trabaja con a ninguna persona que conozca a su padre.

4 Alma hace un plato ecuatoriano que es delicioso. Alma no hace a ningún plato ecuatoriano que sea delicioso.

Answer 1

Here's the mistake in the first sentence: After the verb "tener" the personal "a" is usually not needed.

In your second sentence the personal "a" is not needed because you're talking about coches. The second mistake is that in this type of sentence the plural in not generally used because "ninguno/a' means "ni uno/a" so it is not used in the plural. (there may be an occasional exception but I can't think of any)

Your second sentence should be. Los ayala no usan ningún coche que sea barato.

Third sentence should be: David no trabaja con ninguna persona---etc. No personal "a" needed because "persona" is not the direct object of the verb "trabaja." It is the object of the preposition "con."

Fourth sentence: Alma no hace ningún plato----etc. Again "a" is not necessary because a person is not the direct object of the verb. A plato is.

Here is a quick example of the differences when and when not to use the personal "a"

Estoy esperando el autobús. I am waiting for the bus--- no "a" needed.

Estoy esperando a mi novia. I am waiting for my girlfriend--a person (I hope) personal "a" needed.

Estoy esperando al profesor. I am waiting for the teacher. "a" + "el" contracts to "al"

One more quick note, you don't have to supply a word for "for." "esperar" doesn't need "for" It's like the verb "await" I am awaiting the teacher.

Buena suerte.

Hi Dani - What about "Don Francisco is listening TO Mrs Ramos" - ian-hill, Feb 7, 2016

Hey Daniela! Thanks for this answer. It helped me as well :) - AndréYuhai, Feb 7, 2016

Really good answer, Dani, as usual. I used to think tene needed a personal a, it was only very recently I noticed it doesn't, you're a brilliant teacher! - annierats, Feb 7, 2016

Thanks, Daniela! That was a really great explanation! :-) - magician12, Feb 7, 2016

@Don Ian: Don Francisco escucha a la Sra. Ramos. (Here it's a personal "a" as Mrs. Ramos is the direct object of "escuchar.") - Daniela2041, Feb 7, 2016

And thanks to everybody for your kind words. - Daniela2041, Feb 7, 2016

Answer 2

Daniela's answer is correct. One only tip: The first sentence could be correct. Al least in Spain it sounds normal:

No tiene a ninguna persona que le ayude (No tiene ninguna persona que le ayude is also totally correct)

No tiene a nadie que le ayude