○ Basic composition
○ Basic composition
In order to build a negative sentence, we need two small tool words : ne and pas.
• Ne is put before the conjugated verb.
Je ne suis pas malade. → I am not ill.• Pas is put after conjugated verb.
Il ne parle pas espagnol. → I don't speak Spanish.• BE careful ! If the verb is not conjugated (infinitive form), ne and pas are both put before the verb.
Merci de ne pas déranger. → Please, do not disturb.Zone non-fumeur : Ne pas fumer. → Non smoking area : No smoking.○ Construction with a compound tense.
○ Construction with a compound tense.
Some tenses and some expressions use a helping verb followed by a participle or an infinitive verb.
J'ai parlé avec mes voisins. → I talked with my neighbours.Tu as bu un verre de vin. → I drank a glass of wine.Ils peuvent venir chez moi. → They can come to my home.Take care to put both negation adverbs correctly :
• Ne is always the first verb, the helping verb.
• Pas is always between the two verbs, never after the participle/infinitive.
Je n'ai pas parlé avec mes voisins. → I didn't speak with my neighbours.Tu n'as pas bu de verre de vin. → I didn't have a glass of wine. Ils ne peuvent pas venir chez moi. → They can't come to my home.○ Negation in daily life : Ne pas
○ Negation in daily life : Ne pas
In daily life, the ne tool word is not mandatory. The word pas is the one that carries the meaning of negation.
Je ne suis pas fatigué. → I am not tired.Vous n'avez pas vu ce film ? → didn't you watch this movie?Ils ne parlent pas allemand. → They don't speak German.