Once again, I've a question on the French language. I was wondering if anyone had some great ways to understand and fluently be able to use French negation.
Before you ask, I've already asked a French teacher to no avail: "You always use "ne 'verb' pas", otherwise it's incorrect." And she's French!
Would the book "Sentential Negation in French" ISBN: 0195125916 be of any help to me?
2006-08-30 03:12:06 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
In answer to the question put forward below, I am 16 and wish to study French at A level and university level.
2006-08-30 04:07:59 · update #1
I'm sure this book would cover what you need, but I think it's intended for linguistics students - if you are just wanting to be able to use negation, you probably only need a couple of pages, not a whole book.
Any book on French grammar will contain a section on negation which should be more than sufficient.
You should tell your teacher friend that her advice only covers simple negation - you also need to cover nobody, never, etc. Perhaps she will be more helpful then!
If you have any specific questions fire away.
2006-08-30 03:31:17 · answer #1 · answered by Graham I 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Crowbird: what you are talking about is not "proper" French, and you're not allowed to use it when writting something. Most French people don't use "ne" anymore (it depends who you're talking to, whether the conversation is formal or not), so that it's useful to know that they don't (in case you go there), but if you've never been to France or Canada (or any French-speaking country), don't use it.
Anyway. How old are you? How many years have you been studying French for? I mean, your teacher is right: this is how negation works in French. ne + conjugated verb + pas!
However, if you're using tenses which use an auxilary + a past participle, then this is how it works: ne + auxilary + pas + past participle (ex: Je ne suis pas allée; il n'avait pas cueilli; elles n'eurent pas craint; vous n'aurez pas rendu ...)
Then , if you were talking about "never"... Well, I think it's the same. You just replace "pas" by "jamais".
Just open your school textbook. I'm sure there is a good summary on that subject. No need to read difficult linguistic books (except if you're studying French at university and REALLY want to know everything on the subject).
If you're only 16, then there's no reason why you should read that book. You'll just end up being confused. However, definitely go to the link provided below. I'm sure it will keep you busy for a while!
Good luck with studying French!
2006-08-30 11:05:09 · answer #2 · answered by Offkey 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Don't worry, in fact, it's quite easy, the correct form to make a negative phrase in French is by "ne + verb + pas"
for example
I don't speak french = Je ne parle pas français
but, in colloquial language usually the word ne it's omitted, but it isn't the correct way of speaking...
2006-08-30 10:55:47 · answer #3 · answered by esther c 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi there. I'm also learning French and I found the sites below very helpful. It's explained as it was to be read by beginners, and the topics include: formal negation, informal negation, and so on.
http://french.about.com/library/weekly/bltopicsub-n.htm
2006-08-30 11:17:34 · answer #4 · answered by Karin 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Naw, she's being too stuffy. There are a lot of colloquial expressions in French which don't require the "ne+verb+pas constructions.
One of the most common is "j'aime pas ca" - I don't like that, I don't care for it.
2006-08-30 10:48:23 · answer #5 · answered by crowbird_52 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
same answer as Offkey
2006-08-30 11:15:08 · answer #6 · answered by tokala 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It has obviously been of no use whatever..
2006-08-30 10:19:42 · answer #7 · answered by Harriet 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋