Using restrictive ne … que to express only with simple tenses (French Negations)

In French, to express only with simple tenses, you use a specific negative structure: ne ... que.

Negative sentences with "only" in French

Look at these cases:

Nous n'avons qu'une heureWe only have one hour

Je n'ai que des piècesI only have coins

Je n'aime que les pommes.I like only apples.

Tu ne lis que le soir.You read only in the evening.

Notice that to express restriction (only), we use the restrictive structure ne... que.

Though it looks similar to the ne ... pas (not) structure, there are some differences in the way to use it.

Note that ne is always placed in front of the verb.


However, as in English where you can move only in front of the element it's restricting, in French you will place que accordingly: 

Il ne mange que des pâtes le samedi.He eats only pasta on Saturdays.

Il ne mange des pâtes que le samedi.He eats pasta only on Saturdays.

The position of the word que can then subtly change the meaning of the sentence (just as the position of only can in English).

ATTENTION:
 
You CANNOT place que in front of the verb, so you CANNOT express He only eats pasta on Saturdays. 
This statement being ambiguous in English anyway, in French you would have to choose to insist on pasta or Saturdays.

 

Note:  You can also use seulement which means only in French, though it is not as elegant.

J'aime seulement les pommes.I only like apples.
I like only apples.

Tu lis seulement le soir.You only read at night.
You read only at night.

Il mange seulement des pâtes le samedi.He only eats pasta on Saturdays.
 

See also the compound tenses cases Using restrictive ne … que to express only with compound tenses (French Negations)

 

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

J'aime seulement les pommes.I only like apples.
I like only apples.
Tu lis seulement le soir.You only read at night.
You read only at night.
Il mange des pâtes seulement le samedi.He eats pasta only on Saturdays.
Il mange seulement des pâtes le samedi.He only eats pasta on Saturdays.
Ne parle pas de ton ex !
À moins, bien sûr, de n'en dire que du mal... et encore !
Don't talk about your ex!
Unless of course, you only say bad things... and still!
Nous n'avons qu'une heureWe only have one hour
Il n'y a qu'une chambre libre dans l'hôtelThere is only one room free in hotel
Je n'ai que des piècesI only have coins
Je n'aime que les pommes.I like only apples.
Tu ne lis que le soir.You read only in the evening.
Il ne mange que des pâtes le samedi.He eats only pasta on Saturdays.
Il ne mange des pâtes que le samedi.He eats pasta only on Saturdays.
Let me take a look at that...