10K+ students - 4.8/5
Learn with a teacher Learning materials included Practise conversation

Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to form simple negation in French using the structure 'ne... pas' and variations such as 'ne... plus'. Understand how to negate verbs, manage article changes in negative sentences, and use contractions like 'n''. This lesson covers essential points for beginners to express negation naturally and correctly at the A1 level.
  1. The indefinite article "un, une, des" is replaced by "de" in the negative form.
Forme (Form)Exemple (Example)
Sujet + ne + verbe + pasJe ne mange pas de sucre (I do not eat any sugar)
Sujet + ne + verbe + plusIl ne boit plus de café (He no longer drinks coffee)
Sujet + n' + verbe + pasTu n'as pas de livre. (You do not have a book.)

Exceptions!

  1. "Ne" becomes "n'" when it precedes a verb starting with a vowel.

Exercise 1: La négation simple

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

ne sommes, ne manges, ne portes, n'ai, ne sortent, ne voit, ne voulons, ne buvez

1. Avoir:
: Je ... plus de sucre.
(I have no more sugar.)
2. Vouloir:
: Nous ... plus le voir.
(We no longer want to see him.)
3. Boir:
: Vous ... pas d'alcool.
(You do not drink alcohol.)
4. Sortir:
: Ils ... pas le soir.
(They do not go out in the evening.)
5. Voir:
: Elle ... pas de sucre.
(She does not see any sugar.)
6. Porter:
: Tu ... pas de chapeau.
(You are not wearing a hat.)
7. Être:
: Nous ... plus ensemble.
(We are no longer together.)
8. Manger:
: Tu ... pas de viande.
(You do not eat meat.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Je ___ mange pas de sucre le matin.

(I ___ do not eat sugar in the morning.)

2. Tu ___ pas de compas dans ta trousse.

(You ___ do not have a compass in your pencil case.)

3. Il ___ forme pas un carré avec cette règle.

(He ___ does not form a square with this ruler.)

4. Nous ___ voulons pas de pyramide aujourd’hui.

(We ___ do not want a pyramid today.)

5. Vous ___ regardez pas le cercle avec l’équerre.

(You ___ do not look at the circle with the set square.)

6. Ils ___ sont pas contents de ce losange.

(They ___ are not happy with this diamond shape.)

Understanding Simple Negation in French

This lesson introduces you to the basics of forming simple negation in French, an essential grammatical structure for expressing denial, absence, or the opposite of a statement. You will learn the common negation pattern using ne and pas, as well as other frequent negative words like plus.

Basic Structure

The typical negative sentence in French places ne before the verb and pas after it. For example: Je ne mange pas de sucre (I do not eat sugar).

Variations and Details

  • Ne becomes n' before a verb starting with a vowel or silent 'h', such as in Tu n'as pas de livre.
  • When negating indefinite articles like un, une, des, French replaces them with de in negative sentences.
  • Another common negative adverb is plus, meaning "no longer" or "not anymore" as in Il ne boit plus de café.

Key Points to Remember

  • Negation requires two parts: the ne before the verb and the appropriate negative word after.
  • French negation affects article usage, changing indefinite articles to de.
  • The contraction n' is mandatory before vowels.

Important Differences Compared to English

Unlike English, where negation usually involves only a single negative word like "not," French negation is a two-part construction, sandwiching the verb. Also, English maintains indefinite articles in negations ("I do not have a book"), but French replaces them with de (Je n'ai pas de livre).

Useful phrases include:

  • Je ne sais pas – I don't know
  • Il ne vient plus – He no longer comes
  • Tu n'as pas de problème – You don't have a problem

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

Profile Picture

Alessia Calcagni

Languages for communication in international enterprises and organizations

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

University_Logo

Last Updated:

Monday, 07/07/2025 16:11