French speaking help? :)?

Question

I moved to Nice, France 2 months ago and I'm very good at speaking French but I'm having trouble with "ne...pas" I'm not really sure on how to use it. Like, how do I know where to put the "pas"?

Also I have a strong Brooklyn new York accent. How can I have a more "frenchy" accent when I speak French?

Answer 1

With regard to learning French in general:  Don't fall into the trap of thinking you have to translate everything literally.  You can't.  What you must do is translate concepts.  If you want to get good at French, you must try to stop thinking how an Anglophone would say something when speaking French, rather think how a French person would say it.  For example in New York you would say that you "decided to drop in on a friend.".   That is an expression and if you translate that literally in French you would have them looking up at the sky.  Likewise, when it is bad weather the French say "il fait mauvais."  Translated literrally word for word that means "it makes bad".  But that would be an incorrect translation if you said that.  That is why I am telling you to translate the concept.  So "il fait mauvais" means "the weather is bad".

With regard to using "ne...pas".  You just need to learn the concept of how the French say no.  "Ne" goes before the verb "pas" will go after.  Just keep practicing and you'll get it.  There is one thing that might confuse you.  Sometimes in every day speach people will omit the "ne".  But the proper way is to include the "ne" - make no mistake about it.   While you're at it - "ne...que" means only and "ne...jamais" means never and "ne...point" means no longer and their are a few others.

What you need my friend is a good grammar book.  I'd like to reccomend schaums out line series. http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.ph...  But what ever you do, get a good grammar book and go through the rules.

Plus look on itunes.  Their are lots of free podcast tutorials.  Try the podcast called coffe break french - great for a beginner.

Keep practicing with the french.  Your grammar lessons will solidify as you use what you know with them.

For pronunciation - get some learning cd's.  Keep trying to practice what they say exactly as they say it.  Listen to french music and sing along.  If you have the money - get a phonetics coach.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Ne pas is a negative, to be used when you want to use don't.

You put ne before the verb, and pas right after it.

Je ne mange pas...

For the accent, only training can help. Try repeating the words slowly and working on every syllables.

Answer 3

pas always goes immediately after the conjugated verb.

Example:  Je ne sais pas.

Example:  Il n'ai pas besoin d'aller au marche.

Can't help you with the accent -- I'm still struggling to lose the midwestern mixed with Atlanta sounding French.

Answer 4

For your accent, listen to french music. It's easier and fun.

Answer 5

ne pas is basically dont and you put the ne first then what you are or what your doing  or describing in the middle and pas at the end

EX: je ne nage pas= i dont swim

EX: je ne telephone pas avec ma copine = i do not call a friend thats a girl

EX: je ne suis blonde pas= im not blonde

EX: je ne suis petit pas= im not short/small

Answer 6

ne + [verb] + pas

The pas goes after the verb.

Answer 7

I think I can make a fair french accent. First, kinda drop most 'r' sounds and replace them with 'w' or weak 'ue' sounds. In some cases, though, make the 'r' sound have a similar Brittish accent (for some words like 'are' or 'answer' or 'fair'). Next, kinda slightly slurr your voice a little bit. Pronounce words with 'eaux' or 'aux' as a long 'o'. Finally, my friend says to say 'r' sounds as if you're spitting out phlem (although I highly don't recommend it)