In French, when you want to say something is not true, you usually say "ne... pas." This way of talking is super important for making negative sentences in French. Let’s go over the main things you need to know about saying "no" in French, along with some important grammar tips.

1. Noun Genders and Numbers

In French, every noun has a gender. It can be masculine (for boys or boy-like things) or feminine (for girls or girl-like things). Nouns can also be singular (one) or plural (more than one).

• Here are some examples:
  • Masculine singular: un livre (a book)
  • Feminine singular: une table (a table)
  • Masculine plural: des livres (books)
  • Feminine plural: des tables (tables)

2. Present Tense of Regular -er Verbs

To say something is not true, we often use verbs. Regular -er verbs in French follow the same pattern in the present tense. Here’s how it works using the verb "parler" (to speak):

• Je parle (I speak)
• Tu parles (You speak)
• Il/elle/on parle (He/She/One speaks)
• Nous parlons (We speak)
• Vous parlez (You speak – formal/plural)
• Ils/elles parlent (They speak)

3. Subject Pronouns

You need to know these pronouns to use verbs correctly:

• Je (I)
• Tu (You – informal)
• Il (He)
• Elle (She)
• On (One/We)
• Nous (We)
• Vous (You – formal/plural)
• Ils (They – masculine)
• Elles (They – feminine)

4. What Are Articles?

Articles in French help us understand nouns better. There are two kinds: definite and indefinite articles.

• Definite articles point out specific nouns:

  • le (the - masculine singular)
  • la (the - feminine singular)
  • les (the - plural)

• Indefinite articles talk about nouns in a general way:

  • un (a - masculine singular)
  • une (a - feminine singular)
  • des (some - plural)

5. Basic Negation with "ne... pas"

To say a verb is not true, you put "ne" and "pas" around the verb. If the verb starts with a vowel sound, "ne" changes to "n’."

Structure:

• Subject + ne + verb + pas.

Examples:

1. Affirmative: Je parle français. (I speak French.)

   • Negative: Je ne parle pas français. (I do not speak French.)

2. Affirmative: Il mange une pomme. (He is eating an apple.)

   • Negative: Il ne mange pas une pomme. (He is not eating an apple.)

Key Tips:

• In everyday conversation, people often skip the "ne," especially when talking casually. For example, "Je parle pas français."
• Remember to use "n’" before a vowel sound, like in "Il n’aime pas le chocolat." (He does not like chocolate.)

By understanding these ideas—genders, numbers, regular -er verbs in present tense, subject pronouns, articles, and negation—you'll be ready to make negative sentences in French. Keep practicing these rules to improve and learn more about French grammar!