Lesson and test contradiction in usage of 'ne'?

Question

Hello,

This lesson, on 'san que (+ ne explétif) + the subjunctive mood', states that the use of the 'ne' is optional in modern spoken French. Additionally, it is omitted when the main verb is used with a negation. Unsurprisingly, the lesson teaches with examples using 'ne'.

Yet, in your test I was marked wrong for doing so. Specifically, the question was to complete a sentence, which I submitted as:

"Tu as fait tout ça sans que ne Neve soit au courant".

Yet the correct answer is shown without the 'ne'.

Have I misunderstood something here?

Thanks in advance,

D

"Tu as fait tout ça sans que ne Neve soit au courant"

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted Answer

Bonjour D.G.,
I suspect it was marked wrong because the ‘ne’ is in the wrong place.
It should be -
Tu as fait tout ça sans que Neve ne soit au courant’.
Hope this helps!

D G · Answer

Cécile,

Many thanks for your quick response.

Of course you're right about that. Yet, the correction showed no 'ne' at all, which I do understand is okay for oral and informal French. Rather, it showed:

"Tu as fait tout ça sans que Neve soit au courant".

Cheers, D