In order to build a negative sentence, we need two small tool words : ne and pas.
• Ne is put before the conjugated verb.
Je ne suis pas malade. → I am not ill.• Pas is put after conjugated verb.
Il ne parle pas espagnol. → I don't speak Spanish.• BE careful ! If the verb is not conjugated (infinitive form), ne and pas are both put before the verb.
Merci de ne pas déranger. → Please, do not disturb.Zone non-fumeur : Ne pas fumer. → Non smoking area : No smoking.Some tenses and some expressions use a helping verb followed by a participle or an infinitive verb.
J'ai parlé avec mes voisins. → I talked with my neighbours.Tu as bu un verre de vin. → I drank a glass of wine.Ils peuvent venir chez moi. → They can come to my home.Take care to put both negation adverbs correctly :
• Ne is always the first verb, the helping verb.
• Pas is always between the two verbs, never after the participle/infinitive.
Je n'ai pas parlé avec mes voisins. → I didn't speak with my neighbours.Tu n'as pas bu de verre de vin. → I didn't have a glass of wine. Ils ne peuvent pas venir chez moi. → They can't come to my home.In daily life, the ne tool word is not mandatory. The word pas is the one that carries the meaning of negation.
Je ne suis pas fatigué. → I am not tired.Vous n'avez pas vu ce film ? → didn't you watch this movie?Ils ne parlent pas allemand. → They don't speak German.