How to Make Negative Sentences in French with "ne...pas"

When you want to say something is not true in French, you usually use "ne...pas." Let's break down how to make these negative sentences with some easy examples.

1. Basic Structure

To create a negative sentence, you follow this simple pattern:

• Subject + ne + verb + pas + (other words)

Example:

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

2. Changing Regular Verbs

French verbs come in three groups based on their endings: -er, -ir, and -re. Here are examples of each group in the present tense:

• -ER Verb (manger):

  • Je mange → Je ne mange pas (I do not eat)

• -IR Verb (finir):

  • Tu finis → Tu ne finis pas (You do not finish)

• -RE Verb (vendre):

  • Il vend → Il ne vend pas (He does not sell)

3. Common Irregular Verbs

Some verbs don’t follow the normal rules, so pay attention to these:

• Être (to be):

  • Je suis → Je ne suis pas (I am not)

• Avoir (to have):

  • Tu as → Tu **n’**as pas (You do not have)

• Aller (to go):

  • Elle va → Elle ne va pas (She does not go)

• Faire (to do/make):

  • Nous faisons → Nous ne faisons pas (We do not do)

4. Special Cases

If the verb starts with a vowel or a silent 'h,' we change ne to n’:

• Example:
  • Il est (He is) → Il **n’**est pas (He is not)

5. Helpful Words

Here are some useful words to know when making negative sentences:

• Rien - nothing
• Jamais - never
• Personne - no one

Example:

• Je ne vois personne. (I see no one.)
• Elle ne mange jamais. (She never eats.)

6. Practice Sentences

To get better at making negative sentences, try changing these positive sentences into negative ones:

1. Elle aime le chocolat.
   → Elle **n’**aime pas le chocolat.

2. Nous allons au cinéma.
   → Nous **n’**allons pas au cinéma.

3. Tu as un livre.
   → Tu **n’**as pas de livre.

By practicing these patterns, you'll feel more confident when making negative sentences in French with "ne...pas." Remember to focus on how verbs change and the sounds of n’ and pas. Happy learning!