Negative Expressions - Essential French Grammar

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 didnt 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..