4.2 (Negation and Indefinite Adjectives and Pronouns) Flashcards
Indefinite adjectives which can be used in affirmative phrases
un(e) autre
another
Negation: It is also possible to combine several negative elements in one sentence
Examples:
On ne fait plus jamais rien
(we never do anything anymore)
Personne n’a plus rien écouté
(no one listened to anything anymore)
Indefinite adjectives which can be used in affirmative phrases
chaque
each, every single
More negative expressions:
Ne….que
Only
Je n‘ai parlé qu‘à Mathieu
(I only spoke to Matthew)
When you wish to modify
Personne, rien, quelqu’un, or quel’que chose
Add de +
(masc. singular adjective)
Example:
Ce weekend, nous ne faisons rien d’intéressant
(This weekend, we aren’t doing anything interesting_
Indefinite pronouns which can be used in affirmative phrases
Quelques-un(e)s
some, a few (of them)
More negative expressions:
ne…plus
No more (not anymore)
Il ne veut plus être analphabète
(He doesn’t want to be illiterate anymore)
Indefinite pronouns which can be used in affirmative phrases
tous/toutes
all (of them)
To negate a phrase with a partitive article
You usually replace the article with de or d’
Examples:
Il y a des activistes dans la capitale
(There are activists in the capital)
Il n’y a pas d’activistes dan la capitales
(There aren’t any activists in the capital)
More negative expressions:
ne…. aucun(e)
None (not any)
Examples:
Le congrès n‘a approuvé aucune loi cette année
(The congress didn’t approve any laws this year)
Invariable Pronouns
(there are 5)
la plupart, plusieurs, quelque chose, quelqu’un, and tout are invariable
Examples:
Tout va bien au gouvernement
(Everything goes well in the government)
Il y a quelqu’un dehors?
(Is there someone outside?)
Indefinite pronouns which can be used in affirmative phrases
plusieurs
several (of them)
Indefinite adjectives which can be used in affirmative phrases
Quelques
some
More negative expressions:
Ne…. rien
Nothing (not anything)
les jurés n‘ont rien décidé
(the jury members haven’t decided anything)
Rein ne leur fait peur
(nothing frightens them)
Negation:
To say neither…nor
Use ne…ni…ni….
Place ne before the conjugated verb or auxillary, and ni before the word(s) it modifies. Omit the indefinite and partitive articles after ni, but use the definite article when appropriate
Examples:
Il n‘y a ni justice ni liberté dans une dictature
(There is neither justice nor liberty under a dictatorship)
AND
Ni le juge ni l’advocat ne va juger l’accusé
(Neither the judge or the lawyer will judge the acused)
Indefinite pronouns which can be used in affirmative phrases
quelqu’un
someone
Attention: The final -s of tous
Note that the final -s of tous is pronounced when it functions as a pronoun, but silent when it functions as an adjective
Indefinite pronouns which can be used in affirmative phrases
Quelque chose
something
Indefinite adjectives which can be used in affirmative phrases
plusieurs
several
Indefinite adjectives which can be used in affirmative phrases
tout(e)/ tous/ toutes (les)
every, all
Negation:
Non plus
Use non plus to mean neither or not either.
Use Si, instead of Oui, to contadict a negative statement or question
Examples:
Je n’aime pas la violence
Moi non plus (I don’t either)
AND
Tu n’aimes pas la démocratie?
Mais Si (Yes, I do)
Indefinite pronouns which can be used in affirmative phrases
la plupart
most (of them)
Indefinite adjectives which can be used in affirmative phrases
tel(le)(s)
such (a)
Invariable adjectives
(there are 3)
chaque, plusieurs, and quelques
Examples:
Chaque élève a droit à des livres gratuits
(Each student is entitled to free books)
Plusieurs terroristes ont fui
(Several terrorists fled)
Negation:
What is typically done?
You typically place ne… pas around the conjugated verb. If you are negating a phrase with a compound tense such as the passé compossé or the plus-que-parfait, place ne… pas around the auxillary verb
- Example (infinitive)*: ca ne va pas faire un scandale; j’espère
- Example (passé compossé)*: la famille n‘a pas fui la ville pendant la guerre.
Indefinite pronouns which can be used in affirmative phrases
chacun(e)
each one
Indefinite adjectives which can be used in affirmative phrases
certain(e)
certain
Negation:
to be more specific use these variations of ne…pas
Ne…pas du tout
and
Ne…pas encore
Examples:
Le président n‘aime pas du tout les brocolis
(the president does not like brocolli at all)
or
La voleuse n‘a pas encore choisi sa victime
(the thief has not chosen her victim yet)
More negative expressions:
Ne… nulle part
Nowhere (not anywhere)
n’a trouvé l’arme du crime nulle part
They didn’t find the crime weapon anywhere
Indefinite pronouns which can be used in affirmative phrases
tout
everything
Indefinite adjectives which can be used in affirmative phrases
autre(s)
other
More negative expressions:
ne personne
No one (not anything)
Personne ne peut voter; les machines sont en panne
(No one can vote; the machines are broken)
AND
Ils n‘ont vu personne
(They didn’t see anyone)
More negative expressions:
Ne…. jamais
Never (not ever)
Tu n‘as jamais voté?
You’ve never voted?
When forming a question with inversion
Place the ne first, then any pronouns, then the verb. Place pas in the last position
Example:
Ne vous êtes-vous pas consacré à la lunette contre la criminalité?
(Did you not dedicate yourself to the fight against crime?)
