Answer Question
Niente
I'm a little confused with the word "niente." I'm working through Italian 3 and in lesson 2 I've seen "niente" used for anything, nothing, and something.
I remember "niente" is both anything and nothing, which is difficult for me to remember, particularly with some of the questions, such as "We don't want anything for dessert thanks." I know the correct translation is "non vogliamo niente di dolce, grazie" but it feels like a double negative in english. Is that an issue in Italian?
Another question on the same lesson was "don't you wish for something to drink?" The answer is "non desidera niente da bere?" Until this point we have learned the phrase "qualcosa da bere" for "something to drink." I don't understand why we use "niente" instead of "qualcosa" there.
Thanks!
I remember "niente" is both anything and nothing, which is difficult for me to remember, particularly with some of the questions, such as "We don't want anything for dessert thanks." I know the correct translation is "non vogliamo niente di dolce, grazie" but it feels like a double negative in english. Is that an issue in Italian?
Another question on the same lesson was "don't you wish for something to drink?" The answer is "non desidera niente da bere?" Until this point we have learned the phrase "qualcosa da bere" for "something to drink." I don't understand why we use "niente" instead of "qualcosa" there.
Thanks!