Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Negations"

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[[File:learn_french_ne_pas.jpg]]


 
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==
==GENERAL STRUCTURE==
In French, the general structure of Negation is simply to "encircle" the verb with two particles:
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":
"NE" (or "N’", if the verb begins with a vowel) and "PAS":


Il connaît le pays → Il ne connaît pas le pays
*Il connaît le pays → Il ne connaît pas le pays
He knows the country → He does not know the country
He knows the country → He does not know the country


SUBJECT + " NE (N’)" + VERB + "PAS" + COMPLEMENT
SUBJECT + " NE (N’)" + VERB + "PAS" + COMPLEMENT
Il ne connaît pas le pays  
Il ne connaît pas le pays  


Following this general scheme, in French there are several kinds of denial, each with a different structure:
Following this general scheme, in French there are several kinds of denial, each with a different structure:


"Ne" + "PAS" : no (generally)
==="Ne" + "PAS" : no (generally)===
Je ne comprends pas. (I do not understand)
Je ne comprends pas. (I do not understand)
   
   
"Ne" + "PLUS" : no more, anymore, no longer
==="Ne" + "PLUS" : no more, anymore, no longer===
Nous n’avons plus de café. (we have no more coffee)
*Nous n’avons plus de café = we have no more coffee
Je ne parle plus. (I do not speak anymore)
*Je ne parle plus = I do not speak anymore
Il ne fume plus (He no longer smokes)
*Il ne fume plus = He no longer smokes
   
   
"Ne" + "RIEN" : anything
==="Ne" + "RIEN" : anything===
Je ne dis rien. (I do not say anything)
*Je ne dis rien = I do not say anything
   
   
"Ne" + "PERSONNE" : nobody, anybody
==="Ne" + "PERSONNE" : nobody, anybody===
Il n’y a personne. There is nobody
*Il n’y a personne = There is nobody
Je ne vois personne. (I do not see anybody)
*Je ne vois personne = I do not see anybody
   
   
"Ne" + "JAMAIS" : never
==="Ne" + "JAMAIS" : never===
Nous n’allons jamais à la mer. (We never go to the sea)
*Nous n’allons jamais à la mer = We never go to the sea
   
   
"Ne" + "AUCUN/E": any
==="Ne" + "AUCUN/E": any===
Je n’ai aucune idée. (I do not have any idea)
*Je n’ai aucune idée = I do not have any idea


"Ne" + "QUE"
==="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 cing heures (I only sleep 5 hours)
*Je ne dors que cinq heures = I only sleep 5 hours
Ça ne coûte que cent euros (This costs no more than 100 euros).
*Ça ne coûte que cent euros = This costs no more than 100 euros


==NEGATION WITH VERBS AND PRONOUNS ==.
==Negation with verbs and pronouns==
   
   
=== COMPOUND VERBS ===
=== Componds verbs ===
   
   
When we have to use negation with a compund verb (compound means having auxiliary and participle), negation "surrounds" the auxiliary, not the participle.
When we have to use negation with a compund verb (compound means having auxiliary and participle), negation "surrounds" the auxiliary, not the participle.


Vous avez parlé en allemand →  Vous pas n'avez parlé in allemand
*Vous avez parlé en allemand →  Vous pas n'avez parlé in allemand
(You have spoken in German) → (You have not spoken in German)
(You have spoken in German) → (You have not spoken in German)
 
J’ai dit la vérité  →  Je n’ai rien dit.
*J’ai dit la vérité  →  Je n’ai rien dit.
(I have said the truth) → (I have not said the truth)
(I have said the truth) → (I have not said the truth)
 
Thus, the structure to remember is:
Thus, the structure to remember is:
   
   
SUBJECT + "NE (N’)" + AUXILIARY+ "PAS" + PARTICIPLE + COMPLEMENT
SUBJECT + "NE (N’)" + AUXILIARY+ "PAS" + PARTICIPLE + COMPLEMENT
Vous + n’+ avez + pas + parlé + allemand
Vous + n’+ avez + pas + parlé + allemand
   
   
=== Negation of pronominal verbs===
   
   
=== NEGATION OF PRONOMINAL VERBS===
When we have in the phrase pronouns, we must remember the 2nd most important French rule:
When we have in the phrase pronouns, we must remember the 2nd most important French rule:


<blockquote>"The pronoun goes before the verb, and as close to it as possible."</blockquote>
"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 go the pronoun before the verb, and then finally the "PAS".
We will apply this rule, thinking that the first term of negation ("NE") will be first in the order of the sentence, and then go the pronoun before the verb, and then finally the "PAS".
Line 72: Line 68:
An example with a pronominal verb, which are the ones with reflexive pronouns:
An example with a pronominal verb, which are the ones with reflexive pronouns:
   
   
Je m’appelle Antoine  →  Je ne m’appelle pas Antoine
*Je m’appelle Antoine  →  Je ne m’appelle pas Antoine
(My name is Antoine) → (My name is not Antoine)  
(My name is Antoine) → (My name is not Antoine)  


SUBJECT + "NE" + ("ME, TE...") + VERB + "PAS" + COMPLEMENT
SUBJECT + "NE" + ("ME, TE...") + VERB + "PAS" + COMPLEMENT
 
Je + ne + m’ + appelle + pas + Antoine
Je + ne + m’ + appelle + pas + Antoine


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If you consider that this page can be improved, don't hesitate to edit it.
If you consider that this page can be improved, don't hesitate to edit it.
{{#seo:
|title=How to use the negation in French?
|keywords=ne pas, rien, plus, personne, aucun, jamais
|description=This lesson will teach you how to use the negation in French
        |og:image=http://polyglotclub.com/wiki/images/3/3d/Learn_french_ne_pas.jpg
}}
[[Category: French/Beginner]]
[[Category: French/Grammar]]

Revision as of 22:45, 7 June 2017

Learn french ne pas.jpg

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

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":

  • Il connaît le pays → Il ne connaît pas le pays

He knows the country → He does not know the country

SUBJECT + " NE (N’)" + VERB + "PAS" + COMPLEMENT

Il ne connaît pas le pays

Following this general scheme, in French there are several kinds of denial, each 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

Componds verbs

When we have to use negation with a compund verb (compound means having auxiliary and participle), negation "surrounds" the auxiliary, not the participle.

  • Vous avez parlé en allemand → Vous pas n'avez parlé in allemand

(You have spoken in German) → (You have not spoken in German)

  • J’ai dit la vérité → Je n’ai rien dit.

(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 in the phrase pronouns, 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 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

VIDEOS

If you consider that this page can be improved, don't hesitate to edit it.