Grammar - Negation
In order to say that one did not do something, the ne ... pas construction must be used. The ne is
placed before the verb, while the pas is placed after.
Examples
Il est avocat.
|
He is [a] lawyer.
|
Il n'est pas avocat.
|
He is not [a] lawyer.
|
Nous faisons nos devoirs.
|
We do our homework.
|
Nous ne faisons pas nos devoirs.
|
We do not do our homework.
|
Je joue du piano.
|
I play the piano.
|
Je ne joue pas du piano.
|
I do not play the piano.
|
Vous vendez votre voiture.
|
You sell your car.
|
Vous ne vendez pas votre voiture.
|
You do not sell your car.
|
When negating with the indefinite article (un, une), the indefinite article changes to de.
Examples
Il a une pomme.
|
He has an apple.
|
Il n'a pas de pomme.
|
He does not have an apple.
|
Nous lisons un livre.
|
We read a book.
|
Nous ne lisons pas de livre.
|
We do not read a book.
|
Je mange une cerise.
|
I eat a cherry.
|
Je ne mange pas de cerise.
|
I do not eat a cherry.
|
When negating in the passé composé, the ne ... pas (in this case, n'... pas) are placed around the
auxilary avoir.
Vocabulary - School
le professeur
|
teacher
|
l'étudiant
|
student (m)
|
l'étudiante
|
student (f)
|
|
|
le stylo
|
pen
|
le crayon
|
pencil
|
la calculatrice
|
calculator
|
le pupitre
|
desk
|
le tableau
|
chalkboard
|
la craie
|
chalk
|
le livre
|
book
|
le cahier
|
notebook
|
le papier
|
paper
|
la feuille de papier
|
sheet of paper
|
|
|
l'école (f)
|
school
|
le collège
|
high school (grades 6-9)
|
le lycée
|
high school (grades 10-12)
|
l'université (f)
|
university
|
la bibliothèque
|
library
|
|
|
l'examen (m)
|
test
|
les devoirs
|
homework
|
la classe
|
class
|
|
|
intelligent
|
intelligent
|
stupide
|
stupid
|
Note:
- The word professeur is considered masculine at all times, even if the teacher is female.
