Du, de la, de l', des all become de or d' in negative sentences (partitive articles)

Posted by Aurélie Drouard

In: Level A1, Negative Words & Constructions, Article partitif, Article, Forme négative

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You know how to use partitive articles (du, de la, de l', des) in affirmative sentences by now (see Using du, de la, de l', des to express some or any (partitive articles)).

Now look at these negative sentences:

Je mange des pommes. - Je ne mange pas de pommes.
I eat apples. - I don't eat any apples.

Je bois du lait. - Je ne bois pas de lait.
I drink milk. - I don't drink any milk.

J'ai des animaux. - Je n'ai pas d'animaux.
I've got (some) animals. -Me, I don't have any animals.

Nous avons bu de la bière. - Nous n'avons pas bu de bière.
We drank beer. - We didn't drink any beer.

Vous mangez de la viande ? - Non, nous ne mangeons jamais de viande.
Do you eat meat? - No, we never eat meat.

Tu fais encore de la natation ? - Non, je ne fais plus de natation.
Do you still go swimming? - No, I don't go swimming anymore.

Partitive articles du, de la, de l' and des all become de or d' (in front of a vowel or mute h) in negative sentences using ne...pas, ne...jamais, ne...plus etc (See also N'avoir plus de = To have none left (negation))

ATTENTION:

This rule does NOT apply to sentences using the verb être and other Verbes d'état, with which the partitive article doesn't change.

C'est du sel de Guérande ? -Non, ce n'est pas du sel de Guérande.
Is that Guerande salt? -No, it's not Guerande salt.

C'est de l'huile d'olive ? -Non, ce n'est pas de l'huile d'olive.
Is this olive oil? -No, this is not olive oil.

Le plomb devient de l'or. - Non, le plomb ne devient pas de l'or !
Lead becomes gold. - No, lead doesn't become gold!

Also see Un, une become de or d' in negative sentences (indefinite articles)

Note that definite articles (le, la, l', les) don't change in negative sentences:
J'aime le chocolat. -> Je n'aime pas le chocolat.

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Article partitif

Article

Forme négative

Examples and resources

C'est de l'huile d'olive ? -Non, ce n'est pas de l'huile d'olive.
Is this olive oil? -No, this is not olive oil.

Je mange des pommes. - Je ne mange pas de pommes.
I eat apples. - I don't eat any apples.

Le plomb devient de l'or. - Non, le plomb ne devient pas de l'or !
Lead becomes gold. - No, lead doesn't become gold!

C'est du sel de Guérande ? -Non, ce n'est pas du sel de Guérande.
Is that Guerande salt? -No, it's not Guerande salt.

Vous mangez de la viande ? - Non, nous ne mangeons jamais de viande.
Do you eat meat? - No, we never eat meat.

J'ai des animaux. - Je n'ai pas d'animaux.
I've got (some) animals. -Me, I don't have any animals.

Tu fais encore de la natation ? - Non, je ne fais plus de natation.
Do you still go swimming? - No, I don't go swimming anymore.

Nous avons bu de la bière. - Nous n'avons pas bu de bière.
We drank beer. - We didn't drink any beer.

Tu as de la colle ? - Non je n'ai plus de colle.
Have you got glue? - No, I haven't any glue left.

Je bois du lait. - Je ne bois pas de lait.
I drink milk. - I don't drink any milk.

Q&A Forum 11 questions, 28 answers

JudithA2Kwiziq community member

What are verbes d'état? S'il vous plait

Asked 6 months ago

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Judith,

Les verbes d’état /verbes attributifs are verbs which denote a state of being, or a change in state of being, the verb ‘être’ being the one most used in language.

The list also include -

avoir l’air, paraître, sembler, rester, demeurer......

Unlike the transitive and intransitive verbs, which have direct/ indirect objects or not, the verbs of state have an attribute which can be an adjective, adverb or a nominal group which changes the state they describe.

Take a look at the updated Kwiziq lesson on ‘demeurer’ as an example..

https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/demeurer-can-be-used-with-avoir-or-etre-in-le-passe-compose-and-changes-meaning

Hope this helps!

Like06 months ago

Judith asked:View original

What are verbes d'état? S'il vous plait

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JohnC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Partitive articles

We are told that partitive articles become de or d' in negative tenses. Yet in Aurélie's Chrismas quiz 'il ne veut que de la bûche' is given as a correct answer.

Please explain.

Asked 10 months ago

TomC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Hi John,

Although 'ne..que' resembles a negative construction, it does not connote actual negation but rather restriction and does not follow the rules for the substitution of the partitive article in negative constructions. So, 'il ne veut que de la bûche' is perfectly correct.

Hope this helps.

Tom

Like110 months ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Il ne veut que de la bûche. -- He only wants log-cake.
Il ne veut pas de bûche. -- He doeesn't want log-cake.

Like010 months ago

JohnC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Hi Tom et Chris

Merci pour ces réponses. Maintenant je comprends.

John

Like010 months ago

John asked:View original

Partitive articles

We are told that partitive articles become de or d' in negative tenses. Yet in Aurélie's Chrismas quiz 'il ne veut que de la bûche' is given as a correct answer.

Please explain.

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MarianneA1Kwiziq community member

The quiz question translates "Pierre n'achète pas de vélo." To "Pierre doesn't buy a bike." It seems to me one could say , "Pierre n'achète pas un

Asked 11 months ago

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi marianne,

Could you give me the full context to see if I can answer your question?

Like010 months ago

Marianne asked:View original

The quiz question translates "Pierre n'achète pas de vélo." To "Pierre doesn't buy a bike." It seems to me one could say , "Pierre n'achète pas un

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PaulC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

de preceding the possessive adjective

Même si ce n'était pas de sa faute.Hi, Can you please explain, is "de" necessary before "sa" in this sentence? Thanks, Paul.

Asked 1 year ago

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Paul,

Well spotted!

In fact you can say both "C'est ma faute" or "C'est de ma faute".

The first one is considered more correct but you will hear both in French .

It is an idiomatic 'de' so hard to justify...

C'est ma faute, c'est ma faute, c'est ma très grande faute = Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

Hope this helps!

Like11 year ago

PaulC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks Cécile, that's very helpful. I'm encouraged by my experience that "de ma faute" didn't sound quite right. Maybe I'm starting to develop an ear for French! Paul.

Like01 year ago

Paul asked:View original

de preceding the possessive adjective

Même si ce n'était pas de sa faute.Hi, Can you please explain, is "de" necessary before "sa" in this sentence? Thanks, Paul.

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PokimonKwiziq community member

Partitif article followed by propername

I have the following sentence

Il biot ------ Coca-cola tous les jours.

Here i need to fill it using partitif article, because Coca-cola is a propername i have to use Il boit de Coca-cola tous les jours?

Is this correct. Please correct me if i am wrong.

Asked 1 year ago

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

HI Sivavathana,

The answer would be 'Il boit du Coca-cola tous les jours'.

It would be the same for any beverage, e.g.

Il boit du lait, du vin, du champagne, de la bière, du Pineau des Charentes tous les jours...

Hope this helps!

Like01 year ago

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Indeed Chris, "On boit de la bière , de la limonade et de la Vodka..."

Have been racking my brain to think of any other beverages which are feminine but these are the only ones I could muster...

Please feel free to add to the list ...

Sivavathana's comment is valid though as most are masculine which is something that a native speaker wouldn't necessarily appreciate as useful to a learner.

Like01 year ago

PokimonKwiziq community member

Thank you so much.. It helped me a lot.. After your response i underdtood that all drinks are masculine gender..

Like01 year ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

De la bière!! ;) -- Chris.

Like01 year ago

AbigailA1Kwiziq community member

Tisane is feminine, also eau and champagne.

Like05 months ago

CécileKwiziq team member

Champagne is masculine -

On boit du champagne....

Like05 months ago

AbigailA1Kwiziq community member

Sorry, you're right about champagne. I guess it just feels feminine to me.

Absinthe also is feminine.

Like05 months ago

Pokimon asked:View original

Partitif article followed by propername

I have the following sentence

Il biot ------ Coca-cola tous les jours.

Here i need to fill it using partitif article, because Coca-cola is a propername i have to use Il boit de Coca-cola tous les jours?

Is this correct. Please correct me if i am wrong.

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MaddieA1Kwiziq community member

D'animaux vs DES animaux

Why is it "Elle n'aime pas d'animaux" rather than "Elle n'aime pas DES animaux"? I didn't think that it mattered if the noun started with a vowel when it was plural; it would alway become "des" and the 's' would be pronounced in front of the vowel sound.

Asked 1 year ago

AurélieKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour Maddie !

In this case - negative sentences - the des becomes de.

J'ai des pommes. -> Je n'ai pas de pommes.

And de will become d' in front of a vowel or mute "h", for pronunciation reasons.

J'ai des animaux. -> Je n'ai pas d'animaux.

I hope that's helpful!
Bonne journée !

Like01 year ago

Maddie asked:View original

D'animaux vs DES animaux

Why is it "Elle n'aime pas d'animaux" rather than "Elle n'aime pas DES animaux"? I didn't think that it mattered if the noun started with a vowel when it was plural; it would alway become "des" and the 's' would be pronounced in front of the vowel sound.

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HelenA2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Ils n'ont pas de l'habitude / pas "d'habitude" or pas "l'habitude"?

Asked 1 year ago

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Helen,

As the expression is - 'avoir l'habitude de faire quelque chose', the le is maintained after the pas or it would not make any sense...

but I can understand your confusion...

Like01 year ago

HelenA2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I'm not sure why when I post questions, the body doesn't post but here's the rest of the question: I'm thinking that "de" follows pas before nouns( except when using etre.) So would this sentence be correct: "Ils n'ont pas d'habitude de parler francais." Or should it be "ils n'ont pas de l'habitude de parler francais"? I actually had a French speaker tell me there is no "de" and it's "Ils n'ont pas l'habitude de parler francais. Help!:)

Like01 year ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Helen,

"Ils n'ont pas l'habitude de parler français" -- They are not in the habit of speaking French.

You don't use "de" in this case because that would signifiy that what comes after is part of a bigger thing (e.g. "un morceau du gâteau" -- a piece of the cake). Since there isn't something like a "bigger piece of habit" you don't use the preposition "de".

Hope that helps, -- Chris (not a native speaker).

Like01 year ago

HelenA2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Chris, thank you for this. I love the logic about it not being "part of a bigger thing". Would you say the majority of time, we would use "pas de" before a noun?

Like01 year ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Yes, definitely. According to this pattern:

"Tu as du lait?" - "Non, je n'ai plus de lait." -- "Do you have some milk?" - No, I have no more milk."

-- Chris.

Like01 year ago

Helen asked:View original

Ils n'ont pas de l'habitude / pas "d'habitude" or pas "l'habitude"?

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PaulA1Kwiziq community member

Use of etre

Please will someone enlighten as to when, where or how the verb 'etre' is used in the following sentences: C'est du sel de Guérande ? -Non, ce n'est pas du sel de Guérande.

Asked 2 years ago

GruffKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Paul - I'm not sure if I've understood your question but 'est' (in C'est and Ce n'est pas) is être.

Like12 years ago

PaulA1Kwiziq community member

Many thanks Gruff. Of course you are correct. Still struggling with etre and avoir.

Like02 years ago

GruffKwiziq team member

Pleasure. In that case, I'd suggest you add these two lessons to your notebook:
Conjugate être in Le Présent (present tense)">Conjugate être in Le Présent (present tense)">Conjugate être in Le Présent (present tense)">Conjugate être in Le Présent (present tense)

Conjugate avoir in Le Présent (present tense)">Conjugate avoir in Le Présent (present tense)">Conjugate avoir in Le Présent (present tense)">Conjugate avoir in Le Présent (present tense)

There are add buttons on the lessons, and then you can go to your notebook (the bookmark icon in the top right) and practise them from there.

Just keep kwizzing until you feel you've mastered them.

Hope that helps.

Like02 years ago

KarenA1Kwiziq community member

Hi Paul,

C'est is the contraction of ce est. Est is third person singular form of être.

Like01 year ago

Paul asked:View original

Use of etre

Please will someone enlighten as to when, where or how the verb 'etre' is used in the following sentences: C'est du sel de Guérande ? -Non, ce n'est pas du sel de Guérande.

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AnishA1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Is this rule exclusive for partitive articles?

Is it correct to say "Je ne Viens pas de natation" as a negative form of "Je viend de la natation"

Asked 2 years ago

RonC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Anish, This is the lesson statement that most aptly fits your question: ATTENTION: This rule does NOT apply to sentences using the verb être, with which the partitive article doesn't change. C'est du sel de Guérande ? -Non, ce n'est pas du sel de Guérande. Is that Guerande salt? -No, it's not Guerande salt. C'est de l'huile d'olive ? -Non, ce n'est pas de l'huile d'olive. Is this olive oil? -No, this is not olive oil. J'espère que cela vous aidera. Ron

Like02 years ago

Anish asked:View original

Is this rule exclusive for partitive articles?

Is it correct to say "Je ne Viens pas de natation" as a negative form of "Je viend de la natation"

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MaryA2Kwiziq community member

Vous mangez de la viande ? - Non, nous ne mangeons jamais de viande. - No, I never eat meat.

Why have you used "nous ne mangeons jamais" for first person singular?

Asked 2 years ago

AurélieKwiziq team member

Bonjour Mary ! This was a mistake, thanks you so much for letting us know! The English has now been edited accordingly :) Merci et à bientôt !

Like12 years ago

Mary asked:View original

Vous mangez de la viande ? - Non, nous ne mangeons jamais de viande. - No, I never eat meat.

Why have you used "nous ne mangeons jamais" for first person singular?

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BruceA1Kwiziq community member

What about negative sentences referring to body parts?

Which is correct and what references can you provide to convince my teacher? Elles n'ont pas les yeux verts? Elles n'ont pas des yeux verts? Elles n'ont pas d'yeux verts?

Asked 2 years ago

AurélieKwiziq team member

Bonjour Bruce ! This case is actually quite different, as the affirmative sentence would be "Elle a les yeux bleus", so the negative equivalent would still be "Elle n'a pas *les* yeux bleus". Look at our related lesson: Using le, la, les with body parts and clothing (definite articles) I hope that's helpful! À bientôt !

Like02 years ago

BruceA1Kwiziq community member

Bonjour! Merci bien pour votre réponse. I had reviewed the lesson you mention. I suppose it could be inferred that a definite article should be used for one's own body parts in the negative but it didn't specifically address it. It was my understanding that a definite article should be used, even in the negative, but my teacher says that this is wrong. Can you provide a reference that I can use to show my teacher? L'Académie française, peut-être? Merci. Bruce

Like02 years ago

Bruce asked:View original

What about negative sentences referring to body parts?

Which is correct and what references can you provide to convince my teacher? Elles n'ont pas les yeux verts? Elles n'ont pas des yeux verts? Elles n'ont pas d'yeux verts?

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