Making negative sentences in French

Read more about how to use Making negative sentences in French.
Feel the need to learn new grammar tips fast? Learn French online and test your grammar knowledge with Frantastique for free.

TEST YOUR FRENCH Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,6 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot
More than 7 million learners worldwide

Making negative sentences

Reminder: The negative form in French consists of putting 2 words (the negative adverbs) around the verb or auxiliary form.
In the imperative, ne always goes at the start of the sentence.
Ne fume pas ici ! Don't smoke here!
Ne viens plus me voir ! Don't come to see me any more!
With certain tenses (compound tenses such as the passé composé, plus-que-parfait, futur proche) the negative adverbs surround the auxiliary verb, not the main verb that follows.
Je suis allée au ciné avec Victor. → Je ne suis pas allée au ciné avec Victor. I went to the cinema with Victor → I didn't go to the cinema with Victor.
Vous avez tout mangé ! → Vous n’avez rien mangé ! You've eaten everything! → You haven't eaten anything!
Verbs in the infinitive are negated by putting both parts of the negative adverb (ne/pas, ne/plus, ne/jamais, etc.) in front of the infinitive.
Je te demande de m'appeler tous les jours ! → Je te demande de ne pas m’appeler tous les jours ! I'm asking you to call me every day! → I'm asking you not to call me every day!
Merci de fermer la porte → Merci de ne pas fermer la porte. Please shut the door → Please don't shut the door.
When a pronoun is present in the sentence (y, en, le, me, etc.), ne precedes it.
Je n'y arrive pas. I can't do it.
Je n'en peux plus. I can't take it any more.
Je ne le vois jamais. I never see him / it.
Note: When the verbs aller, vouloir, pouvoir, devoir, faire, savoir are used as auxiliary verbs (and are followed by a verb in the infinitive), the same rule applies for negative constructions.
Je veux partir très loin ! → Je ne veux pas partir très loin. I want to go far away! → I don't want to go far away.
Vous devez couper la barbe de Victor. → Vous ne devez jamais couper la barbe de Victor. You should cut Victor's beard. → You should never cut Victor's beard.

Still having trouble with 'Making negative sentences'? Master the rules of French grammar and improve your French level thanks to our online French lessons Frantastique. We're offering a 7-day free trial, so what are you waiting for?



What our users say:

Pleasure

         

I enjoy doing my online French lessons. Only ten minutes daily are enough...Thank you!

Innovative

         

I love your innovative method which allows me to learn a new language and have fun at the same time!

Unique

         

Your method is unique! Your courses have helped me to progress and gain confidence during my travels.

Progress

         

Gymglish has allowed me to improve my French. A daily routine I wouldn't miss for anything in the world!

More testimonials.


Looking to improve French for beginners? Frantastique provides effective and fun training!

Tips for learning 'Making negative sentences'? Share them with us!

TEST YOUR FRENCH