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"May" is a form of "may", an auxiliary verb which is often translated as "poder". "Negative" is an adjective which is often translated as "negativo". Learn more about the difference between "may" and "negative" below.
may(
mey
)An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
a. poder
May I help you, madam?¿Puedo ayudarla, señora?
May I leave the table? - No, you may not.¿Puedo levantarme de la mesa? - No, no puedes.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I’d like to make a suggestion, if I may.Quisiera hacer una sugerencia, si me permite.
May I see that letter?¿Me enseña la carta?
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
She may have decided to go to the movies by herself.A lo mejor decidió ir al cine sola.
We may be able to find a replacement for you so you can take off.Puede que podamos encontrar a alguien que te sustituya para que puedas tener el día libre.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
May you both be very happy!¡Que sean muy felices!
We want to preserve this landscape so that it may be enjoyed by future generations.Queremos conservar este paisaje para que las generaciones venideras lo disfruten.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I may not be rich, but I’m happy.No seré rica, pero soy feliz.
You may not like the taste of the cough syrup, but you have to take it.Puede que no te guste el sabor del jarabe para la tos, pero hay que tomarlo.
negative(
neh
-
guh
-
dihv
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. negativo
The blood test for herpes came back negative.El análisis de sangre para herpes salió negativo.
a. negativo
We received a negative answer to our request for funding.Recibimos una respuesta negativa a nuestra solicitud de financiación.
a. negativo
Your negative attitude won't help you solve your problems.Tu actitud negativa no te ayudará a resolver tus problemas.
a. negativo
You should always disconnect the negative terminal first when disconnecting a car battery.Siempre se debe desconectar el polo negativo primero al desconectar la batería del coche.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
5. (refusal)
a. la negativa (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Alicia implored him to come back to her, but his answer was a negative.Alicia le imploró que regresara con ella, pero su respuesta fue una negativa.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
He asked her to marry him and she replied in the negative.Le pidió que se casara con él y le contestó que no.
I asked him if he wanted to go hunting and he answered in the negative.Le pregunté si quería ir a cazar y me contestó negativamente.
6. (grammar)
a. la negación (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Class, what is the negative of "I go to the store"?Estudiantes, ¿cuál es la negación de "voy a la tienda"?
a. el negativo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The negative got overexposed when someone opened the darkroom door.El negativo quedó sobreexpuesto cuando alguien abrió la puerta del cuarto oscuro.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
8. (to reject)
a. rechazar
The referendum results were negatived by charges of campaign corruption.Los resultados del referéndum fueron rechazados por cargos de corrupción en las campañas.
a. negar
On what grounds can we negative the claims made against the company?¿Por qué motivos podemos negar las aseveraciones hechas contra la compañía?
10. (to negate)
a. anular
Are the mitigating circumstances in this case enough to negative the charges?¿Las circunstancias atenuantes en este caso son suficientes para anular los cargos?
