Negation with numbers

ESTHER P.B1Kwiziq community member

Negation with numbers

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 4 years ago
Chris W.C1 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.)

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

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

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Esther,

You could also say -

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

ESTHER P. asked:

Negation with numbers

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??

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