Negating infinitives in indirect speech

Aurélie Drouard
2021-02-15
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Look at the sentences:

Le professeur dit de ne pas courirThe teacher says not to run

Il est important de ne pas bouger.It is important not to move.

Il m'a appris à ne pas avoir peur.He taught me not to be scared.

J'espère ne pas faire d'erreurs.I hope not to make a mistake.

Note that if a sentence has two verbs but it's the infinitive verb (a verb that's not conjugated) that requires negation, ne pas goes before the infinitive rather than around it.

Note: If there is a pronoun before the infinitive, ne pas precedes it.

Ma mère m'a dit de ne pas le faireMy mother told me not to do it

Je t'ai demandé de ne pas lui dire.I asked you not to tell him.

 

See also Position of negation with two verbs (conjugated + infinitive) 

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Examples and resources

Il m'a appris à ne pas avoir peur.He taught me not to be scared.
Il est important de ne pas bouger.It is important not to move.
Je t'ai demandé de ne pas lui dire.I asked you not to tell him.
J'espère ne pas faire d'erreurs.I hope not to make a mistake.
Le professeur dit de ne pas courirThe teacher says not to run

when there is a pronoun before the infinitive

Ma mère m'a dit de ne pas le faireMy mother told me not to do it
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