Le Négatif - 23 Ways!
To form a variety of negative phrases with French verbs, we use the special expressions shown in the table below, and replace the three dots (...) in the formulas by the conjugated verb.
NOTE: Webxercises (online and downloadable exercises) will be available for all verb tenses here at verbexpress.net and will include practice in the affirmative, negative, and interrogative to ensure the greatest coverage and best practice for skill confidence and mastery.
EXAMPLES of each expression are included in a Temps simple (Simple tense), a Temps composé (Compound tense), and a Temps combiné (combined tense). (See Appendix A for details on theses three formats.)
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1) ne ... pas __________ = not |
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2) ne ... plus __________ = no more / no longer / not anymore |
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__________ = not ever / never |
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4) ne ... aucun (adjective) (+ noun) (as object of the verb) __________ = no (+ noun) / not a single (+ noun) / not any (at all) |
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5) ne ... aucun (pronoun) (as object of the verb) __________ = not one / none at all / not any (at all) / not a single one |
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6) aucun (adjective) + noun ne (as subject of the verb) __________ = no (+ noun) / not a single (+ noun) |
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7) aucun (pronoun) ... ne (as subject of the verb) __________ = none / not a single one |
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8) ne ... personne (as object of the verb) __________ = not anyone / not anybody / no-one / nobody |
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9) ne ... rien (as object of the verb) __________ = not anything / nothing |
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10) personne ne (as subject of the verb) __________ = no-one / nobody |
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11) rien ne (as subject of the verb) __________ = nothing |
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12) ne ... pas (+ noun), ni (+ noun) __________ = not (+ noun), or (+ noun) |
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13) ne ... ni (+ noun), ni (+ noun) __________ = neither (+ noun), nor (+ noun) |
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14) ne ... pas de (+ noun), ni de (+ noun) __________ = not any (+ noun), nor any (+ noun) / no (+ noun), nor any (+ noun) |
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__________ = not at all |
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__________ = not completely / not totally |
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__________ = not yet |
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__________ = no more (in any way) / no longer / not at all anymore |
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__________ = not ever again / never again |
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20) Plus jamais (Complete answer to a question) __________ = not ever again / never again |
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__________ = not anymore now |
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22) Plus maintenant (Complete answer to a question) __________ = not anymore now |
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23) ne ... que __________ = only / nothing but / not anything but |
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1) ne ... pas __________ = not Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne lave pas ma voiture. I am not washing my car. I do not wash my car. Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai pas lavé ma voiture. (with 'avoir') I did not wash my car. I have not washed my car.
Je ne suis pas allé(e) au restaurant. (with 'être') I did not go to the restaurant. I have not gone to the restaurant. Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais pas laver ma voiture. I am not going to wash my car. |
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2) ne ... plus __________ = no more / no longer / not anymore Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne nage plus. I do not swim anymore. I no longer swim. Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai plus nagé. I did not swim anymore. I no longer swam. Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais plus nager. I am not going to swim anymore. I am no longer going to swim. |
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3) ne ... jamais __________ = not ever / never Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Tu ne parles jamais au téléphone. You never talk on the phone. You don’t ever talk on the phone. Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Tu n’as jamais parlé au téléphone. You never talked on the phone. You have never talked on the phone. You didn’t ever talk on the phone. Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Tu ne vas jamais parler au téléphone. You are never going to talk on the phone. You are not ever going to talk on the phone. |
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4) ne ... aucun (adjective) (+ noun) (as object of the verb) __________ = no + noun / not a single + noun / not any(at all) Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne vois aucun problème dans le rapport. I don’t see a single problem in the report. I see no problem(s) in the report. I don't see any problem(s) (at all) in the report Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai vu aucun problème dans le rapport. I didn’t see a single problem in the report. I didn’t see any problem(s) (at all) in the report. I saw no problem(s) in the report. Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Tu ne vas voir aucun problème dans le rapport. You are not going to see a single problem in the report. You are going to see no problem(s) (at all) in the report. |
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5) ne ... aucun (pronoun) (as object of the verb) __________ = not one / none at all / not any (at all) / not a single one Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
(Context: "Combien de voitures laves-tu en une heure?" "Je n’en lave aucune." "How many cars do you wash in one hour?" I wash none at all. I don’t wash any (at all). I don’t wash a single one. Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
(Context) "Combien de voitures as-tu lavées?" "How many cars did you wash?" "Je n’en ai lavé aucune." I washed none at all. I didn’t wash any (at all). I didn’t wash a single one. Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
(Context: "Combien de voitures vas-tu laver?" "How many cars are you going to wash? "Je ne vais en laver aucune." I am not going to wash any (at all). I am not going to wash a single one. I am going to wash none at all. (Less frequent) |
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6) aucun (adjective)(+ noun) (as subject of the verb) ne ... __________ = no + noun / not a single + noun Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Aucun étudiant n’a la bonne réponse! No student has the right answer! Not a single student has the right answer! Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Aucun professeur n’a vu la lettre. No teacher saw the letter. Not a single teacher saw the letter.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Aucun professeur ne va voir la lettre. No teacher is going to see the letter. Not a single teacher is going to see the letter.
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7) aucun (pronoun) ... ne (as subject of the verb) __________ = none / not a single one Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Combien d’étudiants seront absents ? Aucun ne sera absent. How many students will be absent ? None will be absent. Not a single one will be absent.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Combien d’étudiants sont venus? Aucun n’est venu. How many students came? None came. Not a single one came.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Combien d’étudiants vont venir? Aucun ne va venir. How many students are going to come? None are going to come. Not a single one is going to come.
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8) ne ... personne (as object of the verb) __________ = not anyone / not anybody / no-one / nobody Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne vois personne. I don’t see anyone / anybody. I see no-one / nobody.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai vu personne. (Notice the different word order when using the word 'personne' in a negative phrase) I didn’t see anyone / anybody. I haven’t seen anyone / anyboby. I have seen no-one / nobody. I saw no-one / nobody.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais voir personne. I’m not going to see anyone / anybody. I’m going to see no-one / noboby.
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9) ne ... rien (as object of the verb) __________ = not anything / nothing Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne mange rien après 19h00. I don’t eat anything after 7 P.M. I eat nothing after 7 P.M.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai rien mangé après 19h00. I didn’t eat anything after 7 P.M. I ate nothing after 7 P.M.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais rien manger après 19h00. I’m not going to eat anything after 7 P.M. I’m going to eat nothing after 7 P.M.
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10) personne ne (as subject of the verb) __________ = no-one / nobody Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Personne ne travaille à la vieille usine. No-one / Nobody works at the old factory. No-one / Nobody is working at the old factory.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Personne n’a travaillé ... No-one / Nobody worked at the old factory. No-one / Nobody has worked at the old factory.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Personne ne va travailler at the old factory. No-one / Nobody is going to work at the old factory.
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11) rien ne (as subject of the verb) __________ = nothing Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Rien ne fonctionne dans la vieille voiture. Nothing works in the old car. Nothing is working in the old car.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Rien n’a fonctionné dans la vieille voiture. Nothing worked in the old car. Nothing has worked in the old car.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Rien ne va fonctionner dans la vieille voiture. Nothing is going to work in the old car. Nothing is going to be working in the old car.
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12) ne ... pas (+ noun), ni (+ noun) __________ = not + noun, or + noun Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne vois pas Marie, ni Paul. I don’t see Marie or Paul. I’m not seeing Marie or Paul.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai pas vu Marie, ni Paul. I didn’t see Marie or Paul. I haven’t seen Marie or Paul.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais pas voir Marie, ni Paul. I am not going to see Marie or Paul. I am not going to be seeing Marie or Paul.
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13) ne ... ni (+ noun), ni (+ noun) __________ = neither + noun, nor + noun Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne vois ni Marie, ni Paul. I see neither Marie, nor Paul. I am seeing neither Marie, nor Paul. __________ Je ne commande ni frites, ni boisson. I order neither fries, nor (a) beverage. I am ordering neither fries, nor (a) beverage.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai vu ni Marie, ni Paul. I saw neither Marie, nor Paul. I have seen neither Marie, nor Paul. __________ Je n’ai commandé ni frites, ni boisson. I ordered neither fries, nor (a) beverage. I have ordered neither fries, nor (a) beverage.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais voir ni Marie, ni Paul. I am going to see neither Marie, nor Paul. I am going to be seeing neither Marie, nor Paul. __________ Je ne vais commander ni frites, ni boisson. I am going to be ordering neither fries, nor (a) beverage. I am going to order neither fries, nor (a) beverage.
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14) ne ... pas de (+ noun), ni de (+ noun) __________ = not any (+ noun), nor any (+ noun) / no (+ noun), nor any (+ noun) Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne commande pas de frites, ni de boisson. I don’t order (any) fries or (a) beverage. I am not ordering (any) fries or (a) beverage.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai pas commandé de frites, ni de boisson. I did not order (any) fries or (a) beverage. I haven’t ordered (any) fries or (a) beverage.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais pas commander de frites, ni de boisson. I am not going to order (any) fries or a beverage.
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15) ne ... pas du tout __________ = not at all Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Elle n’aime pas du tout travailler la nuit. She doesn’t like to work nights at all. She doesn’t at all like to work nights.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Elle n’a pas du tout aimé travailler à cette usine. She did not at all like to work at that factory. She did not like to work at that factory at all. She has not at all liked to work at that factory. She has not liked to work at that factory at all.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Elle ne va pas du tout aimer travailler ce soir. She is not at all going to like working tonight. She is not going to like working tonight at all.
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16) ne … pas tout à fait __________ = not completely / not quite / not totally Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne mesure pas tout à fait 2 mètres. I ‘m not quite 2 metres tall.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai pas tout à fait fini mon travail. I didn’t quite finish my work. I haven’t quite finished my work. I didn’t completely finish my work. I am not totally finished my work.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais pas tout à fait finir le travail aujourd’hui. I’m not quite going to finish the work today.
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17) ne ... pas encore __________ = not yet Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne vois pas encore l’autobus. I don’t see the bus yet. I don’t yet see the bus.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai pas encore vu l’autobus. I haven’t seen the bus yet. I haven’t yet seen the bus.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais pas encore partir. I’m not going to leave yet.
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18) ne ... plus du tout __________ = no more (in any way) / no longer (in any way) / not at all anymore Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne me sens plus du tout malade. I no longer feel sick in any way. I don’t feel sick (at all) anymore.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je ne me suis plus du tout occupé de ce problème-là. I didn’t bother at all anymore with that problem. I no longer bothered at all (in any way) with that problem.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais plus du tout m’occuper de ce problème-là. I’m not going to bother at all anymore (in any way) with that problem. I’m no longer going to bother at all (in any way) with that problem.
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19) ne ... plus jamais __________ = not ever again / never again Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne ferai plus jamais ça. I will never do that again. I won’t ever do that again.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai plus jamais fait de ski après mon accident. I never did any more skiing after my accident. I never again did any more skiing after my accident.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais plus jamais faire de ski! I am never again going to ski!
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20) Plus jamais (Complete answer to a question) __________ = not ever again / never again Temps simple (ex: Conditionnel présent)
Voudrais-tu faire du ski? Ah non. Plus jamais! Do you want to do some skiing? No! Never again!
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
A-t-il encore fait du ski? Non. Plus jamais! Did he (ever) ski again ? No! Never again!
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Va-t-il encore faire du ski? Non! Plus jamais! Is he going to to ski again? No! Never again!
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21) ne ... plus maintenant __________ = not anymore now / not anymore (theses days) Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Le patron ne s’occupe plus maintenant des plaintes des clients. The boss doesn’t handle the customers’ complaints anymore (these days).
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
N/A Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Le patron ne va plus s’occuper des plaintes des clients maintenant. The boss is not going to handle clients' complaints anymore now. |
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22) Plus maintenant (Complete answer to a question) __________ = not anymore now Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Regardes-tu encore ton film? Plus maintenant. Are you still watching your movie? Not anymore (not anymore now).
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
N/A Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Vas-tu aller voir un film ce soir? Non, plus maintenant. Are you going to go see a movie this evening? No, not anymore (not anymore now). (It may have been planned, but that plan has changed)
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23) ne ... que __________ = only / nothing but / not anything but Temps simple (ex: Présent-Indicatif)
Je ne mange que des légumes aujourd’hui! I am eating only vegetables today. I’m not eating anything but vegetables today. I’m eating nothing but vegetables today.
Temps composé (ex: Passé composé)
Je n’ai mangé que des légumes aujourd’hui! I ate only vegetables today. I didn’t eat anything but vegetables today. I ate nothing but vegetables today. I have eaten nothing but vegetables today. I haven’t eaten anything but vegetables today. I’ve eaten nothing but vegetables today.
Temps combiné (ex: Futur proche)
Je ne vais manger que des légumes aujourd’hui! I am only going to eat vegetables today. I’m not going to eat anything but vegetables today. I’m going to eat nothing but vegetables today.
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