Ne ... pas = Not - with simple tenses (French Negations)

In French, to make a negative sentence with simple tenses, you will use "ne...pas" (which means not). 

How to make negative sentences in French

Look at these negative sentences:

Je ne suis pas grande.I am not tall.

Je n'ai pas de frère.I have no brother.

Notice that to make a negative sentence in French is slightly more complicated than in English as there are two negative words involved.

Notice that to negate a verb in a simple sentence, you wrap ne… pas around the verb (here suis / ai).

Note: if the verb begins with a vowel, use n' instead of ne.

Tu n'écoutes pas Alice.You don't listen to Alice.

ATTENTION: c'est becomes ce n'est pas.

C'est bleu ? Non, ce n'est pas bleu !Is it blue? No, that's not blue!

Ce n'est pas très gentil de sa part.It's not very nice of him/her.

 

See also more advanced lessons Position of French Negations - with conjugated verb + infinitive 
and Ne ... pas = Not - with compound tenses (French Negations) 

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Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Je ne mange pasI'm not eating
Elle ne regarde pas la télé.She is not watching telly.
Je ne suis pas grande.I am not tall.
Je n'ai pas de frère.I have no brother.
Ce n'est pas très gentil de sa part.It's not very nice of him/her.
C'est bleu ? Non, ce n'est pas bleu !Is it blue? No, that's not blue!
Tu n'écoutes pas Alice.You don't listen to Alice.
Je n'aime pas Paul.I don't like Paul.
Nous n'allons pas au cinéma.We're not going to the cinema.
I'll be right with you...