Ne on its own: ne… point, je ne saurais
Literary negation without pas
In formal and literary French, the negation can be just ne, without pas. This sounds elegant (or old-fashioned) and is common in writing.
After cesser, oser, pouvoir, savoir
With these four verbs, pas is often dropped, especially before an infinitive:
- Il ne cesse de pleuvoir.It won't stop raining.
- Je n'ose le lui dire.I don't dare tell him.
- Je ne puis accepter.I cannot accept.
- Je ne saurais vous dire.I couldn't tell you.
Je ne saurais (conditional of savoir) is a polite formula: "I really couldn't".
Fixed expressions
- Si je ne me trompe…Unless I'm mistaken…
- N'importe.It doesn't matter.
- Il y a un mois que je ne l'ai vu.I haven't seen him for a month.
- Que ne le disiez-vous ?Why didn't you say so?
Ne… point, ne… guère
Ne… point is a strong, literary "not at all". Ne… guère means "hardly".
- Je ne sais point.I do not know at all.
- Il ne parle guère.He hardly speaks.
Don't confuse this with the ne explétif (Ne explétif), which isn't negative at all.
Related: Negation.
Practice
- « Je ne saurais vous dire » means…Options: I couldn't tell you · I don't know how to tell you · I won't tell you
Show the answer
I couldn't tell you
- « Il n'ose le dire » is…Options: negative (he doesn't dare say it) · positive · a question
Show the answer
negative (he doesn't dare say it)
- Je ne _____ point de quoi vous parlez. (literary: I don't know at all)
Show the answer
sais
- « Si je ne me trompe » means…Options: Unless I'm mistaken · If I'm not wrong yet · If I don't trick myself
Show the answer
Unless I'm mistaken
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days until you've mastered it.