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De after French negation: pas de, pas d’ and the exceptions

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Learn when un, une, des and partitives become de after negation. A compact rule sheet contrasts absence, definite articles, être, quantities and only.

In short

When you deny having, buying or eating any of something, un, une, des, du, de la and de l’ normally become de: Je n’ai pas de pain. Use d’ before a vowel or mute h: pas d’eau, pas d’huile. Keep definite articles and the identifying article after être.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

De after a negative · six checks

1 · 1 · No quantity: use de

The noun keeps its number. The article loses its gender distinction.

J’ai une pomme. → Je n’ai pas de pomme.I have an apple. → I don’t have an apple.

Nous achetons des œufs. → Nous n’achetons pas d’œufs.We buy eggs. → We don’t buy any eggs.

2 · 2 · Nothing left: plus works too

Ne…plus can express that none remains.

Il reste du lait. → Il ne reste plus de lait.There is some milk left. → There is no milk left.

3 · 3 · A definite article stays

Keep le, la, l’ and les for general likes or a particular thing.

Je n’aime pas le café.I don’t like coffee.

Je ne trouve pas les clés.I can’t find the keys.

4 · 4 · Identification with être keeps the article

This says what something is, rather than saying there is none.

Ce n’est pas un gâteau.It isn’t a cake.

Ce n’est pas du beurre.It isn’t butter.

5 · 5 · A number being corrected can stay

Here un means one, and the next clause corrects that number.

Je ne prends pas un dessert, j’en prends deux.I’m not having one dessert; I’m having two.

6 · 6 · Ne…que means only

This restricts the quantity or choice instead of denying it.

Je ne bois que de l’eau.I only drink water.

Four kitchen nouns: say what is missing

When do you keep the article after a French negation?

Cake in three different sentences
FrenchMeaning
Je ne mange pas de gâteau.I’m not eating any cake.
Je ne mange pas le gâteau que tu as apporté.I’m not eating the particular cake you brought.
Ce n’est pas un gâteau.The thing is not a cake.

In the first sentence, the amount is zero. In the second, le points to a particular cake. In the third, être rejects an identification. A negative word alone is therefore only the start of the article choice.

Question 1No account needed
There is no milk left at all.Il n’y a plus ___ lait.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

de. For an ordinary absence, partitive du becomes de: plus de lait.

Question 2No account needed
Identify what the object is not.Ce n’est pas ___ téléphone.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

un. After être, keep the identifying article: ce n’est pas un téléphone.

Question 3No account needed
Say that you dislike coffee in general.Je n’aime pas ___ café.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le. A general dislike keeps the definite article: je n’aime pas le café.

Question 4No account needed
Say that you have no oil.Je n’ai pas ___huile.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

d’. The mute h in huile allows elision: de becomes d’.

Question 5No account needed
Say that you drink only water.Je ne bois que ___eau.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

de l’. Ne…que means only. The partitive remains de l’eau.

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