Double or triple negative?

Robert B.C1Kwiziq community member

Why are both of these correct:

"Je n'ai vu Mathieu nulle part." [ne + nulle part]

"Il n'est jamais allé nulle part." [ne + jamais + nulle part]

But not this:

"Je n'ai pas vu Mathieu nulle part." [ne + pas + nulle part]

Asked 1 year ago

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Hi Robert,

As far as I understand it "Je n'ai pas vu Mathieu nulle part" This construction renders "pas" redundant.

"Je n'ai vu Mathieu nulle part" suffices in the sense "I haven't seen Mathieu anywhere"

In spoken French, it is not unusual for "pas" to be dropped.

Bonne journée

Jim

Like01 year ago

Why are both of these correct:

"Je n'ai vu Mathieu nulle part." [ne + nulle part]

"Il n'est jamais allé nulle part." [ne + jamais + nulle part]

But not this:

"Je n'ai pas vu Mathieu nulle part." [ne + pas + nulle part]

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