French: the false or pleonastic 'ne'?

Question

Please tell me if the following sentences are correct.

“In certain subjunctive constructions, the false or pleonastic 'ne' is used. this usage has mostly disappeared from spoken French, but you still see it in written French.”

So, I really don' thave to learn it to speak proper /acceptable/understandable French?

Thx!

Thx for your responses! I feel guilty choosing best answers. But, I'll give you a thumbs-up! And add you as a contact [tell me if I can].

Answer 1

That's right...

In french "not" is "ne...pas".

For example "I don't (do not) speak english" is "je ne parle pas anglais"...But that's right that the "ne" is rarely used in spoken french...

"I don't speak english" --> "je parle pas anglais"

"I don't want" --> "je veux pas"

Never forget the word "pas" or your sentence will loose its sense and become affirmative...

"je parle anglais" --> "I speak english" !!!!

Answer 2

Here is a link to an explanation of the ne explétif the so called pleonastic ne. The native French speaker who answered before basically misread your question and wrote about the negative ne and how it is often dropped in conversation.

http://french.about.com/library/weekly/a...

Answer 3

Indeed we don't use it a lot. J'ai bien peur qu'elle ne soit là is usually said as j'ai bien peur qu'elle soit là. So yes, even if you don't learn this, you will still be totally understandable and speak correct French. Though, you will sure find this in French novels. So, if I were you, I would just remember that in this case, "ne" is not an expression of a negative sentence, just in case you read it sometimes, you will know what it means. But to speak, you definitely don't need to remember this.

Answer 4

It is my guess that in high register French, both spoken and written, you would still be expected to use it.  The word "mostly" and not "entirely" was used.  Because, according to my French dictionary, the 'ne' expletive is  called for in written French with certain verbs and conjunctions, as well as in clauses dependent on comparatives, it makes sense that it might still be called for in situations where French is spoken in a formal context that is comparable to the use of written French.  For example, someone writing the news or giving a speech might be expected to adhere to some of the rules for written French.  Even if it were considered to be too rigid for most situations, you would still be expected to learn it.   Not only is the 'ne' expletive important for filling out sentences, it might be important for matters of clarification in formal or written situations.

Please permit me to bring you back to Denver, Colorado.  Say, hypothically, you were a politician's speech writer and the politician was follwing your speech word for word, he or she might be using the 'ne' expletive if it was included in the speech you had written.  I guess if it was French, it would have to be Monsieur Sarkozy who was making the speech.  If he said something that was misinterpreted or that annoyed a lot of people, his speech, both in audio footage and in writing, would be examined with a fine tooth comb.  Furthermore, the speech might be recorded and filed in written as well as in audo format, in the annals for other people, including critics, to examine.  If you were the speech writer, you would want to be considered as credible and knowledgeable in the French language.  

Similarly, if you were reading the news, you might be expected to be thorough and to use high register formal language that kept clear of shortcuts.  You would be expected to use language that was clear and not open to misinterpretation.  Learning to say things properly under certain conditions might even keep people out of trouble.

Furthermore, a wording such as "Je crains qu'elle n'y réussisse.", meaning "I fear she might succeed at it/at pulling it off." sounds more fluent with the 'n' between the two vowels than with two vowels together.  As well, "Je m'en inquiète, à moins qu'il ne blague.", ("I am worried about it, unless he is joking.") sounds a bit more eloquent or even-flowing with the 'ne' in it than without it.  However, it is only my opinion.  

Answer 5

Yes that's right, we don't use it in spoken language, but we can!

e.g : "I don't know" will be "Je sais pas", or sometimes just the "n" is pronounced : "je n'sais pas". Often the whole thing is reduced to "j'sais pas" where the "e" of the "je" is elided" ! and then it is often pronounced "sh'sais pas" !!

the same for: "I don't see what you mean" = "je vois pas ce que tu veux dire" --> "j'vois pas ...".

The "ne" is often omitted in everyday language. But well, it doesn't prevent you from using it, a lot of people use it in their sentences! Mostly young people or "poor-educated" people omit it, but myself when talking quickly I tend to omit it!

It also depends who you are talking to! If talking to your boss or people you don't know, you will use the "ne" (not to sound "poorly-educated"! lol), but when talking to friends or family, we tend to forget it!