Negative constructions

    AQA
    GCSE

    The study of negative constructions in French requires mastery of the bipartite structure of standard negation and its variations. Candidates must demonstrate control over the placement of negative particles surrounding conjugated verbs, auxiliaries, and infinitives. Analysis extends to the sociolinguistic distinction between the retention of 'ne' in formal/written registers and its frequent omission in colloquial speech, as well as the use of restrictive negatives and the 'ne explétif' in advanced syntax.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for correct 'sandwich' placement of 'ne... [negative]... verb' in simple tenses
    • Credit correct omission of 'pas' when using 'jamais', 'rien', 'personne', or 'plus'
    • Reward correct syntax in the Passé Composé: 'ne' + auxiliary + 'rien/jamais/plus' + past participle
    • Differentiate 'personne' (placed after participle) from 'rien' (placed before participle) in compound tenses

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have used 'ne... pas' correctly; now attempt 'ne... plus' or 'ne... jamais' to vary your language"
    • "Check your word order in the perfect tense: remember 'rien' and 'jamais' go before the past participle"
    • "You used 'pas' with 'jamais' — remove 'pas' to avoid a double negative error"
    • "Excellent use of 'ne... que'; ensure you treat this as a positive restriction ('only') rather than a negative"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for correct 'sandwich' placement of 'ne... [negative]... verb' in simple tenses
    • Credit correct omission of 'pas' when using 'jamais', 'rien', 'personne', or 'plus'
    • Reward correct syntax in the Passé Composé: 'ne' + auxiliary + 'rien/jamais/plus' + past participle
    • Differentiate 'personne' (placed after participle) from 'rien' (placed before participle) in compound tenses

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In Translation (AO4), identify the 'hidden' negative 'only' and render it as 'ne... que' for complexity marks
    • 💡For the 150-word writing task, ensure at least two different complex negative forms are used to satisfy 'Range of Language'
    • 💡In Listening (AO1), listen for the 'ne' sound (often elided to 'n'') to distinguish positive from negative statements
    • 💡Check agreement with 'aucun(e)'; it must agree in gender with the noun it precedes

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Retaining 'pas' alongside other negatives (e.g., 'je ne mange pas jamais')
    • Incorrect word order in compound tenses (e.g., 'j'ai ne mangé pas' or 'j'ai mangé rien')
    • Confusing the restrictive 'ne... que' (only) with a true negative, leading to translation errors
    • Omitting the 'ne' in formal writing tasks, which is considered a register error

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

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