Negatives using ne ... pas
Key points
- To form the negative in French you put the word ne (or n’) in front of the verb and the word pas after it.
- After a negative un or une changes to de.
A negative statement is when you talk about not doing something, as in I don’t know or Don’t open the window!.
In French forming the negative is very simple: you put the word ne (or n’) in front of the verb and the word pas after it.
Here are some examples of forming the negative using ne ... pas:
J’aime le chocolat → Je n’aime pas le chocolat
I like chocolate - I don’t like chocolate
Fermez la fenêtre → Ne fermez pas la fenêtre!
Close the window - Don’t close the window!
Where the verb is in the perfect tense, you put the word ne (or n’) in front of the auxiliary (that’s the verb avoir or être) and the word pas after it:
Je n’ai pas aimé le film
I didn't like the film
Note
Where there's an indefinite article (e.g. un or une) after the negative, then this changes to de.
Je veux une glace → Je ne veux pas de glace
I want an ice-cream - I don’t want a ice-cream