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)).
Now look at these negative sentences:
Nous avons bu de la bière. - Nous n'avons pas bu de bière.We drank beer. - We didn't drink any beer.
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 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.
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.
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Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
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!)
(literally: At the moment, I don't do window-licking, I do screen-licking!)
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!
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.
