Essential French Grammar (2012)
Negative Expressions
As pointed out on page 16, we can make sentences negative by placing ne before the verb and pas after it. A number of other negatives may be used in the place of pas. The following are the most important:
ne ... rien |
(nothing, anything) |
ne ... jamais |
(never) |
ne ... personne |
(no one, nobody) |
Il ne m‘a rien dit.
He didn’t tell me anything.
Je ne fume jamais.
I never smoke.
Nous ne voyons personne.
We do not see anyone.
Rien, jamais and personne may also be used alone.
Qu’avez-vous dit? Rien.
What did you say ? Nothing.
Avez-vous été en Suisse ? Jamais.
Have you been in Switzerland ? Never.
Qui est là? Personne.
Who is there ? No one..