Double or triple negative?

Robert B.C1Kwiziq community member

Double or triple negative?

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

Double or triple negative?

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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