"I answered... Aucune d'entre elles n'est fiable. The lesson led me to think Aucun/e & Aucun/e d'entre eux/elles were interchangeable expressions to say some/some of them. Why was my expression marked incorrect? Can you help clarify this for me?" Thank you.
Look at these examples with aucun(e) ... ne:
Aucun/aucune ne/n' means none (of them).
This term can refer to both objects and people.
Note three things:
- aucun/e ne is always followed by singular in French (even though in modern English, none of them are is sometimes considered acceptable)
- aucun/aucune agree in gender with the object it refers to
- You have to use the negation ne/n' unlike in English
We can also express none of them using aucun d'entre eux ne ... / aucune d'entre elles ne ..., like this:
aucun/e means none, rien means nothing!
See also Ne ... aucun(e) = None (negation)Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Aucun d'entre eux n'est intéressant.
Aucune d'entre elles n'est intéressante.None of them is interesting.
Aucune d'entre elles n'est intéressante.None of them is interesting.
Les filles sortent ce soir, mais aucune ne prend le train.The girls are going out tonight, but none (of them) is taking the train.
Q&A Forum 14 questions, 23 answers
MichaelKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I answered... Aucune d'entre elles n'est fiable
Asked 2 months ago
Hi Jameson,
This is why I was asking for the full context.
In the examples taken from the lesson -
Aucune de tes robes ne me va
Aucun de ses livres n'est intéressant
You cannot use 'aucun d'entre elles, aucun d'entre eux' , as it is the first reference to the object in question.
Hope this helps!
CécileKwiziq team member
Hi Michael,
I will need the full context as to what the 'none of them' refer to, in order to answer your question...
Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Hi Michael,
I came away from the lesson with the same take away. "The lesson led me to think Aucun/e & Aucun/e d'entre eux/elles were interchangeable expressions" .... to say NONE of them.
I am thinking that Cecile could not clearly answer your question without knowing if the antecedent(implied) in your "them" was feminine; or masculine which would have dictated..aucun-eux". And the adjective 'fiable' does not help in this case.
However, I am hoping that Cecile can confirm aucun/e ne is completely interchangeable with aucun d'entre eux/aucune d'entre elles and that there is no grammar related exceptions.
Michael asked:View original
I answered... Aucune d'entre elles n'est fiable
"I answered... Aucune d'entre elles n'est fiable. The lesson led me to think Aucun/e & Aucun/e d'entre eux/elles were interchangeable expressions to say some/some of them. Why was my expression marked incorrect? Can you help clarify this for me?" Thank you.
Don't have an account yet? Join today
JohnKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Question about "De tous les mensonges que tu as dit, aucun n'est crédible"
Translated as: "Out of all the lies you told, none is believable."
Is this French example used simply to illustrate French grammar?
Because as a statement of logic, the statement is nonsense. The second half of the statement is superfluous. Lies are ipso facto not credible (that is the nature of a lie). So of course 100% of the time they are not credible.
As an analogy, no one would say: "Out of all the green marbles you gave me, none is orange."
If instead you said: "Out of all the statements you told, none is believable" (or correct in French: "De tous les choses que tu as dit, aucun n'est crédible"?) or "Out of all the marbles you gave me, none is orange", these full sentences have logical meaning.
Asked 10 months ago
"Believable" is a hypothetical judgement - could a reasonable person believe it. It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not, or whether you know it's untrue, the question is whether it's plausible.
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Well, to me this statement is logically OK. To be credible doesn't mean to be true. So a lie can be credible and still be a lie.
JohnKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Yes, I agree. If we have no foreknowledge of the lie.
But here the speaker knows (i.e., has foreknowledge that) all the statements are lies, as s/he says: "Out of all the lies you told, none is believable."
Statements (the truth or falsity of which have not been verified or are unknown) are credible.
Lies when known to be lies are never credible. It's a logical impossibility.
If for some cultural language reason you wish to tell me this sentence in French is acceptable I will accept your assertion. But if instead you are insisting that, at least with respect to the English, it's logical, I am sorry but you are wrong.
Alan Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
I might know that what you have said is a lie, but that doesn't mean that everyone knows. I can still have an opinion as to whether the lie is believable to other people.
JohnKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Yes, true, but the context here does not readily lend itself to the possibility of the presence of other people.
The speaker says "you" so is obviously speaking only to the person(s) who told the lies.
The key point here is that the speaker has foreknowledge of the lies. Once foreknowledge is introduced the statement is not logical.
If instead the speaker said: "Out of all the lies you told, none was ever believable," the context changes. Now the speaker is indicating two things, albeit vaguely: 1) there was a point in time when the lies may not have been known to be lies and appeared credible and 2) all statements are now known to be lies.
But I'm sure Lawless French wants to provide it's students with simple, logical grammar points. Not examples that contain some abstract or tortured meaning
John asked:View original
Question about "De tous les mensonges que tu as dit, aucun n'est crédible"
Translated as: "Out of all the lies you told, none is believable."
Is this French example used simply to illustrate French grammar?
Because as a statement of logic, the statement is nonsense. The second half of the statement is superfluous. Lies are ipso facto not credible (that is the nature of a lie). So of course 100% of the time they are not credible.
As an analogy, no one would say: "Out of all the green marbles you gave me, none is orange."
If instead you said: "Out of all the statements you told, none is believable" (or correct in French: "De tous les choses que tu as dit, aucun n'est crédible"?) or "Out of all the marbles you gave me, none is orange", these full sentences have logical meaning.
Don't have an account yet? Join today
NevilleKwiziq community member
More on personne vs aucun
R.e. this question:
Tous les gosses y vont, mais ________ prend le train.
User "Lolli" in Jan 2018 asked if "personne ne" would also be correct in this sentence (in addition to the "correct" answer of "aucun ne"). I think that in spoken conversation, "personne ne" would be acceptable and convey equivalent meaning. There hasn't yet been a definitive response as to whether "personne ne" is acceptable grammatically.
Can anyone provide definitive guidance on this?
(Maybe the kwiziq website logic can't accommodate unanticipated responses?)
Asked 1 year ago
In my understanding, "personne ne" also is a statement about people not in the group, whereas "aucun/e" refers to the people in the group only.
Tous les gosses y vont, mais personne ne prend le train. -- All the guys go there, but no one took the train. (Not even people apart from the "guys").
Tous les gosses y vont, mais aucun ne prend le train. -- All the guys go there, but none (of them) took the train.
Neville asked:View original
More on personne vs aucun
R.e. this question:
Tous les gosses y vont, mais ________ prend le train.
User "Lolli" in Jan 2018 asked if "personne ne" would also be correct in this sentence (in addition to the "correct" answer of "aucun ne"). I think that in spoken conversation, "personne ne" would be acceptable and convey equivalent meaning. There hasn't yet been a definitive response as to whether "personne ne" is acceptable grammatically.
Can anyone provide definitive guidance on this?
(Maybe the kwiziq website logic can't accommodate unanticipated responses?)
Don't have an account yet? Join today
William Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Avec + aucun d'entre eux
Can I use "avec aucun d'entre eux"
For example
I refused to share the money with any of them. J'ai refusé de partager l'argent avec aucun d'entre eux.
Asked 1 year ago
William asked:View original
Avec + aucun d'entre eux
Can I use "avec aucun d'entre eux"
For example
I refused to share the money with any of them. J'ai refusé de partager l'argent avec aucun d'entre eux.
Don't have an account yet? Join today
BelindaKwiziq community member
Hi - In the note on the lesson it states that 'None of them are....' is acceptable English, however, this is incorrect grammar.
The correct grammar would be to say: None of them is.... i.e. 'none' is treated as singular and hence the use of 'is' and not 'are'. Thanks again for a fantastic French course!
Asked 1 year ago
LauraKwiziq team member
Bonjour Belinda,
Thanks for your comment. The "none of them is/are" debate is beyond the scope of our site, but if you do a search, you can see that many grammar experts offer examples where "are" is correct.
We're so glad you find Kwiziq useful, bonne continuation !
Belinda asked:View original
Hi - In the note on the lesson it states that 'None of them are....' is acceptable English, however, this is incorrect grammar.
The correct grammar would be to say: None of them is.... i.e. 'none' is treated as singular and hence the use of 'is' and not 'are'. Thanks again for a fantastic French course!
Don't have an account yet? Join today
JohnKwiziq community member
"d'entre eux"
often refers to people. example: trois d'entre eux sont interessants as opposed to "trois d'elles". With aucun "d'entre eux" refers to both people and things?
Asked 1 year ago
Hi John,
Yes you can use aucun d'entre eux for things too.
e.g.
Ces bâtiments sont bien, mais aucun d'entre eux n'ont le haut-débit.
(These buildings are good but none of them have broadband.)
Ces modèles de voiture sont bien équipés mais aucun d'entre eux n'ont la clim.
(These car models are well equipped but none of them have air con.)
Hope this helps!
John asked:View original
"d'entre eux"
often refers to people. example: trois d'entre eux sont interessants as opposed to "trois d'elles". With aucun "d'entre eux" refers to both people and things?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
DraganaKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Aucun de ses livres n'est intéressant? why not ne sont intéressant - books/plural
Aucun de ses livres n'est intéressant? why not ne sont intéressant - livres/books is plural
Asked 1 year ago
Hi Dragana,
Indeed as Chris says the verb agrees with 'aucun' and not 'livres' ...
Hope this helps!
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Hi Dragana,
Aucun is singular and functions as the subject of the sentence, hence the verb needs to match the singular and therefore it is "est" and not "sont".
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Dragana asked:View original
Aucun de ses livres n'est intéressant? why not ne sont intéressant - books/plural
Aucun de ses livres n'est intéressant? why not ne sont intéressant - livres/books is plural
Don't have an account yet? Join today
MargolitKwiziq community member
How do you say "I have neither a son nor a brother." ?
Asked 2 years ago
Don't have an account yet? Join today
LolliKwiziq community member
Ont-ils répondu ? - Oui. ________ n'est intéressé.
Why is "personne" incorrect when we know we are referring to people in this question?
Asked 2 years ago
I don't think "personne" is incorrect. It's just that in the context of this lesson you are supposed to use "aucun".
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Lolli asked:View original
Ont-ils répondu ? - Oui. ________ n'est intéressé.
Why is "personne" incorrect when we know we are referring to people in this question?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
SushKwiziq community member
personne and aucun(e)--transferable or not
can I not say personne n'est venu or aucun n'est venu
Asked 2 years ago
Bonjour Sush !
Personne always refers to a person (no one, nobody) whereas aucun/e can refer to any noun that has been previously mentioned (none / no [noun]) :)
Bonne journée !
Personne always refers to a person (no one, nobody) whereas aucun/e can refer to any noun that has been previously mentioned (none / no [noun]) :)
Bonne journée !
Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Sush,
«personne n'est venu» translates to no one came, on the other hand
«aucun n'est venu» translates to none came
I get the sense from the nuance difference, the answer would like in the contextual scenario of the two phrases.
Bonne chance,
Sush asked:View original
personne and aucun(e)--transferable or not
can I not say personne n'est venu or aucun n'est venu
Don't have an account yet? Join today
MeghnaKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Aucun/e and personne
Can you help understand better when either is used? With examples perhaps?
Asked 2 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Meghna !
"Personne" means "no one / nobody":
"Je n'ai entendu personne." (I heard no one. / I haven't heard anyone.)
"Aucun/e" means "none":
"Je n'ai entendu aucune des filles." (I heard none of the girls. / I haven't heard any of the girls.)
"Aucun" always needs a referent noun (none [of something]):
"Je n'*en* ai aucun." (I have none *of them*.)
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Meghna asked:View original
Aucun/e and personne
Can you help understand better when either is used? With examples perhaps?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
StuartKwiziq community member
Is the aucun d'entre eux alternative translatable as none 'between then'?
I'm just trying to work out how to remember it :)
Asked 3 years ago
LauraKwiziq team member
Bonjour Stuart,
If you mean "can you say 'none between them' " in English, the answer is no. If that helps you remember, great, but you can't say that in English.
Stuart asked:View original
Is the aucun d'entre eux alternative translatable as none 'between then'?
I'm just trying to work out how to remember it :)
Don't have an account yet? Join today
JenniferKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Aucune ne versus aucune d'elles
In the question 1.Alors, est-ce qu'elles viennent? - Non. ___ est intéressée. (So, are they coming? - No. None of them is interested.) why is aucune d'elles n' incorrect?
Asked 3 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Jennifer !
You are correct, "Aucune d'elles n'est intéressée" is also correct. The question has been rectified to accept this answer.
Merci beaucoup et à bientôt !
Jennifer asked:View original
Aucune ne versus aucune d'elles
In the question 1.Alors, est-ce qu'elles viennent? - Non. ___ est intéressée. (So, are they coming? - No. None of them is interested.) why is aucune d'elles n' incorrect?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
AndyKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Adjective, pronoun or both?
May I check? In this lesson, in different examples I believe aucun/e ... ne is used both as a negative adjective and as a variable negative pronoun? Is this correct?
Asked 4 years ago
LauraKwiziq team member
Bonjour Andy,
No, I'm afraid not - all of the examples in this lesson use aucun(e) as a variable French negative pronoun.
Here's an example of aucun(e) as a negative adjective: Aucune fille n'est venue.
We know aucune is an adjective because it's followed directly by a noun, in comparison to Aucune des filles n'est venue.
Andy asked:View original
Adjective, pronoun or both?
May I check? In this lesson, in different examples I believe aucun/e ... ne is used both as a negative adjective and as a variable negative pronoun? Is this correct?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
