Ne explétif

In French, we use the word ne to turn a statement, question or expression into the negative, often with an adverb of negation such as pas or jamais.

But sometimes it can be used without turning the clause negative, especially with verbs that already have a negative connotation. In these situations, the word ne doesn’t have any effect on the meaning of what is being said - it is simply a grammatical formality. This is called ne explétif.

• craindre que - to fear that
• redouter que - to fear that
• éviter que - to avoid that
• empêcher que - to prevent that

Examples

Elle a empêché que la nourriture ne se gâte en la congelant. - She prevented the food from going off by freezing it.

Je crains que tu ne t'ennuies. I fear that you'll get bored.

Note that these verbs must be followed by the subjunctive. For more on the subjunctive, see Lesson 30 of the Complete French Course.

• avant que - before
• à moins que - unless
• de peur que - for fear that
• de crainte que - for fear that

Examples

Nous rentrerons avant qu’il ne commence à pleuvoir. - We will go inside before it starts to rain.

À moins que tu n’aies quelque chose à dire, commençons. - Unless you have something to say, let's begin.

Again, please note that these verbs must be followed by the subjunctive. For more on the subjunctive, see Lesson 30 of the Complete French Course.

Sometimes we also use the ne explétif after a comparative, as in the following examples:

Elle est beaucoup plus intelligente que tu ne crois. - She's a lot more intelligent than you think.

J’ai moins faim que je n’ai soif. - I'm less hungry than I am thirsty.

Note that when using these verbs, conjunctions or comparatives, you don’t have to use ne explétif. The ‘ne’ is optional, and each of these examples would have the same meaning without the ‘ne’.

When we use the ne explétif, we don’t use adverbs of negation such as pas. If you do use pas, then the meaning becomes negative.