Opposites

French opposites
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Contraires

It’s often helpful to learn groups of words by theme, such as adverbs of time or indefinite pronouns. Another option is to learn pairs of antonyms, as with this selection of opposing adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns.

Par exemple…

– Tu vas quelque part ?
– Non, je ne vais nulle part.
  – Are you going somewhere?
– No, I’m not going anywhere.
– Je connais quelqu’un en Iran.
– Ah bon ? Je ne connais personne là-bas.
  – I know someone in Iran.
– Oh yeah? I don’t know anyone there.
Il a déjà mangé, mais Ana n’a pas encore mangé.   He’s already eaten, but Ana hasn’t eaten yet.

Antonymous adverbs and pronouns

aussi also   ne … non plus neither, not either
complètement totally   ne … aucunement not at all
déjà already   ne … pas encore not yet
encore again   ne … plus
plus jamais
no more, not any more
never again
jamais ever   ne … jamais never
oui yes   non no
partout everywhere   ne … nulle part nowhere
plus more   ne … plus
moins
no more, not any more
less
le plus the most   le moins the least
ne … que only   ne … pas que not only
quelque(s) ___ some ___   ne … aucun ___
ne … nul ___
no ___
quelque chose something   ne … rien nothing
quelque part somewhere   ne … nulle part nowhere, not anywhere
quelqu’un someone   ne … personne no one
seulement only   ne … pas seulement not only
tout everything   ne … rien nothing
tout le monde everyone   ne … personne no one
toujours still
always
 
  ne … plus
ne … pas toujours
ne … jamais
no more, not any more
not always
never

Did I miss an important pair of antonyms? Post a comment below and I’ll add it.

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Contraires - French opposites

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