Negation with numbers

ESTHERB1Kwiziq community member

J'ai trois soeurs. Does this change to Je n'ai pas trois soeurs or je n'ai pas de soeurs. If the latter, then do all numbers change to de??

Asked 3 years ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Depending on what you want to say, you pick one or the other:

Je n'ai pas trois sœurs. -- I don't have three sisters. (But maybe four!)
Je n'ai pas de sœurs. -- I don't have sisters. (Not even a one.)

Like13 years ago

MaartenC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Je n'ai pas trois soeurs. J'en ai quatre. (Ou une, deux etc).

Like03 years ago

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi Esther,

You could also say -

Je n'ai pas de frères et sœurs = I don't have any brothers or sisters

Like03 years ago

J'ai trois soeurs. Does this change to Je n'ai pas trois soeurs or je n'ai pas de soeurs. If the latter, then do all numbers change to de??

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard