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How do you negate a sentence in the present tense with "je"?

When you're learning how to say that something isn't true in the present tense in French, it's important to understand a few grammar rules. This lesson will cover pronouns, changing regular -er verbs, basic negation, and using articles and adjectives in French.

1. Subject Pronouns
In French, subject pronouns show who is doing something in a sentence. We will focus on "je," but here are all the subject pronouns you should know:

  • je (I)
  • tu (you - informal)
  • il/elle/on (he/she/one)
  • nous (we)
  • vous (you - formal or plural)
  • ils/elles (they - masculine/feminine)

2. Present Tense Conjugation of Regular -er Verbs
Regular -er verbs have a pattern when you change them into the present tense. Let’s take the verb parler, which means "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)
  • ils/elles parlent (they speak)

3. Basic Negation with "ne...pas"
To say something is not true in French, you use "ne...pas." When you use "je," you put "ne" before the verb and "pas" after it. For example:

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

4. Use of Articles
Learning about articles is helpful for creating correct sentences.

  • Definite articles (specific): le (masculine), la (feminine), les (plural)
  • Indefinite articles (general): un (masculine), une (feminine), des (plural)

For example:

  • I have a book = J’ai un livre (indefinite).
  • The book is on the table = Le livre est sur la table (definite).

5. Introduction to Adjectives
Adjectives in French need to match the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the noun they describe.

  • For masculine singular nouns: grand (big)
  • For feminine singular nouns: grande (big)
  • For masculine plural nouns: grands (big)
  • For feminine plural nouns: grandes (big)

Example sentences:

  • Je suis grand (I am big - masculine).
  • Je suis grande (I am big - feminine).

Putting it all Together
Now, let’s make some sentences using what we’ve learned.

  1. Affirmative: Je mange un gâteau. (I am eating a cake.)

    • Negative: Je ne mange pas de gâteau. (I am not eating a cake.)
  2. Affirmative: Je joue au tennis. (I play tennis.)

    • Negative: Je ne joue pas au tennis. (I do not play tennis.)
  3. Affirmative: Je suis content. (I am happy - masculine.)

    • Negative: Je ne suis pas content. (I am not happy - masculine.)

By using "je" and the negative form "ne...pas," along with understanding articles and adjectives, you can create many sentences in French. Keep practicing these ideas to get better at speaking!

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How do you negate a sentence in the present tense with "je"?

When you're learning how to say that something isn't true in the present tense in French, it's important to understand a few grammar rules. This lesson will cover pronouns, changing regular -er verbs, basic negation, and using articles and adjectives in French.

1. Subject Pronouns
In French, subject pronouns show who is doing something in a sentence. We will focus on "je," but here are all the subject pronouns you should know:

  • je (I)
  • tu (you - informal)
  • il/elle/on (he/she/one)
  • nous (we)
  • vous (you - formal or plural)
  • ils/elles (they - masculine/feminine)

2. Present Tense Conjugation of Regular -er Verbs
Regular -er verbs have a pattern when you change them into the present tense. Let’s take the verb parler, which means "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)
  • ils/elles parlent (they speak)

3. Basic Negation with "ne...pas"
To say something is not true in French, you use "ne...pas." When you use "je," you put "ne" before the verb and "pas" after it. For example:

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

4. Use of Articles
Learning about articles is helpful for creating correct sentences.

  • Definite articles (specific): le (masculine), la (feminine), les (plural)
  • Indefinite articles (general): un (masculine), une (feminine), des (plural)

For example:

  • I have a book = J’ai un livre (indefinite).
  • The book is on the table = Le livre est sur la table (definite).

5. Introduction to Adjectives
Adjectives in French need to match the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the noun they describe.

  • For masculine singular nouns: grand (big)
  • For feminine singular nouns: grande (big)
  • For masculine plural nouns: grands (big)
  • For feminine plural nouns: grandes (big)

Example sentences:

  • Je suis grand (I am big - masculine).
  • Je suis grande (I am big - feminine).

Putting it all Together
Now, let’s make some sentences using what we’ve learned.

  1. Affirmative: Je mange un gâteau. (I am eating a cake.)

    • Negative: Je ne mange pas de gâteau. (I am not eating a cake.)
  2. Affirmative: Je joue au tennis. (I play tennis.)

    • Negative: Je ne joue pas au tennis. (I do not play tennis.)
  3. Affirmative: Je suis content. (I am happy - masculine.)

    • Negative: Je ne suis pas content. (I am not happy - masculine.)

By using "je" and the negative form "ne...pas," along with understanding articles and adjectives, you can create many sentences in French. Keep practicing these ideas to get better at speaking!

Related articles