A2 Nouns & Articles 13 min read Easy

Negative Sentences with 'de' (Zero Quantity)

Always replace partitive or indefinite articles with de in negative sentences, except when using the verb être.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

When you say 'no' to something, change 'un', 'une', 'des', 'du', 'de la', or 'de l'' to 'de'.

  • Change indefinite articles (un/une/des) to 'de' in negative sentences: Je n'ai pas de voiture.
  • Change partitive articles (du/de la/de l') to 'de' in negative sentences: Je ne mange pas de pain.
  • The rule applies even if the noun is plural: Je n'ai pas de frères.
Subject + ne + Verb + pas + de + Noun

Overview

French negation often involves a crucial transformation of articles when expressing the absence of a quantity. This rule, central to A2-level French, dictates that most indefinite (un, une) and partitive (du, de la, de l', des) articles are replaced by de (or d') after a negative construction like ne... pas.

This grammatical shift isn't arbitrary; it reflects a fundamental linguistic principle: when something doesn't exist, its specific quantity, gender, or number becomes irrelevant. French consolidates these specific markers into a single, generic de to signify a zero quantity or the complete absence of the noun.

Mastering this transformation is vital for both comprehension and fluency. Incorrectly retaining the original article in a negative sentence is a common error that can sound unnatural to native speakers. This explanation will detail the mechanisms, exceptions, and common pitfalls of forming negative sentences with de, equipping you to confidently express absence in French.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, this rule addresses how French quantifies absence. In positive sentences, indefinite articles (un, une) denote one item, and partitive articles (du, de la, de l', des) denote an unspecified 'some' amount. When a sentence is negated, and the verb expresses having, needing, or consuming a quantity of something, French indicates that the quantity is precisely zero.
Instead of saying "I don't have some coffee" (which implies a specific, albeit undefined, quantity), French says "I don't have any coffee," where 'any' is represented by de.
The word de acts as an unspecified quantifier of non-existence. It effectively strips away the gender and number distinctions that indefinite and partitive articles carry. This means un, une, du, de la, de l', and des all collapse into de (or d' before a vowel or silent h) when expressing zero quantity.
For example, J'ai un livre (I have a book) becomes Je n'ai pas de livre (I don't have any book/I have no book). Similarly, Nous mangeons des pommes (We are eating some apples) transforms into Nous ne mangeons pas de pommes (We are not eating any apples).
This rule applies consistently across various nouns, regardless of their original gender or number in the positive statement. The linguistic rationale is that when a noun's existence is denied, its individual characteristics like gender and plurality, which are typically marked by the article, become secondary to the overarching fact of its non-presence. De becomes the universal marker for this absolute absence.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming a negative sentence with de for zero quantity follows a straightforward pattern. This applies to verbs that describe possession, consumption, or general presence. The process involves identifying the article, applying the ne... pas negation, and substituting the article with de or d'.
2
Here's the step-by-step guide:
3
Start with a positive sentence: Identify your subject, verb, and the noun accompanied by an indefinite or partitive article.
4
Example: Tu as une voiture. (You have a car.)
5
Example: Il boit du thé. (He is drinking some tea.)
6
Apply the ne... pas negation: Place ne before the conjugated verb and pas after it.
7
Example: Tu n'as pas une voiture. (Incorrect intermediate step)
8
Example: Il ne boit pas du thé. (Incorrect intermediate step)
9
Replace the indefinite or partitive article: Change un, une, du, de la, de l', des to de.
10
Example: Tu n'as pas de voiture.
11
Example: Il ne boit pas de thé.
12
Use d' before a vowel or silent h: If the noun following de begins with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u, y) or a silent h, de contracts to d' for smoother pronunciation (elision).
13
Example: J'ai de l'argent. (I have some money.)
14
Negative: Je n'ai pas d'argent. (I don't have any money.)
15
Transformation Table:
16
| Positive Article | Negative Transformation | Example (Positive) | Example (Negative) | Translation (Negative) |
17
| :---------------- | :---------------------- | :--------------------------- | :------------------------------ | :------------------------------- |
18
| un (masc. sing.) | de | J'ai un chien. | Je n'ai pas de chien. | I don't have a dog. |
19
| une (fem. sing.) | de | Elle a une idée. | Elle n'a pas d'idée. | She doesn't have an idea. |
20
| du (masc. part.) | de | Nous voulons du pain. | Nous ne voulons pas de pain. | We don't want any bread. |
21
| de la (fem. part.) | de | Vous mangez de la viande. | Vous ne mangez pas de viande. | You're not eating any meat. |
22
| de l' (vowel part.) | d' | Ils boivent de l'eau. | Ils ne boivent pas d'eau. | They aren't drinking any water. |
23
| des (plural part.) | de | Tu as des amis. | Tu n'as pas d'amis. | You don't have any friends. |
24
This table illustrates how the article system simplifies drastically in negative constructions to universally denote absence.

Gender & Agreement

When you use de in a negative sentence to express zero quantity, it's essential to understand its impact—and lack thereof—on the noun's gender and number. The article de itself is invariable; it does not change based on the gender or number of the noun it precedes. This is precisely why the rule exists: to generalize the concept of 'none' or 'not any' without specific article agreement.
However, the noun itself retains its inherent gender and number. This becomes relevant if the noun is modified by an adjective, even in a negative context. The adjective must still agree in gender and number with the noun it describes, despite the presence of de.
For instance:
  • J'ai de belles fleurs. (I have some beautiful flowers.)
  • Je n'ai pas de belles fleurs. (I don't have any beautiful flowers.)
Here, belles (feminine plural) still agrees with fleurs (feminine plural), even though des changed to de. The de functions as a quantifier of absence for the noun phrase belles fleurs, not as an article modifying fleurs directly in terms of gender/number. The noun's intrinsic properties remain, influencing any other agreement rules in the sentence, while de simply signals the non-existence of any such quantity.

When To Use It

This ne... pas de construction is used whenever you want to express a complete absence or zero quantity of something. It applies broadly to various contexts, from concrete objects to abstract concepts, and indicates that 'not any' of the item exists or is involved.
  1. 1Material Possessions: When you don't have an item.
  • Je n'ai pas de voiture. (I don't have a car.)
  • Elle n'a pas d'argent. (She doesn't have any money.)
  1. 1Food and Drink: When there's no quantity of a consumable.
  • Nous ne mangeons pas de viande. (We aren't eating any meat.)
  • Il n'y a pas de café. (There isn't any coffee.)
  1. 1Abstract Concepts: To express a lack of qualities, ideas, or feelings.
  • Je n'ai pas de patience aujourd'hui. (I have no patience today.)
  • Ils n'ont pas d'espoir. (They have no hope.)
  1. 1Expressions of Quantity and Frequency: This rule extends to negative expressions of quantity and frequency that inherently imply 'zero amount'.
  • With ne... plus de (no more/no longer any):
  • Elle n'a plus de temps. (She no longer has any time.)
  • With ne... jamais de (never any):
  • Je ne bois jamais de lait. (I never drink any milk.)
  • With ne... aucun(e) (not a single/no):
  • Il n'y a aucune solution. (There is no solution.) - Note: aucun(e) is an adjective that agrees with the noun and inherently implies negation, so de is not used directly after pas with aucun. However, ne... pas d' can often be interchangeable with ne... aucun(e) depending on emphasis: Je n'ai pas d'idée vs Je n'ai aucune idée.
  1. 1With il n'y a pas de... (There isn't/aren't any...): This is a very common structure to state the absence of something.
  • Il n'y a pas de problème. (There's no problem.)
  • Il n'y a pas d'étudiants en classe. (There aren't any students in class.)
Essentially, if you're negating a verb that implies the presence or availability of a noun, and you want to say 'not any' or 'zero amount', de is the correct article substitute.

Common Mistakes

Several common errors arise when learners apply the ne... pas de rule, often due to English interference or misapplication of other French grammar principles. Understanding these specific pitfalls is key to avoiding them.
  1. 1Retaining the Original Article: The most frequent mistake is failing to replace un, une, du, de la, de l', or des with de (or d').
  • Incorrect: Je n'ai pas un chat.
  • Correct: Je n'ai pas de chat. (I don't have a cat/any cat.)
  • Incorrect: Nous ne mangeons pas des légumes.
  • Correct: Nous ne mangeons pas de légumes. (We are not eating any vegetables.)
  1. 1Forgetting Elision with Vowels/Silent h: Ignoring the contraction of de to d' before a vowel or silent h results in awkward pronunciation.
  • Incorrect: Il n'y a pas de eau.
  • Correct: Il n'y a pas d'eau. (There isn't any water.)
  1. 1The être (to be) Exception: This is a critical distinction. The verb être does not follow the ne... pas de rule. When être is negated, the article (un, une, du, de la, des) generally remains unchanged. This is because être identifies or classifies the noun, rather than quantifying its presence or absence. You are negating the identity, not the quantity.
  • Positive: C'est un livre. (It's a book.)
  • Negative: Ce n'est pas un livre. (It's not a book.) (Not de livre)
  • Positive: C'est de la soupe. (It's some soup.)
  • Negative: Ce n'est pas de la soupe. (It's not soup.) (Not de soupe)
This exception emphasizes that de is for zero quantity, while être deals with identity/classification. When you say Ce n'est pas un livre, you're denying that the object is classified as a book, not that you have zero books.
  1. 1Verbs of Preference Exception: Verbs that express preference or strong feelings (aimer - to like/love, adorer - to adore, préférer - to prefer, détester - to hate) always use definite articles (le, la, l', les). These definite articles do not change in negative sentences. These verbs refer to the noun in a general, conceptual sense, not a specific quantity.
  • Positive: J'aime le café. (I like coffee [in general].)
  • Negative: Je n'aime pas le café. (I don't like coffee.) (Not de café)
  • Positive: Elle déteste les araignées. (She hates spiders.)
  • Negative: Elle ne déteste pas les araignées. (She doesn't hate spiders.)
The rule of de for zero quantity applies when a verb indicates a quantity of something. Verbs of preference, however, refer to the general concept of the noun, where definite articles are consistently used and are impervious to negation.
  1. 1Specificity vs. Zero Quantity: Confusing the negation of 'any' with the negation of 'the specific'. If you're referring to the specific book that's missing, you use le.
  • Je n'ai pas de livre. (I don't have any book/I have no book.)
  • Je n'ai pas le livre. (I don't have the book [the one we were talking about].)
These distinctions are crucial for both grammatical accuracy and conveying the precise meaning you intend.

Common Collocations

The ne... pas de construction appears frequently in various fixed expressions and common phrases in French. Recognizing these collocations can enhance your natural use of the language, as they often express common sentiments or situations.
Here are some prevalent examples:
  • Il n'y a pas de problème. (There's no problem.) - A universal response to indicate something is fine or manageable.
  • Pas de souci. (No worries.) - A more casual alternative to pas de problème, very common in everyday French.
  • Je n'ai pas de temps. (I don't have time.) - Used to express being busy or unavailable.
  • Je n'ai pas de chance. (I have no luck/I'm unlucky.) - A common phrase to lament misfortune.
  • Il n'y a pas de doute. (There's no doubt.) - To confirm certainty about something.
  • Ne fais pas de bruit ! (Don't make any noise!) - A common imperative.
  • Je n'ai pas d'idée. (I have no idea.) - A frequent response to express lack of knowledge.
  • Il n'y a pas de quoi. (You're welcome./Don't mention it.) - A standard reply after merci.
  • N'avoir pas de sous. (To have no money/be broke.) - Sous is a colloquial term for money.
  • Sans (without): While not ne... pas de, sans inherently expresses absence and is often followed directly by a noun without an article (or with an indefinite/partitive article if specific, though de is typically absent). E.g., sans argent (without money), sans effort (without effort). This reinforces the idea of absence simplifying article use.
These phrases demonstrate how integral de is to expressing absence in idiomatic French. Integrating them into your vocabulary will make your speech sound more authentic and fluid.

Real Conversations

Observing how native speakers use ne... pas de in authentic contexts reveals its natural rhythm and common applications. It's not limited to formal grammar exercises but is a foundational element of everyday French, from casual chat to more structured communication.

Example 1 (Casual Interaction):

- A: Tu as faim ? On va manger. (Are you hungry? Let's eat.)

- B: Non, merci. Je n'ai pas faim [or, Je n'ai pas d'appétit]. (No, thanks. I'm not hungry / I don't have an appetite.)

- Here, faim is typically used without an article, but if referring to 'appetite', d'appétit is correct. This showcases expressing a general state of 'not having'.

Example 2 (Making Plans):

- A: On pourrait aller au cinéma ce soir ? (Could we go to the cinema tonight?)

- B: Désolé(e), je n'ai pas de temps libre. (Sorry, I don't have any free time.)

Example 3 (During a Shopping Trip):

- A: Il y a de la bonne confiture de fraises ici. (There's good strawberry jam here.)

- B: Ah oui ? Moi, je n'aime pas la confiture. Et de toute façon, je n'ai pas d'argent sur moi. (Oh really? I don't like jam. And anyway, I don't have any money on me.)

- This example beautifully illustrates both the aimer exception (n'aime pas la confiture) and the ne... pas d' rule for zero quantity (n'ai pas d'argent) within a single exchange.

Example 4 (Social Media/Texting):

- Grosse journée de travail. Pas de vibes aujourd'hui. (Big work day. No vibes today.)

- This very casual example shows the ellipsis of il n'y a and the direct use of pas de for a quick, informal expression of absence, common in contemporary French. It mirrors the English 'No X today'.

These instances highlight the versatility and prevalence of ne... pas de in conveying absence, both in full sentences and in truncated, informal communication.

Quick FAQ

Q: Does des always change to de in the negative?
A: Yes, when des functions as a partitive article meaning

Article Transformation Table

Affirmative Article Negative Form Example
un
de
Je n'ai pas de chien
une
de
Je n'ai pas de voiture
des
de
Je n'ai pas de livres
du
de
Je ne veux pas de pain
de la
de
Je ne mange pas de salade
de l'
d'
Je n'ai pas d'eau

Elision Rules

Preceding word Following word Result
de
ami
d'ami
de
eau
d'eau
de
heure
d'heure

Meanings

This rule dictates that when a sentence is negated, the specific quantity or indefinite article used in an affirmative sentence is replaced by the preposition 'de' to indicate zero quantity.

1

Zero Quantity

Expressing the total absence of a countable or uncountable object.

“Je n'ai pas de voiture.”

“Il ne veut pas de café.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Negative Sentences with 'de' (Zero Quantity)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Verb + Article + Noun
J'ai un chat
Negative
Ne + Verb + pas + de + Noun
Je n'ai pas de chat
Question
Est-ce que + S + V + Article + Noun?
As-tu un chat?
Negative Answer
Non, je n'ai pas de chat
Non, je n'ai pas de chat
Plural
Verb + des + Noun
J'ai des amis
Negative Plural
Ne + Verb + pas + de + Noun
Je n'ai pas d'amis

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Je ne possède pas de voiture.

Je ne possède pas de voiture. (Daily life)

Neutral
Je n'ai pas de voiture.

Je n'ai pas de voiture. (Daily life)

Informal
J'ai pas de voiture.

J'ai pas de voiture. (Daily life)

Slang
J'ai zéro voiture.

J'ai zéro voiture. (Daily life)

The Negation Funnel

Negative Sentence

Indefinite

  • un a
  • une a
  • des some

Partitive

  • du some
  • de la some
  • de l' some
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Examples by Level

1

Je n'ai pas de stylo.

I don't have a pen.

2

Il ne veut pas de lait.

He doesn't want milk.

3

Nous n'avons pas de voiture.

We don't have a car.

4

Elle n'a pas de frère.

She doesn't have a brother.

1

Je ne mange pas de viande.

I don't eat meat.

2

Tu n'as pas d'amis ici ?

Don't you have friends here?

3

Ils n'ont pas de temps pour ça.

They don't have time for that.

4

Je ne veux pas de problèmes.

I don't want any trouble.

1

Il n'a pas d'expérience dans ce domaine.

He has no experience in this field.

2

Nous ne trouvons pas de solution.

We aren't finding a solution.

3

Elle ne porte pas de bijoux aujourd'hui.

She isn't wearing jewelry today.

4

Je n'ai pas de nouvelles de lui.

I have no news from him.

1

Il ne manifeste pas de regret.

He shows no regret.

2

Nous n'avons pas de preuve de son innocence.

We have no proof of his innocence.

3

Elle ne fait pas de compromis.

She doesn't make compromises.

4

Je n'ai pas d'objection à cette idée.

I have no objection to this idea.

1

Il ne présente pas de signe de fatigue.

He shows no sign of fatigue.

2

La situation ne laisse pas de place au doute.

The situation leaves no room for doubt.

3

Ils n'ont pas de scrupules à agir ainsi.

They have no scruples about acting this way.

4

Je ne vois pas d'inconvénient à votre départ.

I see no disadvantage to your departure.

1

Il n'a pas de mots pour exprimer sa gratitude.

He has no words to express his gratitude.

2

Cette décision ne comporte pas de risque majeur.

This decision carries no major risk.

3

Elle ne nourrit pas de ressentiment envers eux.

She harbors no resentment toward them.

4

Il n'a pas d'égal dans son domaine.

He has no equal in his field.

Easily Confused

Negative Sentences with 'de' (Zero Quantity) vs Negation vs. 'Être'

Learners think 'être' also requires 'de'.

Negative Sentences with 'de' (Zero Quantity) vs Partitive 'de' vs. Negative 'de'

They look the same.

Negative Sentences with 'de' (Zero Quantity) vs Des vs. De

Learners keep 'des' in negative sentences.

Common Mistakes

✗

Je n'ai pas des chats.

✓

Je n'ai pas de chats.

Plural 'des' must become 'de'.
✗

Je n'ai pas une voiture.

✓

Je n'ai pas de voiture.

Indefinite 'une' must become 'de'.
✗

Je ne mange pas du pain.

✓

Je ne mange pas de pain.

Partitive 'du' must become 'de'.
✗

Je n'ai pas d'un chien.

✓

Je n'ai pas de chien.

Don't add 'un' after 'de'.
✗

Je n'ai pas d'argent.

✓

Je n'ai pas d'argent.

This is actually correct, but often learners forget the elision.
✗

Il n'a pas de l'eau.

✓

Il n'a pas d'eau.

Do not keep 'le/la/l'' after 'de'.
✗

Je n'ai pas de des amis.

✓

Je n'ai pas d'amis.

Double article error.
✗

Ce n'est pas de voiture.

✓

Ce n'est pas une voiture.

The verb 'être' does not trigger the 'de' rule.
✗

Je n'ai pas de la chance.

✓

Je n'ai pas de chance.

Partitive 'de la' becomes 'de'.
✗

Il n'y a pas des gens.

✓

Il n'y a pas de gens.

Standard negation rule.
✗

Il ne manifeste pas de la colère.

✓

Il ne manifeste pas de colère.

Even with abstract nouns, use 'de'.
✗

Je n'ai pas de le temps.

✓

Je n'ai pas de temps.

Avoid 'de le'.
✗

Il n'a pas de aucune idée.

✓

Il n'a pas d'idée.

Redundant negation.

Sentence Patterns

Je n'ai pas ___ ___.

Il ne veut pas ___ ___.

Nous n'avons pas ___ ___ pour ça.

Je ne vois pas ___ ___ ici.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

J'ai pas de réseau.

Ordering food very common

Je ne veux pas de sauce.

Job interview common

Je n'ai pas d'autre question.

Travel common

Je n'ai pas de billet.

Social media common

J'ai pas de temps pour ça.

Customer service common

Je n'ai pas de reçu.

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💡

The 'de' Shield

Whenever you see 'ne...pas', think 'de'. It's your best friend.
⚠️

Watch out for 'être'

If the verb is 'être', don't use 'de'. It's the only major exception.
🎯

Elision is key

Always check if the next word starts with a vowel. If it does, use 'd''.
💬

Spoken French

In casual speech, you can drop the 'ne'. 'J'ai pas de...' is perfectly acceptable.

Smart Tips

Always use 'de' after 'pas'.

Je n'ai pas des pommes. → Je n'ai pas de pommes.

Use 'd'' instead of 'de'.

Je n'ai pas de amis. → Je n'ai pas d'amis.

Keep the article!

Ce n'est pas de chat. → Ce n'est pas un chat.

Use 'aucun' instead of 'de'.

Je n'ai pas de idée. → Je n'ai aucune idée.

Pronunciation

d'ami [dami]

Elision

When 'de' is followed by a vowel, it becomes 'd''. The 'e' is dropped.

Falling intonation

Je n'ai pas de ↓ voiture.

Standard declarative negation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'de' as a 'Zero-Zone' shield. When you enter the negative zone, all other articles are pushed out by the 'de' shield.

Visual Association

Imagine a basket full of apples (des pommes). When you say 'Je n'ai pas...', you take all the apples out and leave only a single, empty 'de' label in the basket.

Rhyme

When the sentence is negative and mean, swap the article for a simple 'de'.

Story

Pierre goes to the market. He wants 'du pain', 'des pommes', and 'une pomme'. But he has no money. He says: 'Je ne veux pas de pain, je ne veux pas de pommes, je ne veux pas de pomme.' Everything became 'de' because his wallet was empty.

Word Web

nepasded'aucunrien

Challenge

Look around your room. Say 5 things you don't have using 'Je n'ai pas de...'.

Cultural Notes

In spoken French, the 'ne' is often dropped, but the 'de' remains. 'J'ai pas de voiture' is very common.

Similar to France, the 'ne' is frequently omitted in casual speech.

The rule is strictly followed in formal education, though colloquial speech may vary.

The 'de' replacement stems from the Old French usage of 'de' as a partitive marker that eventually became the standard way to express absence in negation.

Conversation Starters

“

Qu'est-ce que tu n'as pas dans ton sac ?

“

Qu'est-ce que tu ne manges jamais ?

“

As-tu des regrets dans la vie ?

“

Quelles sont les choses dont tu n'as pas besoin ?

Journal Prompts

Describe your ideal day, but list 5 things you DON'T want to happen.
Write about a time you didn't have something you needed.
Discuss a habit you don't have.
Reflect on a situation where you had no choice.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

Je n'ai pas ___ voiture.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Negative sentences require 'de'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas d'amis.
'Des' becomes 'd'' before a vowel.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ce n'est pas de voiture.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce n'est pas une voiture.
'Être' does not trigger the 'de' rule.
Transform to negative. Sentence Transformation

J'ai un chien.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas de chien.
'Un' becomes 'de'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

pas / de / je / n' / ai / temps

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas de temps.
Standard word order.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Tu veux du café ? B: Non, ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: je ne veux pas de café.
Partitive 'du' becomes 'de'.
Sort into affirmative or negative. Grammar Sorting

Which uses 'de'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas de chat.
Only the negative sentence uses 'de'.
Match the affirmative to the negative. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas de pomme.
Correct transformation.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form.

Je n'ai pas ___ voiture.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Negative sentences require 'de'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas d'amis.
'Des' becomes 'd'' before a vowel.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ce n'est pas de voiture.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce n'est pas une voiture.
'Être' does not trigger the 'de' rule.
Transform to negative. Sentence Transformation

J'ai un chien.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas de chien.
'Un' becomes 'de'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

pas / de / je / n' / ai / temps

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas de temps.
Standard word order.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Tu veux du café ? B: Non, ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: je ne veux pas de café.
Partitive 'du' becomes 'de'.
Sort into affirmative or negative. Grammar Sorting

Which uses 'de'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas de chat.
Only the negative sentence uses 'de'.
Match the affirmative to the negative. Match Pairs

J'ai une pomme.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas de pomme.
Correct transformation.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Nous n'avons plus ___ café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Correct the mistake Error Correction

Je n'ai pas de ordinateur portable.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas d'ordinateur portable.
Translate into French Translation

They don't have any children.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils n'ont pas d'enfants.
Put the words in the correct order Sentence Reorder

pas / de / Je / n'ai / voiture / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas de voiture.
Which one is correct? Multiple Choice

Talking about things you don't like:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'aime pas le fromage.
Match the positive to the negative Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: all
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Elle ne boit jamais ___ thé.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Fix the mistake Error Correction

Ce n'est pas de ma faute.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce n'est pas ma faute.
Pick the right one Multiple Choice

When you have zero motivation:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je n'ai pas de motivation.
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

On n'a pas ___ WiFi ici.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

In negative sentences, 'des' is replaced by 'de' to indicate zero quantity.

Almost everything, except when using the verb 'être'.

It still becomes 'de'. Example: 'Je n'ai pas de livres'.

Yes, it's just 'de' with an apostrophe before a vowel.

Yes, 'aucun' is a more emphatic way to say 'none'.

Because 'être' is a linking verb, not a direct object verb.

Yes, it's very common, though 'ne' is often dropped.

Try negating simple sentences you use every day.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

No tengo...

Spanish uses negative adjectives; French uses a preposition.

German moderate

Ich habe kein...

German 'kein' inflects for gender/case; French 'de' is invariant.

Japanese low

Watashi wa ... ga nai.

Japanese doesn't have articles to replace.

Arabic low

La amluku...

Arabic doesn't have a specific 'de' replacement rule.

Chinese low

Wo mei you...

Chinese lacks article-based grammar.

English partial

I don't have any...

English 'any' is optional; French 'de' is mandatory.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Quantity Expressions (beaucoup de, trop de)
Next
French Articles: 'The' vs 'Some' (Partitive vs Definite)

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