Pas without ne

Pas de fraises
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Pas sans ne

The first thing French students learn about negation is that the two parts of the negative adverb ne … pas are required on either side of the verb. In fact, pas is very often used informally without ne with several different parts of speech.

Pas + Adjectives

– Il est grand ?
– Non, pas grand.
 â€“ Is he tall?
– No, not tall.
C’est un homme pas fier. He’s not a proud man.
Pas bête, ça That’s not a bad idea
Pas possible ! No way! That’s not possible!

Pas + Adverbs

– Tu as faim ?
– Pas trop.
 â€“ Are you hungry?
– Not very.
– Comment ça va ?
– Pas mal.
 â€“ How are you ?
– Not bad.
Pourquoi pas ? Why not?
J’en ai deux, pas trois. I have two of them, not three.
pas demain not tomorrow

Pas de + Nouns

Pas de fraises aujourd’hui (on a sign) No strawberries today
Pas de sucre pour moi. No sugar for me.
Pas de problème No problem
Pas de pot No luck
Pas de panique ! Don’t panic!

Pas + Pronouns

– Qui va conduire ?
– Pas moi !
 â€“ Who’s going to drive?
– Not me!
J’ai faim, pas toi ? I’m hungry, aren’t you?
Il vient à la fête mais pas elle. He’s coming to the party but not her / but she’s not.
Ah non, pas ça ! Oh no, not that!

Pas + Phrases

pas du tout not at all
pas tout à fait not exactly
pas tout de suite not quite yet

Tag Questions

Tu le feras, pas ? You’ll do it, right?
Tu viens, ou pas ? Are you coming or not?
Elle est belle, pas vrai ? She’s beautiful, right?

Verbs + Pas

See informal negation.

 Related lessons

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French pas without ne

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