Dialogue
Oui, si or non? Answering negative French questions
Practise answering Tu ne viens pas ? with si or non. A conversation and three checks show how to correct a negative assumption and confirm your plans.
- B1
- 12 lines
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In short
Use si to contradict a negative question: Tu ne viens pas ? — Si, je viens. Use non when the negative is true: Non, je ne viens pas. After a positive question, the ordinary positive reply is oui.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out
| Question | You are coming | You are not coming |
|---|---|---|
| Tu viens ? | Oui, je viens. | Non, je ne viens pas. |
| Tu ne viens pas ? | Si, je viens. | Non, je ne viens pas. |
The same positive fact gets oui after the positive question and si after the negative question. Decide what actually happens before choosing the opening word. The full clause then makes your answer clear. In the conversation, you are attending a meeting and have received the message, but you cannot stay until the end.
- Nora
Tu viens à la réunion demain ?
English
Are you coming to the meeting tomorrow?
- You
Oui, je viens.
Answer the positive question: you are coming.
English
Yes, I am.
- Nora
Ah bon ? Tu ne travailles pas demain ?
English
Really? Aren’t you working tomorrow?
- You
Non, je ne travaille pas. J’ai une journée libre.
Confirm that you are not working. Say you have a day off.
English
No, I’m not working. I have a day off.
- Nora
Tu n’as pas reçu mon message avec l’horaire ?
English
Haven’t you received my message with the time?
- You
Si, je l’ai reçu. La réunion commence à dix heures.
Contradict the negative question: you received it. Give the ten o’clock start.
English
Yes, I have. The meeting starts at ten.
- Nora
Tu ne peux pas rester jusqu’à la fin ?
English
Can’t you stay until the end?
- You
Non, je ne peux pas. Je dois partir à onze heures.
Confirm that you cannot stay. You must leave at eleven.
English
No, I can’t. I have to leave at eleven.
- Nora
Tu ne veux pas présenter ton idée au début ?
English
Don’t you want to present your idea at the start?
- You
Si, avec plaisir. Je peux parler en premier.
Accept: you do want to present your idea. You can speak first.
English
Yes, gladly. I can speak first.
- Nora
Alors, on se retrouve à dix heures.
English
Then we’ll meet at ten.
- You
D’accord, à demain !
Agree and say see you tomorrow.
English
All right, see you tomorrow!
When do you answer si instead of oui?
| French | English | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Si, je viens. | Yes, I am coming. | contradict a negative |
| Si tu viens, préviens-moi. | If you are coming, let me know. | introduce a condition |
| Je me demande si tu viens. | I wonder whether you are coming. | introduce an indirect question |
A bare oui can acknowledge what someone has said, so it can leave the intended answer unclear after a negative question. For a clear positive correction, say Si and add the fact. The pattern also works when the question drops ne in conversation: Tu viens pas ? — Si, je viens.