1. © 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.

2. © 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.

3. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-3

4. © 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.

5. © 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.

6. © 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.

7. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.4A.2-7 Jamais, personne, plus, and rien can be doubled up with ne.

8. © 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.

9. © 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.

10. © 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.

11. © 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.

12. © 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.