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Ne… guère in French: hardly, not much, not often

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

A compact reference for ne… guère: amount, frequency and degree, word order in two tenses, everyday paraphrases and a four-question meaning check.

In short

Ne… guère means “hardly”, “not much” or “not often”. It expresses a small amount, low degree or low frequency: Je ne sors guère means “I don’t go out much”. It often sounds more formal than pas beaucoup.

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A tired adult rests on the edge of a bed beside a softly lit window at dawn, with a rumpled blanket and no clock.
A quiet morning suggests je n’ai guère dormi. Illustration: Atelier

Ne… guère · meaning and placement

1 · Amount: not much

Before a noun naming the limited amount, use guère de, or guère d’ before a vowel.

Il ne reste guère de temps.There is not much time left.

Nous n’avons guère d’argent.We do not have much money.

2 · Frequency: not often

With an action repeated over time, guère can describe how seldom it happens.

Elle ne vient pas souvent.She does not come often.
Elle ne vient jamais.She never comes.

Depuis son déménagement, Nora ne vient guère au club.Since moving, Nora does not come to the club much.

3 · Degree: hardly

With an adjective, it gives a low evaluation. This can make a criticism sound restrained.

Cette explication n’est guère convaincante.This explanation is hardly convincing.

Ce changement n’est guère utile.This change is not very useful.

4 · Simple tense: after the verb

Use ne before the conjugated verb and guère after it. Ne becomes n’ before a vowel sound.

Je ne comprends guère cette règle.I understand little of this rule.

Il n’apprécie guère ce jeu.He does not like this game much.

5 · Compound tense: around the auxiliary

In these examples, guère follows the auxiliary and comes before the past participle.

Je n’ai guère dormi cette nuit.I hardly slept last night.

Nous n’avons guère avancé.We have made little progress.

What does ne… guère mean?

Keep the information supplied by each negative
FrenchEnglishInformation
Je n’ai guère de billets.I have very few tickets.A low quantity.
Je n’ai que deux billets.I have only two tickets.An exact quantity, restricted to two.
Je n’ai aucun billet.I have no tickets.Zero tickets.

Guère gives a low-quantity assessment. It leaves the count open. In an everyday conversation, Je n’ai pas beaucoup de billets is a straightforward paraphrase. For a visit frequency, choose pas souvent instead.

Choose a paraphrase that keeps the meaning

Question 1No account needed
Choose the closest everyday version.Je n’ai guère de temps.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je n’ai pas beaucoup de temps.. The sentence describes a small amount of time without giving an exact duration.

Question 2No account needed
What does this say about Nora’s visits?Nora ne vient guère au club.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

She comes infrequently.. The sentence gives low frequency; it supplies neither a timetable nor a definite end to her visits.

Question 3No account needed
Choose the usual word order.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je n’ai guère dormi.. In this compound tense, the negative expression surrounds the auxiliary.

Question 4No account needed
Which sentence gives the exact number two?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je n’ai que deux billets.. The restrictive expression applies to the stated quantity of two.

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