Position of French Object Pronouns - with negations

Take the fastest path to fluent French

In French, object pronouns take a specific place in negative sentences.

Negative sentences with object pronouns in French

Look at these negative sentences:

Tu l'aimes ? -Non, je ne l'aime pas du tout !Do you love him? - No, I don't love him at all!

Je regarde les dessins animés, et toi ? -Non, je ne les regarde pas.I watch cartoons, and you? -No, I don't watch them.

Tu lui parles souvent ? -Non, je ne lui parle que le weekend.Do you speak to her often? - No, I only speak to her on weekends.

Je vous vois ... ah non, je ne vous vois plus.I see you ... oh no, I don't see you any more.

When using object pronouns (direct and indirect) with negation, you will place the pronoun(s) between ne/n' and the conjugated verb, as follows:

ne/n' + pronoun + verb + pas / plus / pas du tout / que / jamais ...

 

See also lessons on object pronouns:

Me/te/nous/vous = Me/you/us/you (French Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns) 

Using le/la/l'/les = it/him/her/them (French Direct Object Pronouns)

Using lui/leur = him or her/them (French Indirect Object Pronouns)   

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Tu lui parles souvent ? -Non, je ne lui parle que le weekend.Do you speak to her often? - No, I only speak to her on weekends.
Je vous vois ... ah non, je ne vous vois plus.I see you ... oh no, I don't see you any more.
Tu l'aimes ? -Non, je ne l'aime pas du tout !Do you love him? - No, I don't love him at all!
Je regarde les dessins animés, et toi ? -Non, je ne les regarde pas.I watch cartoons, and you? -No, I don't watch them.
Clever stuff happening!