Pour mettre une phrase à la forme négative, on utilise not. Mais où le placer ? Tout dépend du verbe.
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1. Avec be, have got et les modaux : not après le verbe
| Verbe | Négation | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| am / is / are | am not / is not / are not | 'm not / isn't / aren't |
| was / were | was not / were not | wasn't / weren't |
| can | cannot | can't |
| will | will not | won't |
| must | must not | mustn't |
| should | should not | shouldn't |
| have got | have not got | haven't got |
She isn't at home. I can't swim.
Elle n'est pas à la maison. Je ne sais pas nager.
2. Avec les autres verbes : don't / doesn't / didn't + base verbale
| Temps | Auxiliaire | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| Présent (I, you, we, they) | don't | I don't like milk. |
| Présent (he, she, it) | doesn't | He doesn't like milk. |
| Passé (tous) | didn't | We didn't go out. |
She doesn't play tennis. (et non doesn't plays)
Elle ne joue pas au tennis.
They didn't come. (et non didn't came)
Ils ne sont pas venus.
3. Les autres mots négatifs
| Mot | Sens | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| never | ne… jamais | I never eat meat. |
| nothing | rien | There is nothing in the fridge. |
| nobody / no one | personne | Nobody knows. |
| nowhere | nulle part | I'm going nowhere. |
| no + nom | pas de | There is no milk. |
4. Piège : une seule négation par phrase
En français, on dit « ne… rien », « ne… personne ». En anglais standard, une seule négation suffit :
I don't know anything. = I know nothing.
Je ne sais rien. (et non I don't know nothing)
I didn't see anybody. = I saw nobody.
Je n'ai vu personne.
À retenir
- Be, have got, modaux : on ajoute not (isn't, can't, won't).
- Autres verbes : don't / doesn't / didn't + base verbale.
- Après doesn't et didn't : pas de -s ni de -ed.
- Une seule négation : I don't know anything / I know nothing.
S'entraîner
Choisissez la phrase négative correcte.
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