Additional negative words
Reminder: The negative form in French consists of putting 2 words around the verb or auxiliary form. The simplest and most common construction is the ne... pas construction.
« Je ne suis pas un héros. »
I'm not a hero. (song from Balavoine)
Here are some other negative constructions:
• NE... PLUS (not any more). The opposite of encore (still).
• NE... PLUS (not any more). The opposite of encore (still).
« Je ne t'aime plus, mon amour. »
I don't love you any more, my love. (song by Manu Chao)
- Tu dors encore ? - Non, je ne dors plus. -Are you still sleeping? -No I'm no longer sleeping.
- Tu dors encore ? - Non, je ne dors plus. -Are you still sleeping? -No I'm no longer sleeping.
• NE… JAMAIS (never). The opposite is souvent (often) or toujours (always).
Il ne faut jamais dire jamais. (proverb) Never say never.
Je ne bois jamais de café, je bois toujours du thé. I never drink coffee, I always drink tea.
Je ne bois jamais de café, je bois toujours du thé. I never drink coffee, I always drink tea.
• NE… RIEN or RIEN NE (nothing or anything). The opposite is quelque chose (something) or tout (everything).
« Non, rien de rien, non, je ne regrette rien. »
No, nothing, no, I don't regret anything. (song by Édith Piaf)
- Tu veux manger quelque chose ? - Non je ne veux rien manger, rien n'a l'air bon. -Do you want anything to eat? -No thanks, I don't want anything. Nothing looks good.
- Tu veux manger quelque chose ? - Non je ne veux rien manger, rien n'a l'air bon. -Do you want anything to eat? -No thanks, I don't want anything. Nothing looks good.
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