Point de départ
In Leçon 2A, you learned how to negate verbs with
ne... pas, which is used to make a general negation.
In French, as in English, you can also use a variety
of expressions that add a more specific meaning to
the negation.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-1
The other negative expressions are also made up of
two parts: ne and a second negative word.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-2
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-3
To negate the expression il y a, place n’ before y and the
second negative word after the form of avoir.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-4
The negative words personne and rien can be the
subject of a verb, in which case they are placed before
the verb.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-5
Note that aucun(e) can be either an adjective or a pronoun.
Therefore, it must agree with the noun it modifies. It is
always used in the singular.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-6
Jamais, personne, plus, and rien can be doubled up
with ne.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-7
To say neither... nor, use three negative words:
ne... ni... ni. Note that partitive and indefinite articles are
usually omitted.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-8
Note that in the passé composé, the words jamais, plus,
and rien are placed between the auxiliary verb and the
past participle. Aucun(e), personne, and que follow the
past participle.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-9
These expressions can be used in affirmative phrases.
Note that when jamais is not accompanied by ne, it can
mean ever.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-10
Note that personne, quelque chose, quelqu’un, and
rien can be modified with an adjective after de.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-11
Essayez!
Choisissez l’expression correcte.
1. (Jamais / Personne) ne trouve cet homme agréable.
2. Je ne veux (rien / jamais) faire aujourd’hui.
3. Y a-t-il (quelqu’un / personne) à la banque?
4. Je n’ai reçu (pas de / aucun) colis.
5. Il n’y avait (ne / ni) lettres ni colis dans la boîte aux lettres.
6. Il n’y a (plus / aucun) d’argent à la banque?
7. Jérôme ne va (toujours / jamais) à la poste.
8. Le facteur n’arrive (toujours / qu’) à trois heures.
© 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
4A.2-12