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When to use the ‘ne explétif’ in French?

By: Céline Bateman-Paris Mon May 13 2024
French
Verbs, Grammar Tips

The ne explétif in French is a little function word, ne, that is sometimes used after comparisons, certain verbs that express fear or doubt, and conjunctions like avant que(before). But first, let’s clarify what the ne explétif is not! Despite the fact it looks like a negative ne, the ne explétif is not a negation in French, so it is used without pas(not).

Je l’ai vu avant qu’il ne sorte.

I saw him before he went out.

The ne explétif can be omitted when speaking, as it won’t alter the meaning of a sentence, but it is used in formal situations, especially when writing. Let’s say it adds panache to your French!

Because the ne explétif is often used with French comparison structures and the present subjunctive in French, I suggest you check our articles to refresh your memory. But if you’ve already mastered these points of grammar, you’re ready to dive in!

Je ne doute pas que vous n’ayez hâte de lire la suite !

I have no doubt you are looking forward to reading the rest!

Table of Contents

    Before we start...

    Don’t forget that the ne explétif does not negate a sentence.

    Negation in French is almost always composed of two particles, the most common ones being ne…pas. Sometimes, however, only one negation particle is used in informal speech:

    • You may have heard native speakers skipping the ne of ne…pas when speaking. While ne can be optional, most of the time pas is crucial.

    • That being said, you may have also heard phrases like,

      Il ne cesse de se plaindre

      He keeps on complaining.

      (lit.) He does not stop complaining.

      This use of ne falls in the category of the ne littéraire, in which ne can be used without pas, as long as it’s used to negate one of four specific verbs: cesser(to stop), oser(to dare), pouvoir(to be able to), savoir(to know).

    Where does the ‘ne explétif’ go in the sentence?

    The ne explétif is used in subordinate clauses introduced by que, and appears right after the subject of this clause. Just like the negative particle ne, the ne explétif turns into n’ in front of a word starting with a vowel or a mute h.

    These rules apply to all the uses explained in this article. Let’s have a couple of examples as an amuse-bouche and then go into details!

    subjectne explétif

    J’ai peur qu’elle n’ait raison...

    I’m afraid she may be right…

    subjectne explétif

    On vous rejoindra à moins que la babysitter n’annule.

    We’ll meet up with you unless the babysitter cancels on us.

    Also, when a verb accepting a French direct object is used alongside the ne explétif, the neuter pronoun le can be added before this verb.

    ne explétifneuter pronoun

    Il est plus habile qu’il ne l’était auparavant.

    He is more agile than he used to be.

    ↳ le stands for the clause Il est plus habile.
    TipWhat is a neuter pronoun?

    A neuter pronoun is a pronoun that replaces a clause:

    Josh:

    Je suis d’origine mexicaine.

    I have a Mexican background.

    Théo:

    A bon ? Je ne le savais pas.

    Really, I didn’t know that.

    ↳ le replaces the clause “je suis d’origine mexicaine”.

    Now you know where the ne explétif goes in a sentence, let’s see when to use it.

    How to use the ‘ne explétif’ after comparisons in French?

    The ne explétif s used after comparatives of inferiority or superiority, but not after comparatives of equality. Once again, the neuter pronoun le can accompany the ne explétif.

    • Comparative of Inferiority:

      ne explétif

      C’est moins difficile qu’on ne pense.

      It is less difficult than we think.

    • Comparative of Superiority:

      ne explétif neuter pronoun

      Ne sois pas plus bruyant que tu ne l’es !

      Don’t be louder than you already are!

      ↳ Here, le stands for bruyant, as the verb is the same in both clauses.

    • Comparison of Equality:

      ❌ C’est aussi beau que je ne l’avais pensé.

      It is less difficult than we think.

      ✅ C’est aussi beau que je l’avais pensé.

      It is as nice as I thought it would be.

      ↳ No ne explétif is used!

    Here are all of the comparative adjectives and comparative adverbs which will call for the ne explétif. They are all followed by que:

    With adjectives
    With verbs
    With nouns

    • moins que(less)

    • plus que(more)

    • autrement que(differently)

    • plus que(more)

    • davantage que(more)

    • mieux que(better)

    • plutôt que(rather)

    • moins que(less)

    • pire que(worse)

    • meilleur que(better)

    • pire que(worse)

    • moindre que(lower)

    How to use the ‘ne explétif’ after expressions of fear, avoidance, doubt

    The ne explétif can be used after the subject after a clause using a verb or phrase expressing fear, warning, or uncertainty. First, let’s see how to use the ne explétif with verbs and phrases expressing fear.

    Which verbs and phrases expressing fear trigger the ‘ne explétif’ in French?

    The ne explétif is used after verbs like craindre(to dread) or avoir peur(to fear) only if they are affirmative. The ne explétif can’t be used when these verbs expressing fear are negated. Also note that the subjunctive is required after these verbs.

    ne explétifsubjunctive

    J’ai peur qu’elle ne soit au courant.

    I’m afraid she might know.

    But, when the verb is negated…

    negationne explétif

    ❌ Nous ne craignons pas qu’il soit trop tard.

    We are not afraid it may be too late.

    ↳ Because the first clause (le) is negative, the ne explétif can’t be used in the subordinate clause.

    What about when a subordinate clause which should normally have the ne explétif is negated? In this case, skip the ne explétif. You can’t have both a negative ne and the ne explétif!

    ne explétifnegation

    ❌ J’ai peur qu’elle ne ne soit pas au courant.
    ✅ J’ai peur qu’elle ne soit pas au courant.

    I’m afraid she might NOT know.

    ↳ The verb avoir peur normally would trigger the ne explétif, but because the subjunctive verb (soit) is negated, we don't use the ne explétif – we don’t want two instances of ne next to each other!

    Here are more verbs and phrases expressing fear which call for the ne explétif when affirmative:

    redouter

    to dread

    de peur que

    for fear (that)

    s’inquiéter

    to worry

    appréhender

    to be worried about

    trembler

    to shiver

    de crainte que

    for fear (that)

    → Would you like to have these verbs and phrases in context? Click here to see how ne explétif is used with French verbs and phrases expressing fear !

    Which verbs expressing avoidance or warning trigger the ‘ne explétif’ in French?

    The ne explétif is used after verbs expressing avoidance, like éviter(to avoid), or warning, such as prendre garde(to be careful), regardless of whether they are affirmative, negative, or interrogative (in questions). Note the subjunctive is required after these verbs, as well.

    ne explétif

    Nous devons éviter qu’il ne l’apprenne.

    We must avoid him knowing.

    ne explétif

    As-tu pris garde que la porte ne soit verrouillée ?

    Have you made sure the door was locked?

    ne explétif

    Ça n’a pas empêché qu’il ne soit en retard !

    He was late anyway!

    (lit.) It didn’t prevent him being late!

    Here are more verbs and phrases expressing avoidance and warning which call for the ne explétif:

    prendre garde

    to be aware of

    ne pas tenir à ce que

    to be anxious that

    il y a un danger que

    there is a danger (that)

    risquer que

    to be likely

    il y a un risque que

    there is a risk (that)

    → Click here to see examples of the ne explétif used with French verbs and phrases expressing avoidance!

    Which verbs expressing doubt and denial trigger the ‘ne explétif’ in French?

    The ne explétif is used after verbs expressing doubt, like douter(to doubt), or denial, like nier(to deny), if they are in a negative or interrogative clause. Here again, the subjunctive is required after these verbs.

    • Negative:

      negationne explétif

      ✅ Elle ne doute pas qu’il ne puisse le faire.

      She does not doubt that he can do it.

    • Interrogative:

      ne explétif

      ✅ Ont-ils nié que nous n’ayons gagné ?

      Have they denied we won?

    But, when a verb like douter is in the affirmative…

    • Affirmative:

      ❌ Elle doute qu’il ne puisse le faire.

      She doubts that he can do it.

      ↳ Because douter in the first clause (elle doute) is affirmative, the ne explétif can’t be used in the subordinate clause.

    Here are more verbs and phrases expressing doubt and denial which call for the ne explétif if used in a negative or interrogative clause:

    mettre en doute

    to question

    contester

    to contest

    How to use the ‘ne explétif’ after conjunctions in French?

    Use the ne explétif after the conjunctions avant que(before) and à moins que(unless). Both are also followed by the subjunctive. Earlier, we have seen that some conjunctions expressing fear, like de peur que(for fear that), can also trigger the ne explétif. Here, we'll focus on avant que(before) and à moins que(unless).

    ne explétifsubjunctive

    Le petit garçon comprit avant que ses parents ne le lui expliquent.

    The little boy understood before his parents explained it to him.

    ne explétifsubjunctive

    Je viendrai à moins qu’il ne pleuve.

    I’ll come unless it rains.

    Exception!

    The conjunction sans que(without) does not call for the ne explétif.

    Sa sœur le lui donna sans qu’il le lui demande.

    His sister gave it to him without him having to ask her.

    However, when a negative clause is followed by sans que, the use of the ne explétif in the subordinate clause is allowed, but optional.

    ne explétif

    Je ne donnerais pas mon conseil sans qu’on (ne) me le demande.

    I would not give my advice without anyone asking me.

    → My advice? Just don’t use the ne explétif with sans que!

    How to use the ‘ne explétif’ after ‘rarement’ (rarely)

    The ne explétif is used after rarement (rarely) when the adverb is at the beginning of a sentence, and expressing hindsight mixed with surprise. The word order after the adverb rarement can be as follows:

    rarement

    subject

    ne

    verb

    Rarement je ne l’aurai entendu ronfler si fort !

    I’ve rarely heard him snore that loudly!

    OR:

    rarement

    ne

    verb

    subject

    Rarement n’avons nous vu un tel spectacle !

    We have rarely seen such an incredible show!

    ‘Bref:’ Things to remember about the ne explétif

    When using the ne explétif in French, keep the following in mind:

    • The ne explétif does not express a negation, it is optional and formal.

    • It is used after verbs of doubt used in negative or interrogative sentences and after verbs of avoidance and fear most commonly in affirmative sentences.

    • It comes right after the subject of the subordinate clause.

    • It can be used after comparisons and certain conjunctive phrases like avant que(before) and à moins que(unless).

    And now that you’ve read about ne explétif it’s time to become a master! Try out our ne explétif exercises and see how it goes! Happy learning!

    Downloadable Resources

    Elevate your language-learning journey to new heights with the following downloadable resources.

    When to use the ne explétif in French~Table with comparativesHow to use Ne explétif in French activity

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