Negative Infinitives (ne pas + infinitive)
ne pas together before the verb, unlike conjugated 'sandwich' negation.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To make an infinitive negative, place both 'ne' and 'pas' directly before the verb.
- Keep 'ne' and 'pas' together: 'Ne pas manger'.
- Place them before the infinitive: 'Ne pas oublier'.
- Do not separate them: 'Ne pas fumer'.
Overview
The infinitive verb in French, such as parler (to speak) or finir (to finish), denotes an action without specifying performer or time. When you need to express the non-performance of this action, French employs the negative infinitive. This structure fundamentally differs from negating a conjugated verb.
Instead of ne and pas enclosing the verb (e.g., vous ne parlez pas), the negative particles, like ne pas, ne plus, or ne jamais, form a cohesive unit positioned directly before the infinitive verb. This construction is crucial for conveying prohibitions, negative commands, or preferences for inaction. For instance, ne pas fumer means "not to smoke," a general prohibition, rather than "someone does not smoke." Mastering the negative infinitive is essential for intermediate French learners (B1 CEFR level) as it enables precise expression in formal instructions, advice, and complex sentences involving prepositions or verbs of desire.
It represents a specific logical approach within French grammar to modifying an uninflected verbal form.
How This Grammar Works
ne precedes the verb and pas (or other negative adverbs) follows it (e.g., Il ne travaille pas). This structure effectively negates the action performed by the subject.ne pas, ne plus, ne jamais, ne rien, etc.) behave as a single, inseparable block (ne pas) that precedes the infinitive. For example, ne pas parler directly means "the act of not speaking" or "not to speak," rather than "someone does not speak." This logical grouping ensures that the negation applies holistically to the verbal concept. This consistent approach maintains linguistic coherence, especially when the infinitive functions as a noun (e.g., Le fait de ne pas manger - "The fact of not eating") or in impersonal constructions.ne pas + infinitive prevents confusion by clearly marking the entire verbal phrase as negative.Formation Pattern
ne + negative adverb + infinitive
ne pas | not to | Il faut ne pas gaspiller l'eau. | One must not waste water. |
ne plus | no longer to, not to anymore | Elle a décidé de ne plus travailler là. | She decided not to work there anymore. |
ne jamais | never to | Promettre de ne jamais trahir sa confiance. | To promise never to betray her trust. |
ne rien | to do nothing, not to do anything | Il préfère ne rien dire dans ces cas. | He prefers to say nothing in these cases. |
ne: When the infinitive begins with a vowel or a silent h, ne contracts to n'.
Il est préférable de n'être pas en retard. (It is preferable not to be late.)
Il a peur de n'avoir pas le temps. (He's afraid of not having time.)
ne pas, ne plus, etc.) and the infinitive verb itself. The negative block remains inviolable at the beginning of the verbal phrase.
ne pas | se | tromper | Ne pas se tromper. | Not to be mistaken. |
ne plus | le | faire | Ne plus le faire est essentiel. | Not doing it anymore is essential. |
ne jamais | lui | parler | Choisir de ne jamais lui parler. | To choose never to speak to him/her. |
ne rien | leur | donner | Mieux vaut ne rien leur donner. | It's better to give them nothing. |
ne pas | le lui | dire | Ne pas le lui dire est crucial. | Not to tell him/her it is crucial. |
ne plus | y | aller | Essayer de ne plus y aller. | To try not to go there anymore. |
ne... personne and ne... aucun(e): These two negative structures deviate from the standard pattern because personne and aucun(e) function as negative pronouns or determiners that directly relate to the verb's object, rather than acting as adverbs. In these cases, ne precedes the infinitive, but personne or aucun(e) follows the infinitive.
Ne voir personne en ville est étrange. (To see no one in town is strange.)
Il est difficile de ne faire aucune erreur. (It is difficult to make no error.)
personne and aucun(e) retain their position as elements completing the verbal meaning, thus appearing after the action itself.
passé composé, plus-que-parfait in infinitive form), the negative block precedes the auxiliary verb (avoir or être) in its infinitive form, which is then followed by the past participle.
Ne pas avoir compris la leçon est problématique. (Not to have understood the lesson is problematic.)
Il regrette de n'être jamais parti en voyage. (He regrets never having gone on a trip.)
When To Use It
- 1General Prohibitions and Formal Instructions: This is the most conspicuous application, commonly found on public signs, notices, and official directives. These are impersonal commands, not directed at a specific individual.
Ne pas toucher aux tableaux.(Do not touch the paintings.)Veuillez ne pas se pencher par la fenêtre.(Please do not lean out the window.)Ne pas jeter de papiers dans les toilettes.(Do not throw papers in the toilets.)
- 1After Prepositions: Whenever an infinitive phrase is introduced by a preposition (e.g.,
pour,sans,avant de,afin de), and that infinitive needs to be negated, the negative infinitive structure is mandatory. Thene pasblock adheres directly to the infinitive, regardless of the preceding preposition orde.
Il a parlé doucement pour ne pas la réveiller.(He spoke softly so as not to wake her.)Elle est partie sans rien dire.(She left without saying anything.)Il a fait des efforts afin de ne pas échouer.(He made efforts in order not to fail.)
- 1With Verbs Expressing Opinion, Desire, or Preference: When verbs like
aimer,préférer,vouloir,souhaiter, ordéciderare followed by an infinitive that needs negation, thene passtructure is employed.
Je préférerais ne pas y assister.(I would prefer not to attend it.)Nous avons décidé de ne pas partir si tôt.(We decided not to leave so early.)Il souhaite ne jamais revoir cette personne.(He wishes never to see that person again.)
- 1In Impersonal Expressions: Constructions like
il faut(it is necessary),il est + adjective + de(it is + adjective + to), oril vaut mieux(it is better) frequently combine with negative infinitives to express general obligations or advice.
Il est important de ne pas ignorer les avertissements.(It is important not to ignore the warnings.)Il vaut mieux ne pas conduire quand on est fatigué.(It is better not to drive when one is tired.)Il ne faut pas oublier vos documents.(You must not forget your documents.) – Note: In this common phrase,ne pastechnically negatesfaut(the conjugated verb), but its semantic effect is often interpreted as negating the action ofoublier. The structureil faut ne pas oublieris also grammatically correct for "it is necessary not to forget."
When Not To Use It
- 1With Conjugated Verbs: The most fundamental rule: the
ne pas + infinitivestructure is exclusively for infinitive verbs. If the verb is conjugated (i.e., inflected for subject and tense), you must use the standard French "sandwich" negation whereneprecedes andpas(or another negative adverb) follows the conjugated verb.
- Incorrect:
Je ne pas finis mon travail. - Correct:
Je ne finis pas mon travail.(I don't finish my work.) - Incorrect:
Ils ne plus viendront. - Correct:
Ils ne viendront plus.(They won't come anymore.)
- 1Negating Nouns, Adjectives, or Adverbs Directly: The negative infinitive negates the action of the infinitive. If your intent is to negate a noun, an adjective, or an adverb directly, different negation structures are required.
- Incorrect:
Je veux ne pas de vin.(Attempting to negatevinusing infinitive negation.) - Correct:
Je ne veux pas de vin.(I don't want any wine.) – Here,pas denegates the nounvin. - Incorrect:
Il est ne pas malade. - Correct:
Il n'est pas malade.(He is not sick.) – Here,ne...pasnegates the conjugated verbest.
- 1For Direct Negative Commands to
tuorvous(Imperative Mood): Whilene pas + infinitiveconveys general prohibitions (like on signs), for direct, specific negative commands to "you" (singulartuor plural/formalvous), the imperative mood of the verb is used and negated with the standardne...passtructure.
- Incorrect (direct command to
tu):Ne pas parle ! - Correct:
Ne parle pas !(Don't speak!) - Incorrect (direct command to
vous):Ne pas entrez ! - Correct:
N'entrez pas !(Don't enter!)
Common Mistakes
- 1"Sandwiching" the Infinitive: The most prevalent error is mistakenly applying the
ne...pas"sandwich" rule from conjugated verbs to infinitives. This fundamental misunderstanding negates the linguistic logic of the infinitive.
- Mistake:
Il faut ne faire pas ça. - Correction:
Il faut ne pas faire ça.(One must not do that.) - Why it's wrong: The infinitive
faireis not conjugated, so it cannot be split byneandpas. The negation must precede it as a single unit, modifying the entire verbal concept.
- 1Incorrect Pronoun Placement: Learners often struggle with where to position object pronouns (reflexive, direct, indirect) relative to the negative block. They might place pronouns before
ne pasor afterpas.
- Mistake:
J'ai décidé le ne pas dire.orJ'ai décidé ne pas le dire. - Correction:
J'ai décidé de ne pas le dire.(I decided not to say it.) - Why it's wrong: The
ne pasunit is indivisible. Pronouns are always cliticized to the infinitive, but as a unit, they follow the entire negative block and precede the infinitive. Remember the order:ne pas + pronoun(s) + infinitive.
- 1Confusing
ne rienwithne personne/aucun(e)Placement: The exceptions forpersonneandaucun(e)frequently lead to errors, as learners attempt to place them before the infinitive, likerien.
- Mistake:
Il est essentiel de ne personne voir. - Correction:
Il est essentiel de ne voir personne.(It is essential to see no one.) - Why it's wrong:
Rienacts as a negative adverb modifying the verbal action, thus it forms a block withne.Personneandaucun(e)function as negative pronouns/determiners that modify the object, hence they follow the infinitive to complete its meaning. They are structurally different from adverbial negations.
- 1Omitting
nein Formal Contexts: While common in informal spoken French, omittingnein written French, academic settings, or formal speech is a significant grammatical error.
- Mistake (in formal writing):
Il est préférable pas dire ça. - Correction:
Il est préférable de ne pas dire ça.(It is preferable not to say that.) - Why it's wrong: The
neis an integral part of formal French negation. Its omission, while a feature of casual speech, indicates a lack of mastery in formal registers.
- 1Double Negation or Misdirected Negation: Sometimes learners negate both a main verb and a subsequent infinitive, or they misplace the negation, creating an unintended meaning.
- Mistake:
Je ne te demande pas de ne pas faire ça.(Literally: I don't ask you not to do that, often meaning "I ask you to do it.") - Correction (if the intent is to ask not to do something):
Je te demande de ne pas faire ça.(I ask you not to do that.) - Why it's wrong: Be precise about which element requires negation. Unintended double negatives can reverse meaning or create ambiguity.
Real Conversations
The negative infinitive, while often taught formally, is deeply embedded in authentic French communication, though its appearance varies with context and register. Understanding these nuances helps you sound more natural.
In informal spoken French, particularly among younger speakers, the ne particle is frequently omitted. This is a common feature of colloquial French and applies to negative infinitives as well, creating a more concise expression.
- Pas bouger ! (Don't move!) – A command often heard to children or pets.
- Préfère pas y aller. (Prefer not to go there.) – Short for Je préfère ne pas y aller.
- Rien dire, c'est mieux. (Say nothing, it's better.) – Colloquial for Ne rien dire, c'est mieux.
In more formal or considered conversation, the ne is consistently retained. This includes discussions, professional interactions, and situations requiring greater precision and respect for grammatical norms.
- C'est important de ne pas généraliser nos observations. (It's important not to generalize our observations.) – A common phrase in analytical discussions.
- J'essaie sincèrement de ne plus manger de produits sucrés. (I'm sincerely trying not to eat sugary products anymore.) – Expressing a personal resolution.
- Le directeur a insisté pour ne jamais mentionner l'incident lors des réunions. (The director insisted never to mention the incident during meetings.) – Indicating a strong, formal directive.
In written communication, particularly professional emails, reports, or academic work, the full ne...pas structure for infinitives, including the ne particle, is always expected. This ensures clarity and adherence to standard written French.
- Merci de ne pas répondre à cet e-mail. (Thank you for not replying to this email.) – A standard closing in automated or informational emails.
- Afin de ne pas créer d'ambiguïté, les termes ont été clarifiés. (In order not to create ambiguity, the terms have been clarified.) – Formal explanatory language in a document.
- La consigne est stricte : ne rien laisser sur les bureaux le soir. (The instruction is strict: leave nothing on the desks in the evening.) – A clear directive in a professional memo.
Even in social media captions or short online messages, while brevity might lead to ne omission, the full form is used when emphasis or a more serious tone is desired.
- #NePasOublier (Do Not Forget) – A common hashtag for reminders.
- Conseil du jour : ne pas douter de ses capacités. (Tip of the day: do not doubt your abilities.) – Motivational content.
By observing and practicing the negative infinitive in these diverse contexts, you will gain an intuitive understanding of its flexibility and its role across the communicative spectrum.
Progressive Practice
Mastering negative infinitives involves a structured, progressive approach, moving from foundational understanding to nuanced application. Utilize these steps for effective practice:
Begin with Basic Prohibitions: Start by internalizing the simplest form: ne pas + infinitive. Focus on the block formation and meaning of general non-action.
- Activity: Imagine signs in public spaces. Translate prohibitions like "No Entry," "Do Not Touch," "No Parking." Example: Ne pas fumer.
Integrate Other Negative Adverbs: Once ne pas is comfortable, introduce ne plus, ne jamais, and ne rien. Pay close attention to the specific semantic contribution of each adverb.
- Activity: Express personal resolutions or regrets. "I promise never to lie." (Promettre de ne jamais mentir.) "I decided not to go there anymore." (J'ai décidé de ne plus y aller.).
Incorporate Pronouns (Reflexive and Object): This is a critical step. Practice placing reflexive, direct, and indirect object pronouns correctly between the negative block and the infinitive.
- Activity: Take simple sentences with pronouns and transform them into negative infinitive constructions. Example: Je dois te voir becomes Je préfère ne pas te voir. Practice ne pas se lever, ne plus lui parler.
Target ne... personne and ne... aucun(e) Exceptions: Dedicate specific practice to these unique cases where the second part of the negation follows the infinitive. Consciously remind yourself of this rule.
- Activity: Formulate sentences where personne or aucun(e) would be the natural object of a negated infinitive. Example: Ne rencontrer personne, Ne faire aucune faute.
Practice After Prepositions: Construct sentences where the negative infinitive follows prepositions like pour, sans, avant de, afin de. This reinforces a common syntactic context.
- Activity: Create complex sentences expressing purpose or condition. Example: Il a fermé la porte pour ne pas être dérangé.
Contextualize with Trigger Verbs and Impersonal Expressions: Integrate negative infinitives into longer sentences using common verbs of opinion/desire and impersonal phrases (il faut, il est important de).
- Activity: Give advice or express opinions using these structures. Example: Il est essentiel de ne pas céder à la pression.
Practice with Compound Infinitives: Extend your practice to negating infinitives in compound tenses.
- Activity: Negate actions that have already occurred. Example: regretter de ne pas avoir écouté (to regret not having listened).
Differentiate Formal vs. Informal Usage: While practicing, make a conscious effort to identify contexts where ne is retained versus where it might be omitted in very casual speech. Prioritize the formal structure for a solid grammatical foundation.
Through consistent, varied, and analytical practice, you will develop an intuitive and accurate command of the French negative infinitive, enhancing both your grammatical precision and communicative fluency.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can I drop the
nein negative infinitives? - A: In very informal spoken French, yes, you might hear
Pas fumer !orPlus y aller. However, in written French, formal spoken contexts, or for academic purposes, you must includene. Its omission is characteristic of casual speech but grammatically incorrect in formal registers.
- Q: What if the infinitive starts with a vowel or a silent
h? Doesnebecomen'? - A: Yes, the rule of elision applies.
necontracts ton'before any infinitive beginning with a vowel or a silenth. - Example:
n'être pas(not to be),n'avoir pas(not to have),n'hésiter pas(not to hesitate).
- Q: How do I negate compound infinitives (e.g.,
avoir parlé,être venu)? - A: The negative particles (
ne pas,ne plus, etc.) precede the auxiliary verb (avoirorêtre) in its infinitive form. The structure isne pas + auxiliary (infinitive) + past participle. - Example:
ne pas avoir parlé(not to have spoken),ne plus être venu(not to have come anymore).
- Q: What about infinitives introduced by
àorde? Where does the negation go? - A: The
ne pasblock always goes directly before the infinitive itself, regardless of whether it's preceded byàorde. These prepositions introduce the infinitive phrase, but the negation modifies the infinitive within that phrase. - Example:
C'est facile de ne pas y penser.(It's easy not to think about it.) - Example:
Il a réussi à ne pas rire de la blague.(He managed not to laugh at the joke.)
- Q: Can I use other negative adverbs, like
ne...guèreorne...nulle part? - A: Yes, the same principle generally applies for most bipartite negations. They form a block with
nedirectly before the infinitive. - Example:
ne guère apprécier(to hardly appreciate),ne trouver nulle part(to find nowhere). - Note that some of these negations are more formal or literary and less common in everyday spoken French.
- Q: Why does French have this
ne...pasblock for infinitives, while English uses "not to"? - A: This reflects fundamental differences in grammatical structure. French historically favors bipartite negation (
ne...pas). For infinitives, keepingneandpastogether before the verb maintains the verb's uninflected nature and emphasizes the negation of the action concept itself, rather than an action performed by an implied subject. English's negation system, often relying on auxiliaries and simplenot, handles it differently due to its distinct linguistic evolution.
2. Negative Infinitive Formation
| Affirmative | Negative Particle | Infinitive | Full Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
|
manger
|
ne pas
|
manger
|
ne pas manger
|
|
finir
|
ne pas
|
finir
|
ne pas finir
|
|
vendre
|
ne pas
|
vendre
|
ne pas vendre
|
|
être
|
ne pas
|
être
|
ne pas être
|
|
avoir
|
ne pas
|
avoir
|
ne pas avoir
|
|
aller
|
ne pas
|
aller
|
ne pas aller
|
Meanings
This structure is used to negate an infinitive verb, often used in instructions, prohibitions, or after certain prepositions.
Prohibition/Instruction
Used to tell someone what not to do.
“Ne pas toucher.”
“Ne pas ouvrir.”
Indirect Negation
Negating an action within a clause.
“Il a décidé de ne pas partir.”
“Elle préfère ne pas répondre.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb
|
Manger
|
|
Negative
|
Ne pas + Verb
|
Ne pas manger
|
|
Question (Neg)
|
Ne pas + Verb ?
|
Ne pas manger ?
|
|
With Pronoun
|
Ne pas + Pronoun + Verb
|
Ne pas le manger
|
|
With Adverb
|
Ne pas + Verb + Adverb
|
Ne pas manger trop
|
|
Formal
|
Ne pas + Verb
|
Ne pas fumer
|
Formality Spectrum
Veuillez ne pas toucher. (Museum sign)
Ne pas toucher. (Museum sign)
Touche pas ! (Museum sign)
Touche pas à ça ! (Museum sign)
Negative Infinitive Map
Negation
- ne pas do not
Examples by Level
Ne pas fumer.
Do not smoke.
Ne pas ouvrir.
Do not open.
Ne pas toucher.
Do not touch.
Ne pas entrer.
Do not enter.
Il préfère ne pas sortir.
He prefers not to go out.
J'essaie de ne pas oublier.
I try not to forget.
Elle veut ne pas venir.
She wants not to come.
Il faut ne pas parler.
One must not speak.
Merci de ne pas faire de bruit.
Please do not make noise.
Il a décidé de ne pas partir.
He decided not to leave.
Je vous conseille de ne pas y aller.
I advise you not to go there.
Elle regrette de ne pas avoir fini.
She regrets not having finished.
Il est préférable de ne pas intervenir.
It is preferable not to intervene.
Veillez à ne pas oublier vos effets personnels.
Ensure you do not forget your personal belongings.
Il a promis de ne pas recommencer.
He promised not to do it again.
Nous avons convenu de ne pas en parler.
We agreed not to talk about it.
Il convient de ne pas négliger ces détails.
It is appropriate not to neglect these details.
Il a pris le parti de ne pas répondre.
He chose not to respond.
Il s'efforce de ne pas paraître inquiet.
He strives not to appear worried.
Il est impératif de ne pas faillir.
It is imperative not to fail.
Il ne saurait être question de ne pas agir.
There can be no question of not acting.
Il se garde bien de ne pas mentionner les faits.
He is careful not to fail to mention the facts.
Il a résolu de ne pas céder à la pression.
He resolved not to yield to pressure.
Il est crucial de ne pas mésinterpréter ces signes.
It is crucial not to misinterpret these signs.
Easily Confused
Learners try to split 'ne pas' with the verb.
Learners don't know where to put pronouns.
Using 'ne rien' vs 'ne pas'.
Common Mistakes
Manger ne pas
Ne pas manger
Ne manger pas
Ne pas manger
Pas manger
Ne pas manger
Ne pas manger pas
Ne pas manger
Je veux ne manger pas
Je veux ne pas manger
Il dit de ne manger pas
Il dit de ne pas manger
Ne pas je manger
Ne pas manger
Il a décidé ne pas partir
Il a décidé de ne pas partir
Ne pas ne pas manger
Ne pas manger
Ne pas manger rien
Ne rien manger
Il convient ne pas agir
Il convient de ne pas agir
Ne pas avoir ne pas fait
Ne pas avoir fait
Ne pas ne pas avoir
Ne pas avoir
Ne pas de manger
Ne pas manger
Sentence Patterns
Il faut ___ ___ ___.
Je préfère ___ ___ ___.
Merci de ___ ___ ___.
Il a décidé de ___ ___ ___.
Real World Usage
Ne pas fumer.
Essaie de ne pas oublier.
J'ai décidé de ne pas accepter.
Ne pas se pencher.
Merci de ne pas sonner.
Conseil : ne pas faire ça.
Keep it together
Don't split
Formal signs
Politeness
Smart Tips
Only negate the one that is in the infinitive form.
Always start with 'Ne pas'.
Place the pronoun after 'ne pas'.
Treat 'ne plus' exactly like 'ne pas'.
Pronunciation
Liaison
If the infinitive starts with a vowel, 'pas' might link to it.
Instructional
Ne pas ↘ toucher.
Firm, authoritative tone.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Ne-Pas is a pair, keep them together like a chair.
Visual Association
Imagine a 'Ne' and 'Pas' holding hands tightly in front of a verb. If they let go, the verb gets away!
Rhyme
Before the verb, ne pas must stay, to keep the action far away.
Story
A little boy named 'Ne' and his sister 'Pas' always walk together. They see a big verb 'Manger' and stand right in front of it to block it. They never, ever stand on either side of the verb.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 signs you might see in a park using 'Ne pas'.
Cultural Notes
Used extensively on public signage to maintain order.
Similar usage, often slightly more polite in spoken requests.
Very formal and precise in public instructions.
Derived from the Latin 'non' and 'passus' (step), evolving into the two-part negation in French.
Conversation Starters
Qu'est-ce qu'il ne faut pas faire dans une bibliothèque ?
As-tu des conseils pour ne pas stresser avant un examen ?
Que décides-tu de ne pas faire ce week-end ?
Comment éviter de ne pas réussir un projet ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Il faut ___ ___ fumer ici.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Je veux ne manger pas.
Il faut partir. -> Il faut ___ ___.
A: On fait du bruit ? B: Non, il faut ___ ___.
de / ne / pas / oublier / essayer
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Can you split 'ne' and 'pas' with an infinitive?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesIl faut ___ ___ fumer ici.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Je veux ne manger pas.
Il faut partir. -> Il faut ___ ___.
A: On fait du bruit ? B: Non, il faut ___ ___.
de / ne / pas / oublier / essayer
Ne pas entrer / Ne pas toucher
Can you split 'ne' and 'pas' with an infinitive?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesimportant / ne / pas / est / il / se / tromper / de
To never go back.
Match the following:
Elle a choisi de ___ lui parler.
Choose the sign that says 'Do not touch'.
Je préfère ne personne voir.
Il est interdit ___ s'asseoir ici.
mieux / vaut / rien / il / dire / ne
To not forget them.
Pick the correct translation.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Because the infinitive is a non-finite verb form. It doesn't take the same sandwich structure as conjugated verbs.
Yes, it works with every verb in the French language.
In very informal speech, people might drop 'ne', but in writing and standard speech, you should keep it.
The pronoun goes between 'ne pas' and the verb. Example: 'Ne pas le faire'.
Yes, the reflexive pronoun also goes before the infinitive. Example: 'Ne pas se tromper'.
Yes, 'ne plus' (no longer) follows the same rule. Example: 'Ne plus fumer'.
It is the most direct and formal way to express a prohibition.
Yes, the rule is identical in all French-speaking regions.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
No + infinitive
French requires two particles (ne pas), Spanish only one (no).
Nicht + infinitive
German syntax is more flexible regarding placement.
Verb-nai
Japanese is agglutinative; French is analytical.
La + verb
Arabic negation is a single prefix.
Bu + verb
Chinese has no conjugation, so the negation is always the same.
Not + to + verb
English requires 'to' which is often implied in French.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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