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.
  – 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.
  – Are you hungry?
– Not very.
– Comment ça va ?
Pas mal.
  – 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 !
  – 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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