ne… verb …pas
The English phrase "don't" is translated into French using the construction ne… verb …pas. Wiktionary also lists ne… verb …point.
Meaning: do not (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| ne… verb …pas | |
| ne… verb …point | dialectal, literary |
This construction is used to negate a verb, expressing the concept of "do not" or "not".
Which one should you use?
While ne… verb …pas is the standard construction, you may encounter ne… verb …point. Replacing pas with point makes the negation sound more emphatic, literary or formal, often carrying the sense of "not at all".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal written French, the ne is strictly required. However, in casual spoken French, the ne is frequently omitted and speakers may use only pas to express negation. The form ne… verb …point is considered literary.
How does it change in a sentence?
Negation in French is a split construction where ne precedes the verb and pas follows it.
Did you know?
- Before pas became the standard way to say 'not', French speakers would strengthen their 'don't' statements using various tiny measurements, such as ne… goutte for 'not a drop' or ne… mie for 'not a crumb'.
- The word pas in the negation 'don't' literally means 'a step'. Originally, the phrase was used to mean 'not a single step' to emphasize that no movement was occurring.
Examples in context
- ne mangez pasDon't eat
- ne revenez jamaisDon't come back
- ne pas oublierDon't forget
- ne t'inquiète pas du toutDon't worry
- Je le fais pasI don't do it
Sources
- Wiktionary, “don't” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ne, pas, point, CC BY-SA 4.0.
