Заперечення: ne...pas та його різновиди

English makes a verb negative with "not" and usually a helper: "I don't speak Chinese". French has no helper; instead it wraps the conjugated verb in two words, ne before it and a second word after it.

Ne becomes n' before a vowel: Je n'aime pas les escargots. The second word replaces pas; do not use both (*Je ne bois pas jamais).

Where the two parts go

• Passé composé: around the helper verb. Je n'ai pas mangé. - I haven't eaten.
• Near future and modals: around the conjugated verb. Je ne vais pas venir. On ne peut pas entrer.
• With an infinitive alone, both words go in front: Ne pas toucher ! - Do not touch! (seen on signs in every museum)

Articles after a negative

After a negative, un, une, des and du, de la become de: J'ai une voiture → Je n'ai pas de voiture.

In speech

In everyday spoken French, ne is very often dropped: Je parle pas chinois. C'est pas grave. The second word carries the negation. In writing and in formal speech, keep ne. Do not drop pas instead: Je ne parle chinois sounds broken.