#partitive pronouns in negation
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partitive pronouns in negation
Jeez going back in time there
The partitive losing the definite article when the sentence is changed from positive to negative doesn't happen with « être ».
« Ce sont des chaises, pas des tabourets. »
This structure also works generally when you're clarifying. For example:
« J'ai des pommes –> Je n'ai pas de pommes »
The definite article is dropped because I'm making the sentence negative.
« Je n'ai pas des pommes, mais des citrons »
The definite article is not dropped because I'm not negating, I'm clarifying
Negation turning the indefinites into just « de » doesn't apply to « ne … que », it's the only exception.
« J'ai des pommes »
–> Je n'ai plus de pommes
–> Je n'ai pas de pommes
–> Je n'ai jamais de pommes
–> Je n'ai que des pommes
La discussion à laquelle il fait référence doit être vieille parce que je peux même pas y accéder mdr
dans les archives de 2020
"ne que" is another exception.
It expresses a restriction instead of a negation, so the article is usually unchanged. But in formal language you can see it become "de".
"Il n'avait que des éloges pour lui."
"Il n'avait que d'éloges pour lui."
https://vitrinelinguistique.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/23514/la-grammaire/les-determinants/determinants-indefinis/de-dans-une-phrase-negative
Oops I missed the last part bertiebear, my bad
The full partitive article can also be retained when what is being denied is not the direct object, but rather an adverbial
e.g. Je ne bois plus du thé le matin. —> Je bois du thé, mais pas le matin.
Or similarly, when what is being denied is a premodifier or postmodifier, and not the head of the noun phrase itself
e.g. Thierry ne porte pas des chemises en coton. —> Thierry porte des chemises, mais pas en coton
where 'chemises' is the head and 'en coton' is a modifier
(Omg I remember that discussion. We had 5-6 natives and tutors chiming in at the same time and it was fantastic. Makes me miss those days when the sdc channels were threadless)
Cimer !!!! Very helpful Bertie <3
Thank you dez <3
