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- "Je ne peux pas."
44 Comments
Negation has two components. You need both. "Ne" tells you that there's a negation. The other tells you what kind. In this case, "pas" means not.
1888
Actually, with the verb "pouvoir" you can sometimes omit the pas : 'je ne peux faire cela' is correct. However, I would never say "je ne peux" alone without a complement.
Perhaps your "last question" did not have a verb in it. Something like "pas elle" or "pas trop." Negation of the verb requires both components (with some exceptions for special verbs).
Merci beaucoup! For all my pontificating in these forums, some really small though important things just don't get through to me right away. I'm going to write out sentences using most and study them. I encourage others to do the same.
Thanks for the clear explanation. I keep mixing these up. Now it makes sense
You're not alone. I still have trouble with when to use ne pas and n'est pas as well. Sure that doesn't help. LOL...
Follow the process of the exercises. While you may be correct, to teach "I can't" before "I am unable" seems perfectly logical to me; "I can't" is very basic, simple, and commonly said. Teaching is often taught in a linear fashion; basics first.
- 592
Would it not be, 'I am unable to' in that case? That could possibly be why it marked it wrong.
The translation is as simple as stated, "I can't." Your proposed sentence in French might be, "Je ne pas pouvoir," "I am unable to." That is about ability, which isn't what the sentence is about.
If "can't" is the contraction of "cannot," then "I cannot" is an acceptable alternative. I used both on separate occasions and both were accepted.
"I just can't" may have been around forever, but it's certainly current and somewhat idiomatic. In French, that would be "Je ne peux tout simplement pas," more words than simply "Je ne peux pas." When Duo states it simply, people want to muck it up, complicate it, add, subtract, or propose something different. Predictable; never fails.
What does ' ne' mean and wat does 'pas' mean?
Is this an extra unnecessary word just like 'pre recorded', pre heated' etc are in English?
It’s best not to compare French grammar with English grammar because they are very different. It’s also not ideal to translate word for word.
The “ne” and the “pas” work in tandem to make the verb into a “not” verb.
- I am walking = je marche
- I am not walking = je ne marche pas
- you are = tu es
- you are not = tu n’es pas
Can hear,but can't make head or tail of it. Just horrible pronunciation and presentation
