Spanish · A1 · Everyday language
Not Quite Yet in Spanish
This guide focuses on using simple negation in Spanish to set gentle limits and describe everyday situations where something is missing or not yet ready.
What you'll learn
- Learn to form negative sentences using 'no'
- Understand how to express that something is 'not yet' happening
- Describe the absence of items using 'quedar' and 'no hay'
Spanish phrases for not quite yet
La leche no está caliente.
The milk is not hot.
We use 'está' because temperature is a temporary state.
Tu biberón no está vacío.
Your bottle is not empty.
'Vacío' means empty.
El osito no está aquí.
Teddy is not here.
'Osito' is the cute way to say 'little bear'.
Aún no es hora de dormir.
It is not bedtime yet.
'Aún no' is a very useful phrase meaning 'not yet'.
No queda leche.
There is no milk left.
The verb 'quedar' is used to talk about what remains.
No quedan burbujas.
There are no bubbles left.
We use 'quedan' (plural) because 'burbujas' is plural.
No tenemos plátanos.
We have no bananas.
In Spanish, you simply negate the verb 'to have'.
Esa no es tu taza.
That is not your cup.
'Esa' refers to 'that one' (feminine object).
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Aún no
Not yet
Essential for managing expectations with children.
Quedar
To be left / To remain
Used to check if there is anything left in a bottle or plate.
Osito
Teddy bear
Adding '-ito' to 'oso' (bear) makes it small and dear.
Basic Negation
To make a sentence negative in Spanish, simply put the word 'no' directly before the conjugated verb.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | No + Verb | No está (It is not) |
| Not yet | Aún no + Verb | Aún no es (It is not yet) |
Expressing 'None Left'
To say there is 'no more' of something, Spanish speakers often use the verb 'quedar' (to remain).
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | No queda + [Noun] | No queda agua (No water left) |
| Plural | No quedan + [Nouns] | No quedan galletas (No cookies left) |
More examples
No es el momento.
It's not the time.
A gentle way to say 'wait' or 'not now'.
No tengo más.
I don't have any more.
Useful when the snacks are all gone.
La sopa no está fría.
The soup is not cold.
Describing the state of food.