© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-1 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.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-2 The other negative expressions are also made up of two parts: ne and a second negative word.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-3
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-4 To negate the expression il y a, place n’ before y and the second negative word after the form of avoir.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-5 The negative words personne and rien can be the subject of a verb, in which case they are placed before the verb.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-6 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.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-7 Jamais, personne, plus, and rien can be doubled up with ne.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-8 To say neither... nor, use three negative words: ne... ni... ni. Note that partitive and indefinite articles are usually omitted.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-9 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.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-10 These expressions can be used in affirmative phrases. Note that when jamais is not accompanied by ne, it can mean ever.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-11 Note that personne, quelque chose, quelqu’un, and rien can be modified with an adjective after de.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-12 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.