French grammar - Double negatives |
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Double negatives are permissible (and not uncommon) in French. |
Examples: | |
Je ne peux plus jamais lui parler.
I can never talk to him again. |
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Je n'ai plus rien à te dire.
I have nothing more to say to you (familiar). OR 'I no longer have anything to say to you' |
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Je n'ai plus aucun argent.
I no longer have any money. |
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Il ne veut plus jamais être seul.
He never wants to be alone again. |
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Mais il ne veut plus jamais être avec elle.
But he also never wants to be with her again. |
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Nous ne faisons jamais rien.
We never do anything. |
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Il ne comprend jamais rien.
He never understands anything. |
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Il n'a jamais aucune idée.
He never has any idea. Not that aucune agrees with idée (f) |
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On ne va jamais nulle part !
We are never going anywhere! Actually 'We are never going nowhere' nulle part (f) means 'nowhere' |
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Elle n'achète jamais rien.
She never buys anything. |
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Je n'achète rien.
I am not buying nothing. CAUTION: double negatives with pas can be a positive |
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Il ne voit plus personne.
He no longer sees anyone. |
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Il ne fait plus rien.
He doesn't do anything anymore. |
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Je ne mets jamais rien dans ce tiroir.
I never put anything in that drawer. tiroir (m) means 'drawer' |
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Personne ne vient jamais ici.
No one ever comes here. |
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Tu ne crois jamais personne.
You (familiar) never believe anyone. |
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On ne parle jamais aucune langue parfaitement.
One never speaks any language perfectly. parfaitement means 'perfectly' |
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Il ne veut plus jamais le refaire.
He never wants to do it again. refaire (verb) means 'to do again' |
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Rien ne la dérange jamais - c'est une fille très calme.
Nothing ever bothers her - she is a very calm girl. |
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Personne n'entre jamais dans cette pièce.
No one ever comes into this room. |
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Il n'y a plus guère d'espoir.
There is hardly any more hope. |
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