Question

What is the correct negation of "There is someone in Spain who speaks at least 10 languages"?1) "Everyone in Spain speaks at least 10 languages."2) "Everyone outside of Spain speaks at least 10 languages."3) "There is someone in Spain who speaks at most 9 languages."4) "Everyone in Spain speaks at most 9 languages."5) "Everyone outside of Spain speaks at most 9 languages."6) "There is someone outside of Spain who speaks at most 9 languages."7) "There is someone outside of Spain who speaks at least 10 languages."

Answer 1

4) "Everyone in Spain speaks at most 9 languages."

Explanation:

A negation is a statement that contradicts the original statement. Since the original statement regards people in Spain, options 2, 5, 6 and 7 can be ruled out as they refer to speakers outside of Spain.

Evaluating the remaining statements.

1) "Everyone in Spain speaks at least 10 languages."

If that is true, then someone in Spain speaks at least 10 languages, it doesn't negate the original statement.

3) "There is someone in Spain who speaks at most 9 languages."

It only refers to one specific individual, it doesn't negate the original statement.

4) "Everyone in Spain speaks at most 9 languages."

This means that nobody in Spain speaks more than 9 languages, contradicting the original statement.

The answer is statement 4.