Smarter learning starts now!
Save 30% on annual Premium »

Du/de la/de l'/des all become de/d' in negative sentences (French Partitive Articles)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2024-03-18
83 questions
Take the fastest path to fluent French
Join now for free!

You know how to use partitive articles (du, de la, de l', des) in affirmative sentences by now (see Du/de la/de l'/des = Some/any (French Partitive Articles)). In negative sentences, they change form.  

Learn how to form partitive articles in negative sentences in French

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 (French Negations))

ATTENTION: 

This rule does NOT apply to sentences using the verb être and other List of French "state verbs" - "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/d' in negative sentences in French (French 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.

 

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

Nous avons bu de la bière.  -  Nous n'avons pas bu de bière.We drank beer.  - We didn't drink any beer.
J'ai des animaux.  - Je n'ai pas d'animaux.I've got (some) animals.  -Me, I don't have any animals.
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.
Tu as de la colle ? - Non je n'ai plus de colle.Have you got glue? - No, I haven't any glue left.
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.
Vous mangez de la viande ? - Non, nous ne mangeons jamais de viande.Do you eat meat? - No, we never eat meat.
Le plomb devient de l'or. - Non, le plomb ne devient pas de l'or !Lead becomes gold. - No, lead doesn't become gold!
En ce moment, je ne fais pas de lèche-vitrine, je fais du lèche-écran !At the moment, I don't go window-shopping, I go browser-shopping!
(literally: At the moment, I don't do window-licking, I do screen-licking!) 
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.
Thinking...