Usage note : not

When not is used without a verb before an adjective, an adverb, a verb or a noun, it is translated by pas :

it’s a cat not a dog

= c’est un chat pas un chien

not at all

= pas du tout

not bad

= pas mal

For examples and particular usages see the entry not.

When not is used to make the verb be negative (it’s not a cat) it is translated by ne…pas in French ; ne comes before the verb or the auxiliary in compound tenses and pas comes after the verb or auxiliary : ce n’est pas un chat ;

she hasn’t been ill

= elle n’a pas été malade.

When not is used with the auxiliary do to make a verb negative (he doesn’t like oranges) do + not is translated by ne…pas in French : il n’aime pas les oranges.

When not is used in the present perfect tense (I haven’ t seen him, she hasn’t arrived yet), ne…pas is again used in French on either side of the appropriate auxiliary (avoir or être) : je ne l’ai pas vu, elle n’est pas encore arrivée.

When not is used with will to make a verb negative (will not, won’t), ne…pas is used with the future tense in French :

she won’t come by car

= elle ne viendra pas en voiture

When used with a verb in the infinitive, ne…pas are placed together before the verb :

he decided not to go

= il a décidé de ne pas y aller

you were wrong not to tell her

= tu as eu tort de ne pas le lui dire

When not is used in question tags, the whole tag can usually be translated by the French n’est-ce pas, e.g.

she bought it, didn’t she?

= elle l’a acheté, n’est-ce pas?

For usages not covered in this note see the entry not.

Big English-French dictionary. 2003.