French grammar - Using pas without ne |
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The negative particle pas can be used without ne to negate adjectives, adverbs, nouns, and pronouns. But in these cases the sentence is abbreviated by dropping a verb. This missing verb would otherwise be bracketed with the ne..pas. |
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Elle doit être malheureuse ! Pas malheureuse, mais pas contente, oui.
She must be unhappy! Not unhappy, but not pleased. Negating an adjective The full sentence would be Il n'est pas malheureux… |
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C'est un gars pas sympathique.
He's not a nice guy. Negating an adjective The full sentence would be ...qui n'est pas sympathique. |
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Pas gentil, ça.
That's not nice. Negating an adjective The full sentence would be Ça, ce n'est pas gentil. |
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Pas possible !
That's not possible! Negating an adjective The full sentence would be Ce n'est pas possible. |
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Vas-tu boire de la bière ? Oui mais pas beaucoup.
Are you (familiar) going to drink beer? Yes, but not much. Negating an adjective The full sentence would be Je n'en veux pas beaucoup. |
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Pas bête, ça.
Not stupid, that. Negating an adjective An expression usually used in reference to a suggestion or idea bête (adj) means 'stupid' |
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Ça va ? Pas mal.
How are you? Not bad. Negating an adverb |
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Pourquoi pas ?
Why not? Negating an adverb |
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Pas comme ça !
Not like that! Negating an adverb |
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Pas si vite !
Not so fast! Negating an adverb |
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Pas souvent, pas encore, pas trop.
Not often; not yet; not too much. Negating an adverb |
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Elle va venir aujourd'hui ? Non, pas aujourd'hui. Demain, en fait.
Is she going to come today? No, not today. Tomorrow actually. Negating a noun |
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Elle a deux oncles, pas trois.
She has two uncles, not three. Negating a noun |
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Je veux deux pains au chocolat. Pas de pains au chocolat aujourd'hui.
I want two chocolate pastries. No chocolate pastries today. Negating a noun |
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Pas de problème !
No problem! Negating a noun |
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Qui peut m'aider ? Pas moi !
Who can he me? Not me! Negating a pronoun |
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Tu as faim ? Pas du tout !
Are you (familiar) hungry? Not at all! Negating a pronoun |
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Ah non, pas ça !
Oh no, not that! Negating a pronoun |
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Est-ce que ce cadeau est pour moi ? Non, pas pour toi.
Is this gift for me? No, not for you (familiar). Negating a pronoun |
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