Ni…ni is a French negation form that translates to neither…nor. Today’s lesson provides five sentences using this form. I’ve tried to keep the grammatical explanations to a minimum.
Ni…ni
Neither…nor
Word origin
Both the French word ni (neither) and English word “neither” come from nec in Latin.
Example sentences
For this first sentence, ni is used on its own following another negative statement.
Je ne fume, ni ne bois.
I neither smoke nor drink.
For this second sentence, la volonté can translate to will, drive, passion or desire.
Martin n’a ni volonté ni ambition.
Martin has neither passion nor ambition.
If the definite article (le, la, les = the) appears in the affirmative sentence (j’aime le thé et le café / I like tea and coffee), it’s kept when using ni…ni.
Je n’aime ni le thé ni le café.
I like neither tea nor coffee.
If the partitive article appears in the affirmative sentence (Je commande de l‘eau et de la bière / I’m ordering water and beer), it’s kept when using ni…ni.
Je ne commande ni eau ni bière.
I order neither water nor beer.
If the indefinite aritcle appears in the affirmative sentence (j’achète des pommes et des oranges / I’m buying some apples and oranges), it’s kept when using ni…ni.
Je n’achète ni pommes ni oranges.
I buy neither apples nor oranges.
Related lessons
Reference
Word of the day | Lessons by David Issokson
