Verb drill
Non pas… mais: practise correcting one detail in French
Correct a number, a time, a purpose or an intention with non pas… mais. Study parallel examples, then complete eight focused French corrections.
- B2
- 8 answers
- Checked all at once
- Accents count
- Learn this in the B2 notebook →
In short
Non pas… mais means “not… but”: Je veux non pas convaincre, mais comprendre. Put the rejected detail after non pas and the replacement after mais. The two parts fit the same slot in the sentence.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
Study first: what exactly changes?
| Focus | French | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Nora a reçu non pas trois messages, mais quatre. | She received four messages; three was the wrong count. |
| Time | La séance commence non pas à neuf heures, mais à dix heures. | The start time is ten, rather than nine. |
| Infinitive | Nous voulons non pas gagner, mais participer. | Taking part is the stated aim. |
| Purpose | Il intervient non pas pour critiquer, mais pour aider. | His stated purpose is to help. |
In the first row, Nora did receive messages. Non pas rejects the count of three. In the last row, repeat pour so that both purposes have the same shape. The main verb stays affirmative: il intervient.
Elle ne répond pas.She is not replying.
Focus: denies the reply
Elle répond non pas à Paul, mais à Nora.She is replying to Nora, rather than Paul.
Focus: corrects the recipient of the reply
Complete only the missing group. Each cue names the detail to reject or replace; keep the accents and any preposition. The first four items supply non pas. The next four ask you to place the correction yourself.
What should the reader keep?
The replacement carries the corrected information. When the contrast is non pas une excuse, mais une solution, the speaker is seeking a solution. A short summary can keep that positive detail. In a discussion, the full correction is useful when someone has already suggested the wrong alternative.
1 · Complete the replacement
- Nous cherchons non pas une excuse, mais . (a solution)
- La réunion aura lieu non pas lundi, mais . (Tuesday)
- Je veux non pas juger, mais . (to understand)
- Elle écrit non pas pour protester, mais . (to thank)
2 · Place the rejected detail
- Il demande , mais une réponse. (not an extension)
- Nous travaillons , mais plus soigneusement. (not faster)
- Elle répond , mais à Léa. (not to Marc)
- Le groupe veut , mais reporter la séance. (not to cancel)