How to Change Sentences from Positive to Negative Using "ne...pas"

In French, when you want to make a sentence negative, you use the words ne and pas. This is important because it helps you express the opposite of what you originally said.

1. How to Make Negative Sentences

To create a negative sentence, place ne in front of the verb and pas after it.

Example:

• Positive: Je mange (I eat)
• Negative: Je ne mange pas (I do not eat)

2. Changing Verbs in Present Tense

When dealing with regular verbs, make sure they are in the correct present tense:

• -er verbs: manger (to eat)
  • Je mange → Je ne mange pas
• -ir verbs: finir (to finish)
  • Je finis → Je ne finis pas
• -re verbs: vendre (to sell)
  • Je vends → Je ne vends pas

3. Using Auxiliary Verbs in Past Tense

In sentences that are in the past tense using être or avoir, the ne...pas structure still works. Here, the auxiliary verb will act like the main verb.

Example:

• Positive: Elle a mangé (She ate)
• Negative: Elle n’a pas mangé (She did not eat)

4. Matching Adjectives

When you use adjectives, they should match the noun in gender and number. But remember, the ne...pas does not change this matching.

Example:

• Positive: Elle est heureuse (She is happy)
• Negative: Elle n’est pas heureuse (She is not happy)

5. Saying Things in the Near Future

When you want to say what someone is going to do (future proche), you use the verb aller with another verb. The negation still follows the same pattern.

Example:

• Positive: Je vais manger (I am going to eat)
• Negative: Je ne vais pas manger (I am not going to eat)

Summary

To turn positive sentences into negative ones in French:

• Use ne and pas around the verb.
• Make sure verbs are conjugated correctly.
• Use past tense rules with auxiliary verbs.
• Adjectives should match the nouns.
• Apply the same negation structure for future proche.

By following these steps, you'll be able to express negative sentences in French with ease!