When discussing shortages or dietary limits, you will often need to express that there is zero quantity of an item.
The "pas de" rule
In a positive sentence, you use an indefinite article (un, une, des) or a partitive article (du, de la, de l'). However, when making the sentence negative to express a complete absence, replace the article with de (or d' before a vowel or mute h).
| Positive | Negative (Zero Quantity) |
|---|---|
| Il a du temps. | Il n'a pas de temps. |
| Elle boit de l' eau. | Elle ne boit pas d' eau. |
Lacking something (avoir)
When you don't have any of an item, use ne ... pas de.
| This client doesn't have any money. | Ce client n'a pas d'argent. |
| I don't have any change for the restaurant. | Je n'ai pas de monnaie pour le restaurant. |
Dietary limits (manger and boire)
This rule is especially useful for diets and allergies. The partitive articles normally used for food and drink become pas de or pas d'.
| This man is a vegetarian; he doesn't eat meat. | Cet homme est végétarien, il ne mange pas de viande. |
| I don't eat pork. | Je ne mange pas de porc. |
| She has an allergy and she doesn't drink alcohol. | Elle a une allergie et elle ne boit pas d'alcool. |
| I don't have an allergy, but I don't eat gluten. | Je n'ai pas d'allergie, mais je ne mange pas de gluten. |
Abstract concepts
The rule works exactly the same way for abstract concepts like luck (la chance) and patience (la patience).
| This student doesn't have any luck. | Cet étudiant n'a pas de chance. |
| I don't have any patience with this client. | Je n'ai pas de patience avec ce client. |
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