Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Negations"
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[[File:learn_french_ne_pas.jpg]] | [[File:learn_french_ne_pas.jpg|thumb]] | ||
In this article you will discover how to form negation in French. | In this article, you will discover how to form negation in French. | ||
Feel free to directly edit this page if you think it can be improved. | Feel free to directly edit this page if you think it can be improved. | ||
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Following this general scheme, in French there are several kinds of denial, each one with a different structure: | Following this general scheme, in French there are several kinds of denial, each one with a different structure: | ||
==="Ne" + " | ==="Ne" + "Pas" : no (generally)=== | ||
*Je ne comprends pas. | *Je ne comprends pas. | ||
<blockquote>I do not understand</blockquote> | <blockquote>I do not understand</blockquote> | ||
==="Ne" + " | ==="Ne" + "Plus" : no more, anymore, no longer=== | ||
*Nous n’avons plus de café | *Nous n’avons plus de café | ||
<blockquote>We have no more coffee</blockquote> | <blockquote>We have no more coffee</blockquote> | ||
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<blockquote>He no longer smokes</blockquote> | <blockquote>He no longer smokes</blockquote> | ||
==="Ne" + " | ==="Ne" + "Rien" : anything=== | ||
*Je ne dis rien | *Je ne dis rien | ||
<blockquote>I do not say anything</blockquote> | <blockquote>I do not say anything</blockquote> | ||
==="Ne" + " | ==="Ne" + "Personne" : nobody, anybody=== | ||
*Il n’y a personne | *Il n’y a personne | ||
<blockquote>There is nobody</blockquote> | <blockquote>There is nobody</blockquote> | ||
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<blockquote>I do not see anybody</blockquote> | <blockquote>I do not see anybody</blockquote> | ||
==="Ne" + " | ==="Ne" + "Jamais" : never=== | ||
*Nous n’allons jamais à la mer | *Nous n’allons jamais à la mer | ||
<blockquote>We never go to the sea</blockquote> | <blockquote>We never go to the sea</blockquote> | ||
==="Ne" + " | ==="Ne" + "Aucun(e)": any=== | ||
*Je n’ai aucune idée | *Je n’ai aucune idée | ||
<blockquote>I do not have any idea</blockquote> | <blockquote>I do not have any idea</blockquote> | ||
==="Ne" + " | ==="Ne" + "Que"=== | ||
This structure is not really a negation, but rather a restriction. It is equivalent to "only". | This structure is not really a negation, but rather a restriction. It is equivalent to "only". | ||
*Je ne dors que cinq heures | *Je ne dors que cinq heures | ||
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[[Category: French/Beginner]] | [[Category: French/Beginner]] | ||
[[Category: French/Grammar]] | [[Category: French/Grammar]] | ||
==Other Lessons== | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Stressed-pronouns-with-même,-aussi,-seul,-autres,-tous-and-numerals|Stressed pronouns with même, aussi, seul, autres, tous and numerals]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Omission-of-the-article-with-nouns-following-the-verbs-être,-demeurer,-devenir,-élire,-nommer,-rester|Omission of the article with nouns following the verbs être, demeurer, devenir, élire, nommer, rester]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Definite-and-indefinite-articles|Definite and indefinite articles]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Agreement-of-past-participles-with-direct-objects-placed-before-in-relative-clauses|Agreement of past participles with direct objects placed before in relative clauses]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Subject-verb-agreement-—-Agreement-with-more-than-one-subject-linked-by-“et”|Subject verb agreement — Agreement with more than one subject linked by “et”]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Recognizing-when-an-unstressed-pronoun-is-a-direct-object|Recognizing when an unstressed pronoun is a direct object]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Often-Mistaken-Gender-of-Nouns|Often Mistaken Gender of Nouns]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/ensuite-VS-puis|ensuite VS puis]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Sentence-modifying-adverbs|Sentence modifying adverbs]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Omission-of-the-article-in-compound-nouns-linked-by-à|Omission of the article in compound nouns linked by à]] | |||
==Other Lessons== | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-jamais|Use of jamais]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Reflexive-and-reciprocal-verbs|Reflexive and reciprocal verbs]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Verbs-with-personal-subject-used-impersonally|Verbs with personal subject used impersonally]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Phrases-used-as-adverbs|Phrases used as adverbs]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Benefactive-me,-te,-se,-nous,-vous|Benefactive me, te, se, nous, vous]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Common-quantifiers|Common quantifiers]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Easy-way-of-generating-the-present-tense|Easy way of generating the present tense]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Relative-Clause|Relative Clause]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Coordination-of-subject-pronouns|Coordination of subject pronouns]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Collective-nouns|Collective nouns]] | |||
<span links></span> |
Latest revision as of 19:59, 24 March 2023
In this article, you will discover how to form negation in French.
Feel free to directly edit this page if you think it can be improved.
General Structure[edit | edit source]
In French, the general structure of Negation is simply to "encircle" the verb with two particles:
"NE" (or "N’", if the verb begins with a vowel) and "PAS":
SUBJECT + "NE (N')" + VERB + "PAS" + COMPLEMENT
- Il connaît le pays → Il ne connaît pas le pays
He knows the country → He does not know the country
Following this general scheme, in French there are several kinds of denial, each one with a different structure:
"Ne" + "Pas" : no (generally)[edit | edit source]
- Je ne comprends pas.
I do not understand
"Ne" + "Plus" : no more, anymore, no longer[edit | edit source]
- Nous n’avons plus de café
We have no more coffee
- Je ne parle plus
I do not speak anymore
- Il ne fume plus
He no longer smokes
"Ne" + "Rien" : anything[edit | edit source]
- Je ne dis rien
I do not say anything
"Ne" + "Personne" : nobody, anybody[edit | edit source]
- Il n’y a personne
There is nobody
- Je ne vois personne
I do not see anybody
"Ne" + "Jamais" : never[edit | edit source]
- Nous n’allons jamais à la mer
We never go to the sea
"Ne" + "Aucun(e)": any[edit | edit source]
- Je n’ai aucune idée
I do not have any idea
"Ne" + "Que"[edit | edit source]
This structure is not really a negation, but rather a restriction. It is equivalent to "only".
- Je ne dors que cinq heures
I only sleep 5 hours
- Ça ne coûte que cent euros
This costs no more than 100 euros
Negation with verbs and pronouns[edit | edit source]
Compound verbs[edit | edit source]
When we have to use negation with a compound verb (compound means having auxiliary and participle), negation "surrounds" the auxiliary, not the participle.
- Vous avez parlé en allemand → Vous n'avez pas parlé en allemand
You have spoken in German → You have not spoken in German
- J’ai dit la vérité → Je n’ai pas dit la vérité.
I have said the truth → I have not said the truth
Thus, the structure to remember is:
SUBJECT + "NE (N’)" + AUXILIARY+ "PAS" + PARTICIPLE + COMPLEMENT
Vous + n’+ avez + pas + parlé + allemand
Negation of pronominal verbs[edit | edit source]
When we have pronouns in the phrase, we must remember the 2nd most important French rule:
"The pronoun goes before the verb, and as close to it as possible."
We will apply this rule, thinking that the first term of negation ("NE") will be first in the order of the sentence, and then will go the pronoun before the verb, and then finally the "PAS".
An example with a pronominal verb, which are the ones with reflexive pronouns:
- Je m’appelle Antoine → Je ne m’appelle pas Antoine
My name is Antoine → My name is not Antoine
SUBJECT + "NE" + ("ME, TE...") + VERB + "PAS" + COMPLEMENT
- Je + ne + m’ + appelle + pas + Antoine
Examples[edit | edit source]
- Je ne veux pas partir
I don't want to leave
Ne becomes n' before a vowel.
- Il n'a pas perdu son sac
He has not lost his bag
Placing ne pas before an infinitive negates it.
- Le pire est de ne pas essayer
The worst is not to try
Spoken French[edit | edit source]
In spoken French (slang), it is common to hear "J'ai pas faim" (I'm not hungry) without the "n".
The correct written way is : "Je n'ai pas faim".
Always use the N or the NE when writing.
VIDEOS[edit | edit source]
If you consider that this page can be improved, don't hesitate to edit it.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Stressed pronouns with même, aussi, seul, autres, tous and numerals
- Omission of the article with nouns following the verbs être, demeurer, devenir, élire, nommer, rester
- Definite and indefinite articles
- Agreement of past participles with direct objects placed before in relative clauses
- Subject verb agreement — Agreement with more than one subject linked by “et”
- Recognizing when an unstressed pronoun is a direct object
- Often Mistaken Gender of Nouns
- ensuite VS puis
- Sentence modifying adverbs
- Omission of the article in compound nouns linked by à
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Use of jamais
- Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
- Verbs with personal subject used impersonally
- Phrases used as adverbs
- Benefactive me, te, se, nous, vous
- Common quantifiers
- Easy way of generating the present tense
- Relative Clause
- Coordination of subject pronouns
- Collective nouns