Here is a short guide to negation in French and how to use it. The use of negation in French is quite straight forward once you know how it works. There are some examples of how to place negation in a sentence within this presentation.

1. Write these sentences in French:
I eat cake. → _____________________
We live in England. → _____________________
He sings a song. → _____________________
They listen to the radio. → _____________________
You (plural/polite) watch tele. → _____________________
I speak to my mum. → _____________________
You give a present. → _____________________
Choose the
correct verb for
each sentence
from the list
below:
CHANTER
ÉCOUTER
DONNER
PROMENER
MANGER
REGARDER
HABITER
PARLER
DANSER

2. Now let's make the sentences
negative:
1. identify the verb
2. insert 'ne ... pas' each side of the verb
e.g. tu vas en vacances --> tu ne vas pas en vacances.
Je mange le gâteau. → _____________________
Nous habitons en Angleterre. → _____________________
Il chante une chanson. → _____________________
Ils écoutent à la radio. → _____________________
Vous regardez la télé. → _____________________
Je parle à ma mère. → _____________________
Tu donnes un cadeau. → _____________________
Colour coding:
masculine object
feminine object

3. Negation in French
Remember to use both 'ne' and 'pas'
(HOWEVER! There are situations where you can use another word instead of 'pas',
e.g. with the superlative which is the best/most/biggest/smallest/any other 'est' or 'extreme': je ne
fais jamais la vaisselle'
jamais = never
je ne fais jamais la vaisselle = i never do the washing up)