Language/French/Grammar/Negations

In this article you will discover how to form negation in French.

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General Structure

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)

• Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand

"Ne" + "PLUS" : no more, anymore, no longer

• 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

• Je ne dis rien

I do not say anything

"Ne" + "PERSONNE" : nobody, anybody

• Il n’y a personne

There is nobody

• Je ne vois personne

I do not see anybody

"Ne" + "JAMAIS" : never

• Nous n’allons jamais à la mer

We never go to the sea

"Ne" + "AUCUN/E": any

• Je n’ai aucune idée

I do not have any idea

"Ne" + "QUE"

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

Compound verbs

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

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

• 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

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.

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