Hi Aurelie

melanie k.A0Kwiziq community member

Hi Aurelie

I am a bit confused. Is it correct to say "je n'ai pas de chien mais deux?" I read about the exception when "etre" is used however I'm confused because when we say they don't have a dog, but two I see that "une" chien is being used.
Asked 7 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer
"Je n'ai pas de chien mais deux" isn't entirely correct (as I understand it). What you are saying is "I don't have A dog but two." You really want to say "I don't have ONE dog but two." Therefore you'd say something like: "Je n'ai pas un chien mais deux." This is better -- and grammatically correct -- but a native speaker wouldn't say it this way either, I believe. You would hear something like: "Je n'ai pas juste un chien, j'en ai deux." Which translates to "I don't have just one dog, I have two of them."

-- Chris (not a native speaker)

Hi Aurelie

I am a bit confused. Is it correct to say "je n'ai pas de chien mais deux?" I read about the exception when "etre" is used however I'm confused because when we say they don't have a dog, but two I see that "une" chien is being used.

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