"Je ne peux pas."

Translation: I can't.

[slain313]

This sentence describes my entire French learning experience.

[ritahopkin]

Keep trying.it eventually sinks in,even for an old one like me !!

[vvv242391]

I put I am not able and it came wrong, which is not

[Mark150300]

Inagree. Poor form by Duo

[poodledog13]

Why not je ne peux?

[georgeoftruth]

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.

[DiazJulien]

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.

[josh2934]

Pas was used alone in the last question. Wasn't that a negation?

[georgeoftruth]

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).

[DiazJulien]

what was the last question exactly ?

[yohanesindonesia]

No sound.

[OrenCohen1]

No such thing

[mQSks2TI]

I am unable to can.

[Mark150300]

I am unable is perfectly correct. Please update your site!

[Sylvia196828]

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.

[Lucas958123]

I just can't. There is no purpose. No reason. No urge to do anything.

[rachel818756]

when do i use ne pas and when n'est pas?
thanks!

[DiazJulien]

"n'est pas" means "is not"
"ne pas" means "does/do/has/have not"

[Sylvia196828]

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.

[Sylvia196828]

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...