Complex Negation – Free Exercise

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Exercices

Look at the sentences below. Decide whether they are a simple or a complex negative sentence.

  1. Nous n’avons plus de lait dans le frigo.ne…plus → simple negative sentence We’ve got no milk left in the fridge.
  2. Ne craignant le pire, les soldats ont fait demi-tour.this sentences uses the expletive ne → complex negative sentence Not fearing the worst, the soldiers turned back.
  3. Ni Claire ni Marine ne sont venues ce matin.this sentence uses the ne…ni…ni… construction → complex negative sentence Neither Claire nor Marine came this morning.
  4. Ils ont affirmé qu’ils ne partiront jamais en croisière.ne…jamais → simple negative sentence They said they’ll never go on a cruise.

Form complex negative sentences using the construction ne…ni…ni…

  1. Au magasin, il n’y a pas de farine et pas de chocolat.
    → Au magasin, il n’y a  .de = partitive article, which we need to remove. The comma is optional. In the shop there isn’t any flour or chocolate.
  2. Amandine ne trouve pas ses chaussettes et pas ses lunettes.
    → Amandine ne trouve  .ses = possessive determiner, which we need to keep. The comma is optional. Amandine can’t find her socks or her glasses.
  3. Dans ce village, les habitants n’ont pas d’électricité et pas d’eau courante.
    → Dans ce village, les habitants n’ont  .d’ = partitive article, which we need to remove. The comma is optional. In this village, the inhabitants don’t have electricity or running water.
  4. À ta place, je ne choisirais pas cette université-ci et pas cette université-là.
    → À ta place, je ne choisirais  .cette = demonstrative determiner, which we need to keep. The comma is optional. In your place, I wouldn’t choose this university here or that university there.