Using a negative structure at the beginning of a sentence works in French just like in English. It emphasizes the negative aspect. Often, the subject is understood, not visible.
1. (Il n’y a) Plus de problème. → (There is) No more problem.
2. Jamais je ne parle anglais. → Never do I speak English. I never speak English.
3. Rien ne va plus. → Nothing goes well anymore.
4. Personne ne l’aime. → Nobody likes it.
5. Nul/le [1] ne vit à Paris sans l’aimer. → No one lives to Paris without loving it.
6. Aucun [2] risque d’oublier les billets, ils sont avec les clés. → No way we could forget the tickets, they are with the keys.
Practice
Translate the following sentences into English: (answers on the next page)
| Rien ne va bien aujourd’hui. | Nothing goes well today. |
| Plus d’essence dans la voiture. | No more gas in the car. |
| Jamais je ne t’oublierai. | Never will I forget you. |
| Personne n’y va. | No one goes there. |
| Nul ne le pense. | Nobody thinks it. |
| Aucune chance de réussir. | No chance of success. |
| Personne ne s’habille bien pour l’opéra. | No one gets dressed up for the opera |
Related :
[1] Nul/le ne… is more sophisticated than Personne ne…
[2] aucun/aucuns are masculine , aucune/aucunes ar feminine
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