8.9.2

Negatives (2/2)

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Two verbs

In the two verbs, for example the perfect tense, the 'ne...pas' or other negatives go around the first verb.

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Tenses that use 'avoir' or 'être'

  • For tenses that use 'avoir' or 'être' then a past participle, the negative goes around the conjugated part of 'avoir' or 'être'.
    • Je n'ai pas mangé - I did not eat.
    • Je n'étais pas allé - I did not go.
Illustrative background for Two verbsIllustrative background for Two verbs ?? "content

Two verbs

  • When there are two verbs, the negative clause goes around the first verb.
    • Je n'aime pas faire de la natation - I do not like to swim.
    • Je ne veux pas aller à l'école - I do not want to go to school.

Infinitives

To make an infinitive negative, you put the negative (e.g. 'ne pas') before the infinitive. This is only when the negative refers to the infinitive.

Illustrative background for Ne pasIllustrative background for Ne pas ?? "content

Ne pas

  • Je préfère ne pas parler de la méteo.
    • I prefer to not speak about the weather.
    • Here the negative refers to speak.
Illustrative background for Other negativesIllustrative background for Other negatives ?? "content

Other negatives

  • J'aime ne rien faire.
    • I like to do nothing.
    • Here the negative refers to 'faire'.
  • Il était heureux de ne plus avoir besoin d'aller à l'école.
    • He was happy that he no longer needed to go to school.
    • Here, the negative refers to 'needing to'.

Jump to other topics

1Everyday Activities

2Personal & Social Life

3The World Around Us

4The World of Work

5The International World

6Common Tenses

7Advanced Tenses

8Extra Grammar

8.1Articles

8.2The Passive Voice

8.3Pronouns

8.4Asking Questions

8.5Nouns

8.6Prepositions

8.7Adverbs

8.8Adjectives

8.9Negative

8.10Conjunctions

8.11Miscellaneous

8.12Verbs

8.13Numbers

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