Negation
one word negative responses: si, jamais, personne, rien
Oui
is a ‘yes’ answer to an affirmative question, while si is a ‘yes’ to a negative question.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Chez Tammy: | At Tammy’s house: |
| Tex: Tammy, tu es là? | Tex: Tammy, are you there? |
| Tammy: Oui. | Tammy: Yes. |
| Tex: Tu ne m’aimes plus? | Tex: You don’t love me anymore? |
| Tammy: Si, un peu. | Tammy: Yes, I do, a little. |
Non is a one-word negative answer to a yes / no question; pas, by itself, negates part of a sentence:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Tex: Tammy, tu es malade? | Tex: Tammy, are you sick? |
| Tammy: Non! | Tammy: No! |
| Tex: Tu es fâchée? | Tex: Are you mad? |
| Tammy: Pas vraiment. | Tammy: Not really. |
Rien
(nothing), personne (no one), and jamais (never) may be used in one-word answers:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Tex: Tammy, qu’est-ce que tu fais? | Tex: Tammy, what are you doing? |
| Tammy: Rien! | Tammy: Nothing! |
| Tex: Qui est avec toi? | Tex: Who is with you? |
| Tammy: Personne! | Tammy: No one! |
| Tex: Tu vas me quitter pour un autre? | Tex: Are you going to leave me for another? |
| Tammy: Jamais! | Tammy: Never! |
