ANY in Negation

Aashpreet K.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

ANY in Negation

Can I also say - Je n'ai pas d'idée. [I don't have any idea.], just like I can say -  Je n'ai pas de lait. [I don't have any milk.] or Je n'ai pas de sœur.

If not, why??

Asked 7 months ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Je n'ai pas d'idée. -- I don't have an idea.
Je n'ai aucune idée. -- I don't have any idea.

The second sentence is the stronger negation. With "milk" it's a bit difference since milk represents an uncountable object whereas ideas are countable. Aucun only works with countable nouns, so you could NOT say j'ai aucun lait.

Je n'ai pas de lait. -- I don't have (any) milk.

Aashpreet K. asked:

ANY in Negation

Can I also say - Je n'ai pas d'idée. [I don't have any idea.], just like I can say -  Je n'ai pas de lait. [I don't have any milk.] or Je n'ai pas de sœur.

If not, why??

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Thinking...