Conceito novo
Where did the ne go?
In everyday speech, the ne of the negative mostly disappears. Pas, rien, jamais and plus carry the meaning on their own:
| Careful | Spoken | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je ne sais pas. | Je sais pas. → J'sais pas → Chais pas. | I don't know. |
| Ce **n'**est pas grave. | C'est pas grave. | Never mind. |
| Il **n'**y a pas de pain. | Y a pas de pain. | There's no bread. |
| Je **n'**ai rien vu. | J'ai rien vu. | I didn't see anything. |
| Il ne vient jamais. | Il vient jamais. | He never comes. |
This isn't slang: in relaxed conversation almost everyone drops the ne, whatever their background. In writing — emails, reports, exams — and in formal speech, keep it.
Careful with plus: J'en veux plus can mean I don't want any more (plus said “plu”) or I want more (said “pluss”). Only the pronunciation tells them apart.